2026 Management Development Program - Digital Banking, Experience Design

Manufacturers and Traders Trust•Buffalo, NY

2d•$30 - $44

About The Position

Overview: Serves as a member of the Management Development Program (MDP) and participates in ten weeks of Core Training and one year of On-the-Job (OJT) training. Core Training responsibilities include participation in classroom training, observations of departmental presentations, interaction with senior management, peer networking, and working in teams on two group project assignments. OJT responsibilities vary by department and are assigned by the department manager. The position may be responsible for additional projects as assigned by the department manager or Leadership Development Manager-MDP. Department Description: At M&T Bank, our Design System team operates as a product that serves many products . We partner across disciplines (design, engineering, product) and keep central, up‑to‑date documentation and release notes so teams can discover, adopt, and stay current with the system. A design system is a practical toolkit of reusable parts—UI components, design tokens, patterns, and guidelines—delivered in both design tools and code. It helps product teams build consistent, high‑quality, and accessible experiences faster and with less risk by standardizing common solutions and documenting how to use them. Department Responsibilities: We’re hiring an entry‑level Internal Marketing & Communications Specialist to plan, coordinate, and execute multi‑channel communications that grow awareness, drive adoption, and build trust in the design system. You’ll collaborate with the cross‑functional design system team and stakeholders across the bank to ensure that messages are clear, timely , and useful. This role offers opportunities to expand responsibilities as you gain experience. Program Responsibilities: Participate in and complete a one-year long, non-rotational training program while creating and adding value to assigned department. Receive job specific training, general training in banking, communication and leadership, and personalized coaching and feedback. Performance measures may include several objective test scores, peer and sponsor feedback from group projects, facilitator feedback, Leadership Development Manager-MDP feedback, Department Manager feedback, final assessment score, and year-end performance appraisal from Department Manager and Leadership Development Manager-MDP. Core Training - Participate in ten weeks of training throughout the one-year assignment to learn banking, basic financial skills, technical skills, and leadership/interpersonal skills. Develop a solid understanding of banking functions, processes, and operations. Group Projects - Participate in two group project assignments, working with a team of their peers to build relationships within their teams as well as with project sponsors, internal and external contacts, and senior management. Teams make a presentation to senior management at the conclusion of each project providing recommendations and potential project solutions. On-the-Job Training - The fundamental skills taught in core training are combined with On-the-Job training based on the incumbent's assignment. Job specific training teaches departmental policies, procedures, systems, and products. Upon completion of MDP, all incumbents attain basic skills necessary to become entry-level professionals and/or managers in their assigned department. Complete tasks in a manner that are compliant with applicable laws and regulations and/or that serve to help the Company be in compliance with laws and regulations that apply to the business line the position supports. Understand and adhere to the Company's risk and regulatory standards, policies and controls in accordance with the Company's Risk Appetite. Identify risk-related issues needing escalation to management. Promote an environment that supports belonging and reflects the M&T Bank brand. Maintain M&T internal control standards, including timely implementation of internal and external audit points together with any issues raised by external regulators as applicable. Complete other related duties as assigned. Scope of Responsibilities: The Management Development Program is a non-rotational, one-year training program for recent college graduates where participants learn sales, accounting, project management and leadership skills depending upon their career track. Various methods of training include classroom study, divisional orientations, and teamwork on group projects. These fundamentals are coupled with on-the-job training to allow for immediate application in the area for which the participant has been hired. Supervisory/ Managerial Responsibilities: Not Applicable.

Requirements

Clear, concise writing skills and the ability to tailor messages to different audiences (designers, engineers, PMs, leaders)
Strong organization and coordination skills (editorial calendars, checklists, approvals, distribution)
Curiosity about design systems and digital product development
Comfort operating in Microsoft 365 (Teams, SharePoint, Outlook) and internal publishing platforms
G raphic and Info rmation design skills —enough to produce polished decks , one‑pagers , and simple graphics that align with brand standards (e.g., PowerPoint or Figma)
A service mindset—listening to feedback, clarifying outcomes, and iterating quickly
Bachelor's Degree candidate at a school where M&T Bank recruits MDPs (or an MBA student with no work experience)
Outstanding academic credentials (GPA of 3.0 or better)
Up to 1 years' work experience
Outstanding written and verbal communication skills
Demonstrated interpersonal skills
Demonstrated analytical skills
Demonstrated computer skills
Demonstrated presentation skills
Demonstrated leadership abilities
Work/internship experience

Nice To Haves

Exposure to content design or marketing communications (blog posts, release highlights, newsletters)
Experience assisting with events (demos, brown bags, training sessions)
Light analytics/reporting (email engagement, site analytics, campaign performance)
Basic video or motion skills for short internal updates
Illustration background

Responsibilities

Plan & Coordinate Build and maintain a communications calendar mapped to release cadence and product update milestones, aligning narratives with team strategy and quarterly/annual goals.
Coordinate reviews, sign‑offs, and distribution of team communications.
Help maintain a database of users and stakeholders and use it to route messages to the right audiences.
Create Content & Run Channels Plan and publish audience‑specific messages using the right mix of channels and formats—Teams posts, email blasts, documentation site updates, newsletters, and release notes—so the right people get the right information at the right time.
Explore new messaging formats such as blogs and short videos to make updates more engaging and accessible.
Create visually polished presentation decks and lightweight marketing materials aligned to brand standards.
Help plan agendas and facilitate recurring office hours, demos, and onboarding sessions .
Campaigns for Big Moments Plan and execute campaigns for major product updates —coordinating before/during/after messaging with announcements, reminders, training links, and follow‑ups.
Drive ongoing, predictable update cadence that build s trust and confidence in the system’s evolution.
Onboarding & Training Communications Support messaging around onboarding, migration, and adoption , ensuring teams have the information, guidance, and too ls they need to succeed.
Measure & Improve Track outcomes (opens/clicks, attendance, site visits, support inquiries), connect signals to adoption goals, and recommend changes to communication methods, channels, timing, and calls‑to‑action.
Partner with Research to gather qualitative feedback from early adopters and advocates; translate insights into clearer content, smoother onboarding, and targeted enablement.
Governance, Voice & Alignment Uphold brand alignment and consistent voice and tone in partnership with Design and Content Design.
Ensure messaging promotes transparency, inclusiveness, and trust , and points teams to the latest documentation, training, and support resources .
Outcomes You’ll Drive Awareness & Clarity: More teams know what the design system is, the value it provides, and how to get started.
Smoother Adoption: Communications and campaign rhythms that equip teams with clear guidance and make adoption easier to plan and execute.
Trust in the System: Predictable updates and clear change narratives that help teams stay current and feel confident building on the system.