Entrepreneurship & Innovation Center Program Manager

Posting Details

Position Details

Title Entrepreneurship & Innovation Center Program Manager Appointment Status Non-Tenure Track Department IU Kokomo Academic Affairs Location Kokomo Position Summary

• • • FOR INDIANA UNIVERSITY KOKOMO EMPLOYEES ONLY *

One of eight campuses of Indiana University, Indiana University Kokomo is a comprehensive non-residential campus located 50 miles north of Indianapolis in Kokomo, Indiana, a city with a population of about 57,000. Committed to student success, the campus serves approximately 3,230 students from a 14-county area in north-central Indiana. lU Kokomo has around 260 full-time faculty and staff. Associate, baccalaureate, and master's degrees are offered. Additional information about Indiana University Kokomo can be accessed at http://Kokomo.iu.edu/ . Accommodations are available in the hiring process for individuals with disabilities. Those needing accommodation should contact the Office of Civil Rights Compliance at 765-455-9316.

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

Entrepreneurship & Innovation Center Program Manager Roles & Responsibilities

Position Purpose

The Entrepreneurship & Innovation Center Program Manager serves as the operational lead for

IU (Campus)'s Entrepreneurship & Innovation Center and the primary campus liaison to IU Innovates. This individual is responsible for coordinating entrepreneurship programming, cultivating student engagement, activating the center as a hub of innovation, and connecting students with faculty, alumni, and community partners.

Working collaboratively with campus leadership and IU Innovates, the Program Manager builds a vibrant entrepreneurship ecosystem that guides students through the IU Innovates Learning & Launch Journey-supporting learners from initial curiosity and problem exploration through venture development, customer discovery, and launch.

Core Objectives

• Build a vibrant campus entrepreneurship community.
• Guide students through the IU Innovates Learning & Launch Journey.
• Activate the Entrepreneurship & Innovation Center as the campus hub for innovation.
• Strengthen connections between campus, alumni, and the regional entrepreneurship ecosystem.

Primary Responsibilities

Student Engagement & Founder Coaching

• Serve as the primary point of contact for students interested in entrepreneurship and innovation.
• Provide direct coaching and mentorship through one-on-one meetings, Founder Groups, workshops, bootcamps, and other experiential learning opportunities.
• Assess each student's stage in the IU Innovates Learning & Launch Journey and provide individualized guidance, accountability, and connections to mentors, alumni, investors, funding opportunities, and campus resources.
• Foster a welcoming and inclusive environment that encourages students to explore ideas, develop ventures, and engage with the entrepreneurship community.

Program Coordination

• Coordinate implementation of IU Innovates programming at IU (Campus) that supports students throughout the Learning & Launch Journey.
• Develop and maintain the annual entrepreneurship programming calendar in collaboration with campus partners.
• Plan and execute workshops, Founder Groups, speaker events, networking opportunities, pitch competitions, bootcamps, and other entrepreneurship programming.
• Ensure programming aligns with campus priorities while maintaining consistency with the IU Innovates statewide framework.

Entrepreneurship & Innovation Center Operations

• Activate the Entrepreneurship & Innovation Center as a vibrant gathering space for students.
• Coordinate drop-in hours, networking opportunities, community-building activities, and regular center programming.
• Collaborate with faculty and campus partners to integrate entrepreneurship into academic and co-curricular experiences.
• Increase student awareness and utilization of the Center.

Community Manager Leadership

• Recruit, hire, train, and supervise student Community Managers.
• Coordinate Community Manager schedules, office hours, Founder Groups, and student engagement activities.
• Hold regular planning meetings and provide ongoing coaching to ensure consistent program delivery and peer mentorship.

Campus & Community Partnerships

• Build relationships with faculty, alumni, entrepreneurs, investors, and regional ecosystem partners.
• Connect students to entrepreneurship events, accelerators, competitions, mentors, internships, and funding opportunities.
• Expand partnerships that enhance experiential learning and strengthen the campus entrepreneurship ecosystem.

Operations & Communication

• Coordinate logistics for entrepreneurship programming and events.
• Collaborate with IU Innovates on communications, storytelling, marketing, reporting, and statewide initiatives.
• Maintain calendars, documentation, program resources, and other operational materials.

Assessment & Continuous Improvement

• Track student participation, venture progression, and outcomes across the IU Innovates Learning & Launch Journey.
• Collect student feedback and recommend program improvements.
• Prepare reports and updates for campus leadership, IU Innovates, and external stakeholders.
• Monitor key performance indicators related to engagement, venture development, mentorship, and ecosystem growth.

Collaboration

The Program Manager will work collaboratively with:

• IU (Campus) faculty and staff
• IU Innovates leadership
• Student Community Managers
• Student entrepreneurs
• Alumni founders
• Regional entrepreneurship ecosystem partners
• Community organizations and funders

Basic Qualifications

Desired Qualifications

The ideal candidate demonstrates:

• Strong project or program management experience.
• Experience working with students, founders, startups, nonprofits, or innovation initiatives.
• Excellent relationship-building and communication skills.
• Ability to organize and manage multiple initiatives simultaneously.
• Comfort working in a collaborative, entrepreneurial environment.
• Passion for helping students progress through the IU Innovates Learning & Launch Journey while building an inclusive entrepreneurship ecosystem.
• Previous entrepreneurial or founder experience preferred.

Department Contact for Questions

For further information, please contact Academic Affairs at 765.455-9248.

Additional Qualifications

Success Measures

Success in this role will be demonstrated through:

• Increased student participation in entrepreneurship programming.
• Growth in the number of students progressing through successive stages of the IU Innovates Learning & Launch Journey.
• Strong participation in Founder Groups, workshops, and mentorship opportunities.
• Active utilization of the Entrepreneurship & Innovation Center.
• Strong collaboration across campus and with regional ecosystem partners.
• Increased student venture development, prototype creation, customer discovery, and venture launches.
• Positive student satisfaction and engagement.
• Effective execution of entrepreneurship programming and events.
• Meaningful contributions to the growth of IU Innovates' statewide entrepreneurship ecosystem.

Salary and Rank Special Instructions

Applicants should submit a letter of application addressing your qualifications for this position given the requirements and preferences above. Please include a curriculum vitae and contact information. Review of applications will begin August 12, 2026. Interested candidates should upload their application at:https://indiana.peopleadmin.com/postings/33944.

For Best Consideration Date 08/12/2026 Expected Start Date 08/24/2026 Posting Number IU-101619-2026

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

Applicant Documents

Required Documents

• Curriculum Vitae
• Letter of Application

Optional Documents