Entrepreneurship & Innovation Center Program Manager

Position Summary

FOR INDIANA UNIVERSITY KOKOMO EMPLOYEES ONLY

One of eight campuses of Indiana University, Indiana University Kokomo is a comprehensive non-residential campus located 50 miles north of Indianapolis in Kokomo, Indiana, a city with a population of about 57,000. Committed to student success, the campus serves approximately 3,230 students from a 14-county area in north-central Indiana. lU Kokomo has around 260 full-time faculty and staff. Associate, baccalaureate, and master’s degrees are offered. Additional information about Indiana University Kokomo can be accessed at http://Kokomo.iu.edu/.

Accommodations are available in the hiring process for individuals with disabilities. Those needing accommodation should contact the Office of Civil Rights Compliance at 765-455-9316.

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

Roles & Responsibilities

• Position Purpose:

  • The Entrepreneurship & Innovation Center Program Manager serves as the operational lead for IU (Campus)'s Entrepreneurship & Innovation Center and the primary campus liaison to IU Innovates.
  • This individual is responsible for coordinating entrepreneurship programming, cultivating student engagement, activating the center as a hub of innovation, and connecting students with faculty, alumni, and community partners.
  • Working collaboratively with campus leadership and IU Innovates, the Program Manager builds a vibrant entrepreneurship ecosystem that guides students through the IU Innovates Learning & Launch Journey—supporting learners from initial curiosity and problem exploration through venture development, customer discovery, and launch.

• Core Objectives:

  • Build a vibrant campus entrepreneurship community.
  • Guide students through the IU Innovates Learning & Launch Journey.
  • Activate the Entrepreneurship & Innovation Center as the campus hub for innovation.
  • Strengthen connections between campus, alumni, and the regional entrepreneurship ecosystem.

• Primary Responsibilities:

  • Student Engagement & Founder Coaching:

    • Serve as the primary point of contact for students interested in entrepreneurship and innovation.
    • Provide direct coaching and mentorship through one-on-one meetings, Founder Groups, workshops, bootcamps, and other experiential learning opportunities.
    • Assess each student’s stage in the IU Innovates Learning & Launch Journey and provide individualized guidance, accountability, and connections to mentors, alumni, investors, funding opportunities, and campus resources.
    • Foster a welcoming and inclusive environment that encourages students to explore ideas, develop ventures, and engage with the entrepreneurship community.

  • Program Coordination:

    • Coordinate implementation of IU Innovates programming at IU (Campus) that supports students throughout the Learning & Launch Journey.
    • Develop and maintain the annual entrepreneurship programming calendar in collaboration with campus partners.
    • Plan and execute workshops, Founder Groups, speaker events, networking opportunities, pitch competitions, bootcamps, and other entrepreneurship programming.
    • Ensure programming aligns with campus priorities while maintaining consistency with the IU Innovates statewide framework.

  • Entrepreneurship & Innovation Center Operations:

    • Activate the Entrepreneurship & Innovation Center as a vibrant gathering space for students.
    • Collaborate with faculty and campus partners to integrate entrepreneurship into academic and co-curricular experiences.
    • Increase student awareness and utilization of the Center.

  • Community Manager Leadership:

    • Recruit, hire, train, and supervise student Community Managers.
    • Coordinate Community Manager schedules, office hours, Founder Groups, and student engagement activities.
    • Hold regular planning meetings and provide ongoing coaching to ensure consistent program delivery and peer mentorship.

  • Campus & Community Partnerships:

    • Build relationships with faculty, alumni, entrepreneurs, investors, and regional ecosystem partners.
    • Connect students to entrepreneurship events, accelerators, competitions, mentors, internships, and funding opportunities.
    • Expand partnerships that enhance experiential learning and strengthen the campus entrepreneurship ecosystem.

  • Operations & Communication:

    • Coordinate logistics for entrepreneurship programming and events.
    • Collaborate with IU Innovates on communications, storytelling, marketing, reporting, and statewide initiatives.
    • Maintain calendars, documentation, program resources, and other operational materials.

  • Assessment & Continuous Improvement:

    • Track student participation, venture progression, and outcomes across the IU Innovates Learning & Launch Journey.
    • Collect student feedback and recommend program improvements.
    • Prepare reports and updates for campus leadership, IU Innovates, and external stakeholders.
    • Monitor key performance indicators related to engagement, venture development, mentorship, and ecosystem growth.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business administration, entrepreneurship, education, or a related field.

• Strong project or program management experience.

• Experience working with students, founders, startups, nonprofits, or innovation initiatives.

• Excellent relationship-building and communication skills.

• Ability to organize and manage multiple initiatives simultaneously.

• Comfort working in a collaborative, entrepreneurial environment.

• Passion for helping students progress through the IU Innovates Learning & Launch Journey while building an inclusive entrepreneurship ecosystem.

• Previous entrepreneurial or founder experience preferred.

Success Measures

• Increased student participation in entrepreneurship programming.

• Growth in the number of students progressing through successive stages of the IU Innovates Learning & Launch Journey.

• Strong participation in Founder Groups, workshops, and mentorship opportunities.

• Active utilization of the Entrepreneurship & Innovation Center.

• Strong collaboration across campus and with regional ecosystem partners.

• Increased student venture development, prototype creation, customer discovery, and venture launches.

• Positive student satisfaction and engagement.

• Effective execution of entrepreneurship programming and events.

• Meaningful contributions to the growth of IU Innovates' statewide entrepreneurship ecosystem.