Program Manager, Venture Internships & Regional Talent Development

Summary Of Job Duties

The Program Manager, Venture Internships & Talent Development, leads the Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation’s Venture Intern Program (VIP) and supports Startup Intern Match, a regional workforce development initiative developed in collaboration with the Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center and Northwest Arkansas Community College (NWACC).

This position manages the recruitment, placement, training, coaching, and support of student interns while building relationships with startup hosts, university partners, and community stakeholders.

The Program Manager delivers a cohort-based experiential learning model that combines paid internships, professional development, entrepreneurial training, and career readiness programming to prepare students for success in entrepreneurial and innovation-driven careers.

Serving as the primary coordinator for student-facing activities within both programs, the Program Manager works closely with students, employers, higher education partners, and the regional entrepreneurial ecosystem to expand access to meaningful startup experiences and strengthen the innovation talent pipeline.

Qualifications

• Minimum Qualifications:
  • Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution of higher education
  • At least two years of professional experience in program management, workforce development, experiential learning, entrepreneurship or a related field
  • Experience working collaboratively with external stakeholders
  • Demonstrated experience leading and coordinating programs, projects, internships, events, or student-focused initiatives
• Preferred Qualifications:
  • Master's degree in Higher Education, Business, Entrepreneurship, Student Affairs, Workforce Development, Organizational Leadership, or a related field from an accredited institution of higher education
  • Experience managing internship, fellowship, workforce development, or experiential learning programs
  • Experience coaching, advising, mentoring, or supporting college students
  • Experience working with startups, entrepreneurial ecosystems, innovation programs, or small businesses
  • Experience with program assessment, data tracking, grant reporting, and continuous improvement initiatives

Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities (KSAs)

• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic work environment
• Knowledge of experiential learning and student development best practices
• Understanding of entrepreneurship, startups, and innovation ecosystems
• Strong project management, organizational, and problem-solving skills
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills
• Ability to build partnerships and engage internal and external stakeholders

Additional Information

• This position is renewable annually based on continued need for the position, availability of funding, and satisfactory job performance.
• Salary Information: Commensurate with education and experience