Part-Time Entrepreneur in Residence

Indiana University East values a variety of backgrounds, experiences, and intellectual perspectives among its faculty, staff, and students. The campus is dedicated to being a strong partner in enhancing the educational, cultural, and economic development of the region it serves through community and civic engagement. Learn more about IU East.

Job Summary

IU Innovates East seeks a part-time Entrepreneur in Residence (EIR) to lead and coordinate a new online program supporting IU East students who are exploring, developing, and launching entrepreneurial ventures. This position serves as the primary operational leader and mentor for the IU Innovates East Founders Group, a competitive 6-week program designed to help students advance from their current position in the IU Innovates Learning and Launch Journey toward the next stage of venture development. The program will serve students from across academic disciplines, including students who already have business ideas or ventures underway as well as students who are still identifying and developing entrepreneurial opportunities.

Department Specific Responsibilities

• Works under the Office of Academic Affairs and coordinates programming with faculty in the School of Business and Economics.
• Plays a central role in establishing IU Innovates East as a complement to IU East's existing entrepreneurship programs and in creating an accessible, cross-disciplinary pathway for students who want to turn ideas and opportunities into viable ventures.
• Leads the planning, coordination, and implementation of the 6-week IU Innovates East Founders Group during the fall and spring semesters.
• Recruits students from across IU East, including students participating in existing entrepreneurship programs as well as students from disciplines outside traditional business programs.
• Coordinates a competitive student application and selection process, with cohort selection informed by applicants' positions within the IU Innovates Learning and Launch Journey and IU East entrepreneurship Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
• Develops and coordinates weekly asynchronous activities and synchronous online Founders Group meetings.
• Provides individual mentoring and guidance to participating student entrepreneurs.
• Helps students identify specific milestones that will move them toward the next stage of entrepreneurial development.
• Supervises student Community Managers who will assist with recruitment, communications, session facilitation, online community management, and participation tracking.
• Works with faculty, staff, alumni, entrepreneurs, and community partners to provide appropriate expertise and resources to participants.
• Connects students, when appropriate, with alumni, entrepreneurs, investors, mentors, and other resources within the IU and regional entrepreneurship ecosystems.
• Tracks student participation, entrepreneurial stage, milestones, and progress toward IU Innovates KPIs.
• Maintains communication with students throughout the 6-week program and helps participants identify appropriate next steps following completion.
• Assists in documenting program outcomes and student success stories that can support future program development and external fundraising.

Qualifications

EDUCATION

Required

• Bachelor's degree.

WORK EXPERIENCE

Required

• Experience starting, operating, advising, or supporting entrepreneurial ventures.

Preferred

• Experience in entrepreneurship education, start-up mentoring, business development, or venture creation.
• Experience in customer discovery, prototype development, minimum viable product testing, or early-stage business growth.
• Experience coaching or mentoring college students or emerging entrepreneurs.
• Experience building entrepreneurial communities or peer-based founder networks.
• Connections to the East Central Indiana entrepreneurship or business community.

SKILLS

Required

• Ability to mentor students at different stages of entrepreneurial development.
• Strong organizational and program-management skills.
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and facilitation skills.
• Ability to work effectively with students from a wide range of academic disciplines.
• Ability to facilitate online meetings and managing a largely virtual program.
• Ability to build relationships with faculty, staff, alumni, entrepreneurs, and community partners.
• Ability to use a practical, student-centered approach to entrepreneurship that emphasizes experimentation, learning, and progress.

Working Conditions / Demands

This role requires the ability to effectively communicate and to operate a computer and other standard office productivity equipment. The position involves sedentary work as well as periods of time moving around an office environment and the campus. The person in this role must be able to perform the essential functions with or without an accommodation.

Additional Information

This position will end in June of 2027 with possible extension contingent on available funding.

Work Location

IU East Campus

Richmond, Indiana

This is a in-person position.

Advertised Salary

$40.00 per hour

Job Classification

Career Level: Part Time Employee

FLSA: Nonexempt

Job Function: Part Time Employee

Job Family: Part Time Employee

Click here to learn more about Indiana University's Job Framework.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Indiana University is an equal opportunity employer and provider of ADA services and prohibits discrimination in hiring. See Indiana University Notice of Non-Discrimination here which includes contact information.

Contact Us

Request Support
Telephone: 812-856-1234