Part-Time Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center Program Manager

About the role

The Part-Time Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center Program Manager serves as the operational lead for IU Southeast's Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center, and the primary campus liaison to IU Innovates.

Responsibilities

• 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.
• Works closely with IU Southeast faculty and staff, IU Innovates leadership, Student Community Managers, Student entrepreneurs, Alumni founders, Regional entrepreneurship ecosystem partners, and Community organizations and funders.
• Works collaboratively with campus leadership and IU Innovates, the Program Manager builds a vibrant entrepreneurship ecosystem that guides students through the IU Innovates Learning and Launch Journey supporting learners from initial curiosity and problem exploration through venture development, customer discovery, and launch.
• Serves as the primary point of contact for students interested in entrepreneurship and innovation.
• Provides direct coaching and mentorship through 1-on-1 meetings, Founder Groups, workshops, bootcamps, and other experiential learning opportunities.
• Assesses each student's stage in the IU Innovates Learning and Launch Journey and provide individualized guidance, accountability, and connections to mentors, alumni, investors, funding opportunities, and campus resources.
• Fosters a welcoming environment that encourages students to explore ideas, develop ventures, and engage with the entrepreneurship community.
• Coordinates implementation of IU Innovates programming at IU (Campus) that supports students throughout the Learning and Launch Journey.
• Develops and maintains the annual entrepreneurship programming calendar in collaboration with campus partners.
• Plans and executes workshops, Founder Groups, speaker events, networking opportunities, pitch competitions, bootcamps, and other entrepreneurship programming.
• Ensures programming aligns with campus priorities while maintaining consistency with the IU Innovates statewide framework.
• Activates the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center as a vibrant gathering space for students, optimizing the use of IU Southeast at Novaparke.
• Coordinates drop-in hours, networking opportunities, community-building activities, and regular center programming.
• Collaborates with faculty and campus partners to integrate entrepreneurship into academic and co-curricular experiences.
• Increases student awareness and utilization of the Center.
• Recruits, hires, trains, and supervises student Community Managers.
• Coordinates Community Manager schedules, office hours, Founder Groups, and student engagement activities.
• Holds regular planning meetings and provide ongoing coaching to ensure consistent program delivery and peer mentorship.
• Builds relationships with faculty, alumni, entrepreneurs, investors, and regional ecosystem partners.
• Connects students to entrepreneurship events, accelerators, competitions, mentors, internships, and funding opportunities.
• Expands partnerships that enhance experiential learning and strengthen the campus entrepreneurship ecosystem.
• Coordinates logistics for entrepreneurship programming and events.
• Collaborates with IU Innovates on communications, storytelling, marketing, reporting, and statewide initiatives.
• Maintains calendars, documentation, program resources, and other operational materials.
• Tracks student participation, venture progression, and outcomes across the IU Innovates Learning and Launch Journey.
• Collects student feedback and recommend program improvements.
• Prepares reports and updates for campus leadership, IU Innovates, and external stakeholders.
• Monitors key performance indicators related to engagement, venture development, mentorship, and ecosystem growth.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.
• Master's degree preferred.
• Strong project or program management experience required.
• Experience working with students, founders, startups, nonprofits, or innovation initiatives required.
• Previous entrepreneurial or founder experience preferred.

Skills

• 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 and Launch Journey while building an inclusive entrepreneurship ecosystem.

Pay

$25.00 per hour. Up to 29 hours per week.