ASSISTANT DIRECTOR - STUDENT INCUBATOR PROGRAM - University of Washington

Req #: 240286 Department: FOSTER SCHOOL OF BUSINESS Appointing Department Web Address: https://foster.uw.edu/centers/buerk-ctr-entrepreneurship/ Job Location Detail: Hybrid eligible Posting Date: 11/01/2024 Closing Info: Open Until Filled Salary: $5810 - $8714 per month Shift: First Shift Notes: As a UW employee, you will enjoy generous benefits and work/life programs. For a complete description of our benefits for this position, please visit our website, click here. (https://hr.uw.edu/benefits/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2018/02/benefits-professional-staff-librarians-academic-staff-20230701\_a11y.pdf) As a UW employee, you have a unique opportunity to change lives on our campuses, in our state and around the world. UW employees offer their boundless energy, creative problem-solving skills and dedication to build stronger minds and a healthier world. UW faculty and staff also enjoy outstanding benefits, professional growth opportunities and unique resources in an environment noted for diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits and natural beauty. For the Buerk Center for Entrepreneurship in the Foster School of Business: Provide leadership, strategic planning, organization-building, and project management to ensure the successful launch and ongoing management of the Center's new Student Incubator and its new space @Startup Hall. The Vision: Provide students a thoughtful and methodical series of workshops, entrepreneurial experiences, mentor connections, and networking opportunities that will teach the foundation of creating a startup-starting with idea creation and taking students through a framework from idea to validation, creation, growth, and launch. The Student Incubator will be distinct from classroom academic learning, competitions, and the Jones + Foster Accelerator (designed for startups with traction). The Incubator's programming will assist students across disciplines in recognizing their own unique skills and interests, and to look at existing problems through this lens to create novel solutions. Designed to spark strategic thinking, the Incubator will provide tools, mentors, and the collaborative environment that leads to startup creation and growth. Ideally, these new teams will funnel into other pre-existing Buerk Center programs and support systems. Programming will be open to undergrad and graduate students across campus, regardless of major or program. The person in this position will work across campus and the Seattle community to develop strong relationships in both areas. We envision this role to be an ambassador to these audiences and a true community builder. The Foster School of Business has established a strategic priority of incorporating an inclusion, diversity and equity focus into every decision that we make (see: https://foster.uw.edu/about-foster-school/fostering-diversity/). This is consistent with the UW Diversity Blueprint (http://www.washington.edu/diversity/diversity-blueprint/). As a member of the Buerk Center team, the AD will work together with us as we continue to build and sustain an inclusive, equitable and diverse work environment; to develop experiences for our students where diversity is celebrated and valued; and to guide students to include equity and justice as the foundation for the business creation process. The Buerk Center is a dynamic, top-ranked entrepreneurship center, offering students robust experiential and educational resources, teaching entrepreneurship as a life skill to support their growth as entrepreneurs and change-makers throughout their careers. We reach across campus and the region to engage students in our classes, programs, and activities. **DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES** This position will gain in complexity each year as we transition from the creation of the foundational pieces of the program into a strong, replicable series of workshops and events, with the long-term plan to create a robust Summer Incubator program. The AD will regularly evaluate and implement program improvements for each area of responsibility below. They will also develop and implement a metrics tool to gather ongoing data on student participants in all activities for both reporting and future planning purposes. **STUDENT INCUBATOR-PROGRAM PLANNING AND EXECUTION (50%)** - Create an annual budget (approximately $200k), set fund-raising targets with Buerk Center director, and manage to expectations. - Research incubator programming at peer institutions around the country to determine best format and best practices to bring to a Buerk Center program. Stay current with trends in student incubators/accelerators and be entrepreneurial in piloting new programmatic pieces. - Work with Buerk Center director and program managers to outline the program focus for first two years, and develop the program and associated events. - Work with Buerk Center director and progam managers to develop a formalized Summer Incubator program for student teams demonstrating traction. Manage in collaboration with program managers. - Identify key student demographic, as well as the UW schools, departments, student groups, and key faculty for outreach to promote the Incubator. - Identify entrepreneurs, intrapreneurs, and investors in the Seattle and regional entrepreneurial ecosystem to engage as mentors and/or speakers; develop a vetting process and best practices guide for mentors (see Mentor Program Development below). - Using data collected, develop plan with potential outcomes for years 3 - 5 of the program. - Work with Buerk Center marketing and communications assistant director to create the Buerk Center's Incubator website, develop content for website, marketing materials, and pitch deck. - Work with Buerk Center director to identify prospective sponsors and create a pitch for the Incubator. Identify potential granting organizations that would be appropriate for the Incubator and apply for funding. - Report to the director on annual program participation numbers, program evaluations, and progress toward goals. **BUERK CENTER @STARTUP HALL SPACE MANAGER (25%)** - Develop and implement student user process and guidelines for access to the Startup Hall space and Incubator activities. - Responsible for Buerk Center's participation in Startup Hall with oversight of space, working closely with Startup Hall and CoMotion Labs managers for membership compliance. - Oversee logistics for Incubator events within the space, including room reservations, contracts, catering, equipment/supplies, sponsor materials, banners and posters, and PowerPoint presentations, working closely with Buerk Center's assistant director for operations. - As space manager, work with Buerk Center program manager team as needed to help facilitate additional Buerk Center events taking place at Startup Hall. **MENTOR PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT AND EXECUTION (20%)** - Research successful mentorship programs, focusing on 1:1 mentorship (mentor to student), mentor groups, and peer-to-peer mentoring. - Design and develop mentoring programs, with tools, resources, and events to support both mentor and mentee. Create policy guidelines for both students and mentors -- Develop Buerk Center's process for evaluation, onboarding, and training of mentors. - Identify and recruit mentors from various industries and professional backgrounds. - Manage mentor platforms/system. Collaborate with CoMotion's Head of Mentor Programs, for recruitment, vetting, policies, etc. - Maintain regular communication with mentors and mentees, with information on deadlines, logistics, research, support, and resources. **OTHER DUTIES AND RESPONSBILITIES: (5%)** - Work with Buerk Center program manager team to develop a consistent pipeline of student engagement in Buerk Center programs and competitions. - Work with associate director to continuously align Incubator with Buerk Center justice, diversity, inclusion, and equity goals and initiatives. - Participate with Buerk Center team to support events and competitions; organize and take part in open house and information sessions. - Other duties as assigned. **MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS** Bachelor's Degree in Business, Liberal Arts, Communications or similar and a minimum of 3-years of experience in an entrepreneurship center, entrepreneurial or intrapreneurial setting, academic or non-profit environment. **Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license/certification/registration.** **ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS** - Significant experience in event planning, budget coordination, and ability to work with students. - Proficiency with MS Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. - Strong working knowledge of databases. - Experience using social media. - Excellent relationship-building skills, particularly in recruiting mentors, volunteers, program participants, etc. **DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS** - Experience working with students and/or early-stage startup companies. - Progressively responsible experience managing a complex program or activity. - Experience developing a new program from the ground up. - Management of or participation in an organized mentoring program. - Experience using Salesforce. - Experience with public speaking. - Experience in fundraising. **WORKING CONDITIONS** - This position is primarily in-person, with time split between Buerk Center office and Buerk Center's Incubator space in Startup Hall. - Dual office locations with open work area. **Application Process:** The application process may include completion of a variety of online assessments to obtain additional information that will be used in the evaluation process. These assessments may include Work Authorization, Cover Letter and/or others. Any assessments that you need to complete will appear on your screen as soon as you select "Apply to this position". Once you begin an assessment, it must be completed at that time; if you do not complete the assessment, you will be prompted to do so the next time you log into your "My Jobs" page. If you choose to take it later, it will appear on your "My Jobs" page to take when you are ready. Please note that your application will not be reviewed, and you will not be considered for this position until all required assessments have been completed. University of Washington is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, among other things, race, religion, color, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, sex, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information.