Vice President, FinTech Coalition (SMU)

About the role

MassChallenge is seeking a Vice President, FinTech Coalition, to join our Dallas team. The Vice President, FinTech Coalition, will serve as the day-to-day program lead and primary operator for the Southern Methodist University (SMU) FinTech Accelerator, a flagship initiative of the SMU Cox FinTech Coalition built in partnership with Southern Methodist University’s Edwin L. Cox School of Business.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the strategic and day-to-day lead, in collaboration with team members at SMU, for the SMU Cox FinTech Accelerator, owning program design, execution, quality, and success metrics from sourcing through showcase
• Lead a four-month hybrid accelerator experience anchored by three in-person intensives and structured virtual programming throughout
• Drive the full startup selection cycle, including the configuration and management of the MassChallenge Accelerate platform, multi-stage expert review, live judging, and final cohort deliberations in close coordination with SMU
• Own the end-to-end founder experience, including onboarding, goal setting, milestone tracking, mentor matching, and ongoing founder support
• Design and deliver curricula across five program modules, integrating enterprise readiness, fintech-specific content, expert sessions, and milestone-based learning
• Coordinate cross-functional implementation across MassChallenge and SMU teams in Dallas and Boston, in conjunction with SMU Cox leadership, the SMU Executive Sponsor, and the SMU Program Lead
• Manage program reporting, including quarterly and end-of-year reports to SMU, Steering Committee materials, and outcome tracking against agreed-upon success metrics
• Lead the sourcing, vetting, onboarding, matching, and performance management of the mentor and expert network, targeting 45–60 core mentors, 10–20 specialist experts, and 8–15 executive judges per cohort
• Serve as MassChallenge’s primary relationship owner with SMU Cox leadership, the SMU Executive Sponsor, and the SMU Program Lead
• Represent MassChallenge at major Dallas fintech and innovation events, including Venture Dallas and DFW Startup Week, and build the program’s visibility as a leading regional platform
• Drive corporate, investor, and ecosystem engagement through Executive Circle convenings, curated office hours, founder salons, and partner touchpoints designed to create pathways for pilots, commercial relationships, and strategic collaboration
• Support SMU’s sponsorship integration into program activities, ensuring sponsors receive meaningful, well-executed touchpoints consistent with program quality standards
• Collaborate with and provide guidance to the Manager, FinTech Accelerator and Programming
• Contribute to organizational knowledge and best practices in accelerator operations, working collaboratively across MassChallenge’s program and network teams nationally

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required; an advanced degree in business, finance, entrepreneurship, or a related field is a plus
• Eight or more years of experience in program management, accelerator operations, innovation ecosystems, venture development, or related fields
• Demonstrated experience managing complex, multi-stakeholder programs with high operational demands and visible external audiences
• Deep familiarity with fintech, financial services, or adjacent sectors, including knowledge of the regulatory landscape, enterprise adoption dynamics, and startup commercialization pathways
• Experience working with or in a university, corporate innovation, or institutional partner environment is strongly preferred
• Existing relationships in the Dallas fintech or broader innovation ecosystem are a meaningful plus

Qualifications

The ideal candidate is a mission-driven, operationally excellent leader with experience in venture programs, accelerators, or innovation ecosystems, with a strong command of fintech or financial services. This is a high-visibility role that requires exceptional judgment, a founder-first mindset, and the presence to represent MassChallenge and SMU with credibility at the most senior levels.

Skills

• Exceptional interpersonal and relationship-building skills and can engage credibly with founders, senior corporate executives, investors, and university administrators alike
• Natural convener who builds trust quickly and knows how to bring people together around a shared goal
• Strong communication skills, written and verbal, and can represent MassChallenge and SMU with confidence in public-facing settings

Benefits

MassChallenge offers competitive salaries, excellent benefits, and a supportive working environment. Salary is based on a nonprofit scale and is commensurate with skills and experience.