"Director, Ratcliffe Center for Creative Entrepreneurship (RCCE)"

Position Summary

The Director will lead and activate a passion for creative entrepreneurship through thought leadership. This leadership position is responsible for advancing student-engaged entrepreneurship, cultivating community and business partnerships, and building innovative, high-impact programs through the Ratcliffe Center for Creative Entrepreneurship (RCCE). The Director will collaborate closely with MICA’s senior leadership, Open Studies, Advancement, and external stakeholders to scale the Center’s mission of transforming classroom ideas into ventures and industry-changing outcomes.

The RCCE is a vital component of MICA’s academic identity, serving students and faculty across all disciplines. The Director will represent the Center both internally and externally, foster long-term institutional partnerships, and ensure compliance with the grant agreement between MICA and the Philip E. & Carole R. Ratcliffe Foundation.

Major Role Functions

• Provide strategic vision and serve as MICA’s central leader for entrepreneurship co-curricular and extracurricular programming.
• Manage all daily operations of the RCCE, including team supervision and program execution.
• Collaborate with academic and administrative leaders to design and pilot entrepreneurial initiatives aligned with MICA’s mission.
• Build and sustain a robust network of community partners, industry mentors, and experiential learning sites for student and alumni ventures.
• Integrate entrepreneurship as a core institutional pillar by engaging departments and divisions across the College.
• Represent the RCCE at institutional, local, and national events, elevating the visibility of MICA’s entrepreneurship ecosystem.

Key Responsibilities

• Expand the RCCE’s co-curricular offerings and deepen engagement with external business and nonprofit communities.
• Lead the vision and implementation of a national entrepreneurship conference at MICA—curating speakers, designing tracks, coordinating logistics, and fostering community engagement.
• Act as the campus point of contact for strategic partnerships that support student venture development, incubation, and launch.
• Collaborate with the Associate Director to design and deliver the UP/Start Accelerator curriculum, integrating guest lectures and mentorship from industry experts.
• Facilitate quarterly co-working incubator sessions to maintain alumni and student engagement with MICA’s entrepreneurship network.
• Recruit/retain/maintain an advisory board of investors, entrepreneurs, and civic leaders to advise and support RCCE programs.
• Collaborate with Strategic Communications to promote student/alumni success stories and elevate MICA’s impact in the venture space.
• Partner with Advancement and Finance to develop annual and final reports demonstrating RCCE program deliverables in accordance with the Ratcliffe Foundation grant.
• Support growth of key RCCE resources: CESI Hub, Resource Labs, and ENTRE/Play online tools to increase access for students, alumni, and faculty.
• Oversee program assessment and conduct regular evaluations of RCCE staffing, programming, partnerships, and financial operations.
• Develop integrated engagement strategies with BCAN and alumni bridge initiatives to expand post-graduation support.
• Build and sustain relationships to secure demonstration, launch, or incubation spaces to showcase venture cohorts and pilot products.
• Conduct ongoing research on best practices in entrepreneurship education and incorporate insights into RCCE programming and conference design.
• Maintain a curated roster of mentors, speakers, judges, and panelists who support student and alumni ventures.
• Develop and disseminate resources that connect MICA entrepreneurs to local and national support systems, including investors and incubators.
• Oversee the production of the Outside the Lines Journal (RCCE Zine) and support its integration into RCCE storytelling.
• Collaborate with Strategic Communications and media teams to design and implement multi-channel marketing campaigns for the RCCE.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Experience in business development, including familiarity with business planning resources and venture support systems.
• Strong background in program administration, event planning, and stakeholder engagement.
• Understanding of the intersections between entrepreneurship and the fields of art and design.
• Demonstrated experience in delivering presentations, pitches, and public speaking engagements.
• Proven ability to build relationships with a broad range of stakeholders including students, alumni, faculty, funders, and industry partners.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with strengths in planning and documentation.
• A demonstrated and active commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, with the ability to work across difference with respect and empathy.
• Professional demeanor with strong interpersonal skills, collaborative orientation, and capacity for complex problem-solving.
• Proficiency in standard office technology platforms (Microsoft Office; Windows or macOS); ability to learn new systems quickly.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree, preferably in business or related field
• Relevant experience including business generation, project management, event planning
• Previous experience with small business advisement and entrepreneurship ownership

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s Degree, preferably in business or related field
• Experience working with college students or in an educational setting
• Proficiency with the Adobe Creative Suite

Conditions of Employment

• Satisfactory Background Check results
• Position will require some evening and/or weekend work

To Apply

Please submit your resume, a cover letter outlining your interest and qualifications, and contact information for three references. Application review will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.