Program Manager, PCI Ventures

Job Description Summary

The Program Manager for PCI Ventures is responsible for leading the planning, execution, and operational oversight of programs that support innovation and startup development. This role manages the full lifecycle of Ventures programming-including seminars, pitch competitions, and showcases-while also overseeing marketing initiatives, startup company formation processes, CRM/database administration, and select financial and administrative operations. Working closely with the Executive Director and PCI Ventures team, the Program Manager ensures that programs are delivered strategically, efficiently, and in alignment with organizational priorities. This role also supports other PCI groups and staff members as needed on organizational and administrative needs. This position requires strong project management skills, sound judgment, and the ability to balance strategic coordination with hands-on execution in a dynamic, innovation-focused environment. The role operates in a hybrid work setting.

Job Responsibilities

• Lead the planning and execution of PCI Ventures programs and events, including seminar series, pitch competitions, showcases, and related initiatives. Oversee event strategy and logistics, including speaker recruitment and engagement, marketing coordination, vendor management, registration processes, and post-event evaluation to ensure high-quality delivery aligned with Ventures' strategic goals.
• Oversee company formation and compliance activities for Ventures-supported startups, ensuring accurate and timely completion of company legal entity filings, Delaware LLC tax processing, registered agent management, and government grant registrations. Coordinate operational setup including company domains, websites, and email infrastructure, serving as a procedural resource to venture teams.
• Develop, manage and execute marketing and communications initiatives to promote Ventures programming and portfolio companies, including the Ventures annual report. Partner with Marketing and Communications at PCI, and additional innovation organizations as needed, to align messaging, manage campaign timelines, oversee content dissemination across multiple channels, and evaluate engagement metrics to strengthen program visibility and impact.
• Cultivate and maintain strategic relationships with Penn innovation partners and program sponsors to expand engagement, strengthen collaboration, and support the growth and sustainability of Ventures initiatives.
• Serve as primary administrator of the Ventures Salesforce database, overseeing data governance, system optimization, report generation, data integrity, and coordination of cross-platform integrations. Produce reports and analytics to support leadership decision-making and program evaluation.
• Manage designated financial operations for Ventures programming, including invoice generation and processing, purchase order creation, procurement card reconciliation, and maintenance of the monthly equity tracking file, ensuring compliance with University policies and financial procedures.
• Provide operational and administrative support to the Ventures team and other PCI teams, as assigned, ensuring efficient coordination of meetings, travel, expense processing, supply management, and internal workflows. Identify and implement process improvements to enhance team effectiveness and operational efficiency.
• Perform additional duties as assigned

Qualifications

• Candidates must possess a bachelor's degree or an equivalent combination of education and professional experience, along with at least 2 years of relevant experience in program management, operations, startup support, higher education administration, or a related field. The successful candidate will have demonstrated experience planning and executing events or multi-stakeholder programs and be proficient in Microsoft Office Suite applications, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, and Outlook. Experience using Salesforce or a comparable CRM/database system is required. The role demands strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to create and edit content for reports, web, or marketing materials. Candidates must demonstrate excellent organizational and project management skills, strong attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple priorities independently.
• Preferred candidates will have experience supporting startup company formation activities, such as LLC filings, compliance documentation, and government or federal grant registrations. Experience developing or supporting marketing and communications campaigns, including digital and social media outreach, is strongly desired. Familiarity with federal grant registration platforms (e.g., SAM.gov, Grants.gov), experience working within a university, innovation, venture capital, or entrepreneurial ecosystem, and experience with financial processing, invoice management, or budget tracking are advantageous. Demonstrated ability to identify opportunities for operational improvement and implement system enhancements is also preferred.

Job Location - City, State

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Department / School

Provost's Center

Pay Range

$64,500.00 - $75,000.00 Annual Rate

Salary offers are made based on the candidate's qualifications, experience, skills, and education as they directly relate to the requirements of the position, and in alignment with salary ranges based on external market data for the job's level. Internal organization and peer data at Penn are also considered.