IU Innovates Entrepreneurship Program Manager (Program Management Specialist)

VP UNIVERSITY RELATIONS OFFICE (UA-VPUR-IUBLA)

IU innovates seeks 2 Entrepreneurship Program Managers to lead day-to-day programming and student support, operating founders' groups and incubation programs at the Bloomington (Von Lee building) or Indianapolis (Hine Hall IP100) campus. This role blends program design, founder coaching, community management, operations, and cross-functional collaboration to ensure student founders make measurable weekly progress - from idea exploration through MVP development, testing, and early customer acquisition - while fostering a high-trust, high-accountability founder community.

Department-Specific Responsibilities

• Conducts regular 1:1 meetings with student founders to guide progress, remove blockers, and provide tailored feedback.
• Provides ongoing support via Slack, email, and in-person drop-ins, addressing tactical questions, emotional barriers, and strategic decision-making.
• Facilitates introductions to peers, mentors, and subject-matter specialists as appropriate to each founder's needs.
• Manages, teaches, and continuously improves flagship programs: the Explore Stage Bootcamp (Bloomington) and JagStart pitch competition (Indianapolis), covering customer discovery, MVP creation, and entrepreneurial fundamentals.
• Leads workshop programming and Founders Groups across multiple tracks (Explore, MVP, Testing, Customer, special verticals). We value dynamic speakers who build enthusiasm in students.
• Ensures all programming aligns with team principles, incubator milestones, and measurable progress metrics.
• Cultivates high-trust founder communities within IU Innovates coworking spaces with 24/7 access.
• Establishes and maintains community norms, guidelines, and expectations that promote collaboration, accountability, and a healthy working environment.
• Organizes and facilitates founder meetups, events, and informal events that strengthen community engagement.
• Supervises or coordinates Community Managers and Founders in Residence to coordinate communication across full-time and part-time staff to ensure consistent program execution.
• Oversees weekly logistics including meeting scheduling, attendance tracking, Slack channel management, and form submissions.
• Monitors and reports on student progress across program stages (Explore, MVP, Testing, Customer) to program leadership.
• Manages and maintains space (Von Lee, Hine Hall suite)
• Identifies and implements improvements
• Contributes to long-term strategic planning for space needs
• The Entrepreneurship Program Manager at IU Indianapolis will lead the Entrepreneurship Task Force, a monthly cross-campus faculty meeting hosted in collaboration with the provost.
• Collaborates with faculty partners, campus entrepreneurship units, industry mentors, and external organizations.
• Represents IU Innovates at university events, partner meetings, and entrepreneurial ecosystem activities.
  
  

General Responsibilities

• Implements the organization's strategic vision and direction by developing, initiating, and/or supporting new programs and services, creating annual work plans, and operating within a board-approved balanced budget.
• Ensures the maintenance of effective office management, financial management, record-keeping, and equipment and software.
• Plans, directs and implements programs or events, including developing branding strategy and targeting audiences for these events.
• Oversees or represents the program in communications to program participants, supporting institutions, collaborators in other units, community partners, vendors and the public.
• Troubleshoots and resolves issues and programs.
• Provides mechanisms, training, and advice on a variety of issues such as budget management software and advanced strategies for timely spending of grant funds.
• Oversees research and academic activities budgets for programs. Identifies funding requirements and funding sources to ensure adequate resources to sustain program goals.
• Leads grant writing.
• Evaluates the performance of lower-level staff, recommends development and performance plans, promotions and disciplinary action and is accountable for consistent administration of university policies.
• Keeps with best practices to create and implement policies and procedures that deliver a quality program experience.
  
  

Combinations of related education and experience may be considered. Education beyond the minimum required may be substituted for work experience. Work experience beyond the minimum required may be substituted for education.

EDUCATION

Required

• Bachelor's degree.
  
  

Required

WORK EXPERIENCE

• 5 years in related field.
  
  

Preferred

• Experience in entrepreneurship program management, entrepreneurship education, or incubator/accelerator operations.
• Experience supervising staff.
  
  

Skills

Required

• Proficient communication skills.
• Maintains a high degree of professionalism.
• Demonstrates time management and priority setting skills.
• Demonstrates a high commitment to quality.
• Possesses flexibility to work in a fast paced, dynamic environment.
• Seeks to acquire knowledge in area of specialty.
• Highly thorough and dependable.
• Demonstrates a high level of accuracy, even under pressure.
• Possesses a high degree of initiative.
• Ability to influence internal and/or external constituents.
  
  

Preferred

• Advanced problem-solving skills with ability to manage complexity, exercise sound judgment, and make decisions with minimal oversight.
• Demonstrates ability to influence and collaborate across units, teams, and functional areas.
• Commitment to continuous improvement, nimble learning, and delivering a high-quality program experience.
• Values a wide variety of perspectives and fosters a welcoming, engaged founder community.
  
  

This role requires the ability to effectively communicate and to operate a computer and other standard office productivity equipment. The position involves sedentary work as well as periods of time moving around an office environment and the campus. The person in this role must be able to perform the essential functions with or without an accommodation.

Bloomington, Indiana or Indianapolis, Indiana

$75,000 - $85,000 annually, depending upon qualifications.

For full-time staff employees, Indiana University offers a wide array of benefits including:

• Comprehensive medical and dental insurance
• Health savings account with generous IU contributions
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• Basic group life insurance paid by IU
• Voluntary supplemental life, long-term disability, critical illness, and supplemental accidental death & dismemberment insurance
• Base retirement plan with generous IU contributions, subject to vesting
• Voluntary supplemental retirement plan options
• Tuition subsidy for employees and family members taking IU courses
• 10 paid holidays plus a paid winter break each year
• Generous paid time off plans
• Paid leave for new parents and IU-sponsored volunteer events
• Employee assistance program (EAP)
  
  

Learn more about our benefits by reviewing the IU Benefit Programs Brochure.

Career Level: Advanced

FLSA: Exempt

Job Function: General Administration

Job Family: Program Management

Click here to learn more about Indiana University's Job Framework.

This posting is scheduled to close at 11:59 pm EST on the advertised Close Date. This posting may be closed at any time at the discretion of the University, but will remain open for a minimum of 5 business days. To guarantee full consideration, please submit your application within 5 business days of the Posted Date.

If you wish to include a cover letter, you may include it with your resume when uploading attachments.

Indiana University is an equal opportunity employer and provider of ADA services and prohibits discrimination in hiring. See Indiana University Notice of Non-Discrimination here which includes contact information.

The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report, containing policy statements, crime and fire statistics for all Indiana University campuses, is available online. You may also request a physical copy by emailing IU Public Safety at iups@iu.edu or by visiting IUPD.

Request Support

Telephone: 812-856-1234