Hackathon Program Manager - Midnight Foundation

Job Description

We are looking for a Hackathon Program Manager to join our Developer Relations team and make Midnight’s hackathon ecosystem a world-class engine for developer acquisition, activation, and retention.

Midnight is a regulatory-friendly, data protection–based blockchain that safeguards sensitive commercial and personal data using zero-knowledge proofs and a privacy-first programming model.

In this role, you’ll own the global hackathon program, spanning virtual, in-person, and partner-led initiatives, and ensure every activation connects seamlessly into Midnight’s broader builder journey through the Academy, Quests, and Build Club.

This position blends program management, community engagement, and developer lifecycle design. You’ll collaborate across DevRel, education, and ecosystem functions to deliver smooth, high-impact hackathons that consistently convert developers into long-term contributors.

Main Goals

• Deliver a consistent, high-quality cadence of global hackathons that attract and activate developers.
• Ensure hackathons produce projects that mature into Build Club and ecosystem pipelines.
• Connect hackathon themes and outcomes directly to Midnight’s education programs (Academy, Quests).
• Provide developers with clear, rewarding next steps beyond demo day.
• Strengthen Midnight’s reputation as the chain where builders learn, launch, and grow.

Responsibilities 

Program Management

• Own the global hackathon calendar, including virtual, IRL, university, and partner-hosted programs.
• Manage the full program lifecycle: theme design, structure, mentor assignments, judging, prizes, comms, and reporting.
• Develop and maintain scalable frameworks, templates, and playbooks to ensure consistency across regions.
• Track and report on key funnel metrics: registrations, submissions, conversions to Build Club, and retention rates.

Developer Activation

• Build and manage the end-to-end funnel from hackathon → Academy → Build Club → grants/partnership pipeline.
• Collaborate with DevRel Engineers and the Developer Educator to align hackathon themes with learning content and example DApps.
• Monitor project quality and maturity, and coordinate with BD and Partnerships to identify standout projects for follow-on support.

Education and Content Integration

• Ensure every hackathon produces reusable developer resources: working Compact contracts, demo UIs, test suites, and READMEs.
• Curate learnings (winning projects, common blockers, FAQs) into tutorials, quests, and content for ongoing education.
• Partner with the Academy Instructor and Technical Writers to turn hackathon outputs into learning materials.

Community and Partner Engagement

• Manage relationships with global partners, including HackQuest, EasyA, RiseIn, MLH, and Devpost/Dora.
• Represent Midnight at partner and university events; serve as the on-the-ground point of contact for mentors, judges, and participants.
• Capture developer insights and feedback to inform future program improvements.

Operations and Delivery

• Oversee operational planning and delivery in partnership with the Events and Ops teams.
• Manage logistics, budgets, swag, vendors, and communications while maintaining a clear focus on developer experience.
• Ensure all post-event tasks, reporting, surveys, and repository validation are completed accurately and on time.

Requirements

Qualifications 

• 3+ years of experience in developer relations, program management, or community operations.
• Proven track record running hackathons, accelerators, or builder programs.
• Strong organizational, coordination, and communication skills.
• Ability to connect events to measurable developer outcomes (growth, retention, activation).
• Data-driven and comfortable analyzing program metrics.
• Experience in blockchain/Web3 and open-source ecosystems.

Nice to Have

• Familiarity with developer education programs or university outreach.
• Existing network in hackathon organizations, blockchain clubs, or developer communities.
• Public speaking or community-facing content experience (workshops, livestreams, presentations).
• Fluency in additional human or programming languages.

What Success Looks Like

• Hackathons consistently run on time, within budget, and deliver measurable developer conversions.
• ≥ 30% of hackathon projects progress into Build Club or follow-on programs.
• ≥ 70% of mentored projects remain active 3 months post-event.
• Every hackathon produces at least one reusable reference DApp or educational artifact.
• Developer satisfaction and repeat participation continue to rise across cohorts and regions.

Benefits

• Remote work
• Competitive PTO
• Medical, Dental & Optical coverage  
• Life Insurance & Critical Illness
• Pension

At the Midnight Foundation we value diversity and always treat all employees and job applicants based on merit, qualifications, competence, and talent. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.