IU Innovates Entrepreneurship Program Manager (Program Management Specialist)

Job Summary

IU innovates seeks 2 Entrepreneurship Program Managers to lead day-to-day programming and student support, operating founders' groups and incubation programs at the Bloomington (Von Lee building) or Indianapolis (Hine Hall IP100) campus. This role blends program design, founder coaching, community management, operations, and cross-functional collaboration to ensure student founders make measurable weekly progress - from idea exploration through MVP development, testing, and early customer acquisition - while fostering a high-trust, high-accountability founder community.

Department-Specific Responsibilities

• Conducts regular 1:1 meetings with student founders to guide progress, remove blockers, and provide tailored feedback.
• Provides ongoing support via Slack, email, and in-person drop-ins, addressing tactical questions, emotional barriers, and strategic decision-making.
• Facilitates introductions to peers, mentors, and subject-matter specialists as appropriate to each founder's needs.
• Manages, teaches, and continuously improves flagship programs: the Explore Stage Bootcamp (Bloomington) and JagStart pitch competition (Indianapolis), covering customer discovery, MVP creation, and entrepreneurial fundamentals.
• Leads workshop programming and Founders Groups across multiple tracks (Explore, MVP, Testing, Customer, special verticals). We value dynamic speakers who build enthusiasm in students.
• Ensures all programming aligns with team principles, incubator milestones, and measurable progress metrics.
• Cultivates high-trust founder communities within IU Innovates coworking spaces with 24/7 access.
• Establishes and maintains community norms, guidelines, and expectations that promote collaboration, accountability, and a healthy working environment.
• Organizes and facilitates founder meetups, events, and informal events that strengthen community engagement.
• Supervises or coordinates Community Managers and Founders in Residence to coordinate communication across full-time and part-time staff to ensure consistent program execution.
• Oversees weekly logistics including meeting scheduling, attendance tracking, Slack channel management, and form submissions.
• Monitors and reports on student progress across program stages (Explore, MVP, Testing, Customer) to program leadership.
• Manages and maintains space (Von Lee, Hine Hall suite)
• Identifies and implements improvements
• Contributes to long-term strategic planning for space needs
• The Entrepreneurship Program Manager at IU Indianapolis will lead the Entrepreneurship Task Force, a monthly cross-campus faculty meeting hosted in collaboration with the provost.
• Collaborates with faculty partners, campus entrepreneurship units, industry mentors, and external organizations.
• Represents IU Innovates at university events, partner meetings, and entrepreneurial ecosystem activities.

General Responsibilities

• Implements the organization's strategic vision and direction by developing, initiating, and/or supporting new programs and services, creating annual work plans, and operating within a board-approved balanced budget.
• Ensures the maintenance of effective office management, financial management, record-keeping, and equipment and software.
• Plans, directs and implements programs or events, including developing branding strategy and targeting audiences for these events.
• Oversees or represents the program in communications to program participants, supporting institutions, collaborators in other units, community partners, vendors and the public.
• Troubleshoots and resolves issues and programs.
• Provides mechanisms, training, and advice on a variety of issues such as budget management software and advanced strategies for timely spending of grant funds.
• Oversees research and academic activities budgets for programs. Identifies funding requirements and funding sources to ensure adequate resources to sustain program goals.
• Leads grant writing.
• Evaluates the performance of lower-level staff, recommends development and performance plans, promotions and disciplinary action and is accountable for consistent administration of university policies.
• Keeps with best practices to create and implement policies and procedures that deliver a quality program experience.