Assistant Director of Entrepreneurship Programs - Gies College of Business
Origin Ventures Office of Entrepreneurship
The Origin Ventures Office of Entrepreneurship is expanding access to evidence-based entrepreneurship education and providing expertise and resources to fuel all forms of entrepreneurship. The office does this through learner entrepreneurial activities, fosters knowledge creation and dissemination from top faculty in the field, and designs and offers the curriculum needed to bring that knowledge to the classroom - exposing learners to new ideas that could shape and transform the future of…
business. Gies College of Business purposefully innovates through this office's thriving and continually growing entrepreneurship efforts. As a key component of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign's world-class entrepreneurial ecosystem, the office is a central hub for iVenture Accelerator, EntreCorps, Orange and Blue Ventures, the Program Fellowship, the Faculty Entrepreneurial Leadership Program, and the Entrepreneurship Minor. You can find more information here: https://giesbusiness.illinois.edu/origin-ventures-office-of-entrepreneurship
Job Summary
This position is responsible for providing program administration and management of a portfolio of entrepreneurship education and support programs in the Origin Ventures Office of Entrepreneurship. This role supports the Office's mission to expand access to life-changing entrepreneurial education and opportunities. We do that through a broad view of entrepreneurship that encompasses founding or joining new ventures, engaging in social innovation, and adopting an entrepreneurial mindset within established organizations. More broadly, this role partners across the Gies College of Business to create opportunities for people across campus to develop novel solutions to problems impacting business and society. The Assistant Director will work collaboratively with partners in Gies Business and across campus to develop, plan, and execute best-in-class offerings in entrepreneurship and social innovation.
Duties & Responsibilities
- Initiatives of the Associate Dean of Entrepreneurship or designee(s)
- Assist with efforts to increase entrepreneurship opportunities for students and faculty within the Origin Ventures Office of Entrepreneurship. Strengthen the Office's suite of programs and increase access by expanding the scope of the ecosystem to include Chicago, the State of Illinois, and the national community which may include new partnerships and online programming.
- Investigate opportunities for the Office to support budding student entrepreneurs through events, research, networking and operations.
- Assist with efforts for the Office to serve as an educational resource for innovators to enhance campus-wide interest in and knowledge about entrepreneurship and technology commercialization.
- Contribute to overall work to support unit goals, including participation in team meetings about unit strategy, program development, reporting requirements, branding and communications, advancement, and alumni relations. Provides analytical and programmatic support by evaluating current programs, facilitating structured feedback for improvement, and implementing adjustments annually.
- With Gies Business Marketing and Communications, coordinate outreach and advertising content to attract qualified students to Office offerings.
- Manage workspaces and workstacks for students, as well as day to day communication with them.
- Program Administration
- At the direction of the Associate Dean of Entrepreneurship and/or designee, provide program administration and management for a portfolio of cross-campus programs in entrepreneurship and innovation, including the iVenture Accelerator, Entrecorps, the Entrepreneurship Minor, the Program Fellowship, among other offerings. Within the program fellowship, manage student workers and interns. Support Gies entrepreneurship efforts in Chicago, including but not limited to the iVenture Accelerator summer program.
- Support programs and events, including oversight of outreach, planning, logistics, and operations for programs that engage students in the Illinois and Chicago entrepreneurship ecosystems.
- Represent the Origin Ventures Office of Entrepreneurship at campus and external events, strengthening visibility and engagement.
- Actively explore and implement programs within the entrepreneurial and innovation space that directly align with the current efforts and goals of the unit. Collaborate with faculty, staff, and campus partners to integrate entrepreneurship programming across disciplines and support the development of a cohesive campus-wide ecosystem.
- Manage social media content and coordinate with Gies Marketing & Communications to ensure a consistent and engaging presence across our channels, while supporting other outreach efforts.
- Cultivate and maintain relationships with external stakeholders, including alumni, founders, investors, and corporate partners, to enhance program engagement and mentorship opportunities.
- Create, curate, and deliver educational content in co-curricular and outreach programs. Conduct venture analysis and critique, monitor and assess student progress, design and evaluate founder experiments, and review updates through tracking systems. Produce concise written summaries and feedback memos for startups to guide iteration and improvement. Participate in select workshops, office hours, and group sessions to provide analytical input and pressure-test founder thinking.
- Mentor and coach student startups, social ventures, and constituents. Work with team for program recruitment and selection processes, including outreach, application review, and cohort development.
- Coordinate speakers, mentors, and judges for entrepreneurship programs and events.
- Other Duties as Assigned
Work Schedule, Travel, or Other Job Expectations
Some travel and evening or weekend events are expected.
Specialty Factors
Bachelor's degree. A total of three (3) years (36 months) in education, training, and/or work experience in entrepreneurship or with startups. Demonstrated experience in hands-on management, including project management and/or program management. Demonstrated experience working with college students.
Preferred Qualifications
Master's degree in business, education, fine arts, media, social work, engineering, or a related field. Experience supporting or interacting with entrepreneurship programs in an academic setting. Experience designing and executing structured experiments, including hypothesis testing, data collection, and iterative improvement within startup contexts. Experience with social media management, content creation, and photo/video capture.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- A commitment to serving students and to advancing the intellectual, professional, and leadership development of undergraduates, graduate students, and faculty.
- Strong analytical and critical thinking skills, with the ability to evaluate complex business models, identify risks, and synthesize insights into actionable recommendations.
- Ability to translate data and research findings into practical strategies, including defining key performance indicators (KPIs) and tracking venture progress.
- Knowledge of startup development processes, including customer validation, product iteration, and early-stage venture growth.
- Quantitative and data analysis capabilities in experimental design to support founders.
- Ability to organize, coordinate, and manage multiple complex projects simultaneously with attention to detail, quality, and program consistency and operate effectively in fast-paced, multi-stakeholder environments.
- Ability to work independently.
- High energy, self-motivated, and enthusiastic about working with students.
- Collaborative work style with faculty, students, professionals, and executives.
- Strong interpersonal skills and ability to communicate effectively with others, including producing clear, structured reports and presenting findings to a wide range of audiences.
Appointment Information
This is a 100% full-time Civil Service 5002 - Program Coordinator position, appointed on a 12-month basis. The expected start date is as soon as possible after 8/31/2026. Salary is competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience, while also considering internal equity. The budgeted salary range for this position is $60,000 to $64,000. This position is not eligible for any type of sponsorship for work authorization.
For more information about Gies Business, visit https://inside.giesbusiness.illinois.edu/work-at-gies
For more information on Civil Service classifications, please visit the SUCSS web site at https://www.sucss.illinois.gov/pages/classspec/default.aspx.
Application Procedures & Deadline Information
Applications must be received by 6:00 pm (Central Time) on August 14, 2026. Apply for this position using the Apply Now button at the top or bottom of this posting. Please upload your cover letter, resume (months and years of employment must be included), and names/contact information for three professional references. Please remember to include specific information on how you meet the qualifications of the position in your resume, including all relevant experience. In order to be considered as a transfer candidate, you must apply for this position. Applications not submitted through https://jobs.illinois.edu will not be considered. If required by the position, transcripts or other documentation of credentials are to be provided no later than the first day of employment. For further information about this specific position, please contact rgoben@illinois.edu. For questions regarding the application process, please contact 217-333-2137.
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