Program Manager / PhD (m/f/x) - Innovation PhD Program

Hasso-Plattner-Institut für Digital Engineering gGmbH; Potsdam; Híbrido; EUR 52.000 - 70.000; Jornada completa

Ventajas ofrecidas por este puesto de trabajo

Remote work up to 2 days/week

Annual vacation allowance

Startup ecosystem access

Descripción de la vacante

The Hasso Plattner Institute (HPI) Engine invites applications for a Program Manager / PhD (m/f/x) to lead a new pan-European PhD program combining frontier machine learning research with deep-tech venture building. The role is two-year, full-time, with on-site weeks across Europe and potential PhD eligibility for the selected candidates.

You will organize year-round program cycles, bootcamps, and scoping-based learning materials while coordinating with research institutes, mentors, and

Formación

• Master's degree in Business, Economics, Computer Science, Engineering, Psychology, Education or related field; PhD eligibility required.
• Professional experience from consulting or comparable environments, such as venture building, innovation programs or startups.
• Strong methodological skills: structure open problems, hypothesis-driven work, evidence from research/interviews, and turn into teachable material.
• Highly organized and able to run complex formats across sites/countries, keeping timelines and budgets under control.
• Manage stakeholders with confidence and align partners who do not report to you.
• Ideally have founded a company or worked in a startup/VC, and comfortable in technical conversations about AI research.
• Fluent in English, confident in German, and willing to travel across Europe for on-site weeks.

Responsabilidades

• Run the program: plan and deliver the year-round program cycle with milestones, peer formats, office hours and progress reviews across European labs.
• Lead bootcamps: design, organize and facilitate multi-day on-site bootcamps at partner sites across Europe, including agenda, speakers and logistics.
• Shape learning: translate scoping methodologies into teachable ML research material with milestone briefs and rubrics.
• Bridge worlds: act as the operational link between doctoral candidates, supervisors, mentors and partner institutes.
• Grow the program: support candidate selection and onboard new partner institutes and mentors.
• Lead & Learn: combine your PhD research with running the program, exploring questions in entrepreneurship education or venture creation from research.

Conocimientos

Project management

Stakeholder management

Entrepreneurship/venture building

English (fluent)

German (proficient)

Educación

Master's degree or equivalent

Descripción del empleo

HPI is recognized as one of the leading university institutes for computer science ( www.hpi.de ). Our goal is to strengthen Europe's digital sovereignty with excellent research and practice-oriented teaching in computer science. At HPI, we are convinced that excellence is created when knowledge from different disciplines is collaboratively combined to create responsible and pioneering solutions for the future.
In our research clusters "Systems," "Data and AI," "Foundations," "Digital Health," "Security," and "Business and Society" researchers from various disciplines work together on topics relevant to solving the challenges facing society. The Digital Engineering Faculty of the University of Potsdam and HPI offers a computer science engineering degree program that is unique in Germany.

In the course of its strong growth, the Hasso Plattner Institute is looking for the earliest possible start date for a

Program Manager / PhD (m/f/x) - Innovation PhD Program

The position is initially limited to 2 years and full-time.

HPI Engine is the entrepreneurship ecosystem of the Hasso Plattner Institute, one of Europe's leading hubs for digital entrepreneurship. With 300+ founders, 450+ startups, and over €1B in raised capital, we enable tech innovators to turn ideas into impactful ventures through education, mentorship, and community. Together with HPI Ventures, we support startups from first idea to global scale.

Your Role

You will lead a new pan-European PhD program that combines frontier research in machine learning with deep tech venture building. The program is developed by HPI Engine in cooperation with leading European research institutes.

• Run the Program: Plan and deliver the year-round program cycle (regular milestone sessions, peer formats, office hours and progress reviews) and keep a cohort spread across European labs on track between on-site weeks
• Lead the Bootcamps: Design, organize and facilitate multi-day on-site bootcamps at partner sites across Europe, from agenda and speakers to logistics, and lead sessions on scoping and problem-solving methods yourself
• Shape Learning: Turn our scoping methodology, which works backwards from a societal outcome to a research agenda that is both feasible and publishable, into teachable material for ML research: milestone briefs, rubrics and worked examples
• Bridge Worlds: Act as the operational link between doctoral candidates, their supervisors, entrepreneurial mentors and partner institutes, and align people who do not report to you
• Grow the Program: Support candidate selection and bring new partner institutes and mentors on board as the program expands
• Lead & Learn: Combine your own PhD research with running the program, ideally on questions the program raises, such as entrepreneurship education or venture creation from research

Your Profile

• You hold a Master's degree (or equivalent) in Business, Economics, Computer Science, Engineering, Psychology, Education or a related field (PhD eligibility required)
• You bring professional experience from consulting or a comparable environment, such as venture building, innovation programs or startups
• You have strong methodological skills: you structure open problems, work hypothesis-driven and gather evidence through research and expert interviews. You can also turn this into clear material and sessions that teach others to do the same
• You are highly organized and run complex formats with many moving parts across sites and countries, keeping timelines, budgets and details under control
• You manage stakeholders with confidence: you build trust with senior researchers, founders and investors, and align partners who do not report to you
• Ideally, you have founded a company or worked in a startup or VC firm, and you are comfortable in technical conversations about AI research
• You are fluent in English, confident in German and willing to travel across Europe for the program's on-site weeks

The position is designed for candidates who plan to pursue a PhD, and it is structured accordingly. PhD eligibility is therefore required. Potential candidates do not have to be enrolled in a PhD program at the time of their application to qualify for the role. Both internal and external PhD programs are possible.

What we offer

• The best of both worlds: grow your academic career while driving real-world impact
• Direct access to founders, investors, and the broader startup ecosystem
• A vibrant community at the intersection of tech, research, and entrepreneurship
• Regular team events and workshops
• For problems of any kind (including those in your private life), you can use our external employee counseling service free of charge
• Attractive employee offers (corporate benefits)
• Possibility to work remotely (up to 2 days a week)
• 30 days of vacation plus two additional days off on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve
• Numerous sports facilities (tennis and basketball courts, beach volleyball court, calisthenics park, and participation in running events)
• Workplace on the HPI campus in Potsdam-Babelsberg (Griebnitzsee S-Bahn station), with fast transportation connections to Berlin