Head of Founder & Venture Development

Auckland; Auckland; Hybrid; NZD 123,000 - 146,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible hours

Superannuation up to 6.75%

Five weeks' leave

Career development

Discounted parking

Parental leave

Childcare support

Job summary

The University of Auckland's Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) seeks an experienced leader to shape the founder and venture development pathway, build a new Venture & Founder Development team, and deliver high-quality programmes across a busy, year‑round portfolio.

You will cultivate trusted relationships with founders, researchers, mentors, investors and industry, apply evidence to portfolio decisions, and align delivery with CIE’s strategy to boost research translation and

Qualifications

• Significant experience in venture and founder development, entrepreneurship, or related field.
• Proven track record in leading and developing high-performing teams.
• Strong forward planning and portfolio-management skills in fast-moving environments.
• Deep understanding of founder journeys and early-stage development.
• Strong commercial judgement and understanding of research translation.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and influencing skills.
• Experience coaching founders through uncertainty and testing opportunities.
• Strategic judgement translating priorities into delivery and measurable outcomes.
• Experience managing budgets, resources and operational planning.
• A relevant tertiary qualification in business, innovation, entrepreneurship, science, engineering or related discipline.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic development and delivery of CIE’s founder and venture development portfolio.
• Shape a coherent pathway from early idea through validation to next-stage support.
• Build and lead a Venture & Founder Development team with clear priorities.
• Lead a diverse portfolio of founder and venture initiatives with mentors and partners.
• Build trusted relationships with founders, researchers, mentors, investors, industry and ecosystem partners.
• Strengthen connections between venture initiatives and opportunities for translation, investment and support.
• Use evidence and founder insights to inform portfolio decisions and improve outcomes.
• Contribute as a member of CIE’s Leadership Team to strategy, performance, culture and development.

Skills

Venture development

People leadership

Portfolio management

Strategic planning

Stakeholder engagement

Budget management

Commercialisation / research translate

Academic environment

Mentoring founders

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Tertiary qualification in business/innovation/entrepreneurship/science/engineering

Job description

The University of Auckland's Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) seeks an experienced leader to shape the founder and venture development pathway, build a new Venture & Founder Development team, and deliver high-quality programmes across a busy, year‑round portfolio.

You will cultivate trusted relationships with founders, researchers, mentors, investors and industry, apply evidence to portfolio decisions, and align delivery with CIE’s strategy to boost research translation and