Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center Manager - Riyadh

SEA Ventures; Riyadh; On-site; SAR 200,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

A university innovation center in Riyadh is seeking an Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center Manager. This role involves leading various programs aimed at fostering innovation and entrepreneurship within a campus environment. Key responsibilities include program design, stakeholder engagement, operations management, and strategic leadership. Applicants should possess strong communication skills, a relevant degree, and experience managing innovation initiatives. The position requires fluency in Arabic and English and offers a full-time contract.

Qualifications

• 5–7 years of experience in managing innovation hubs or entrepreneurship programs.
• Demonstrated experience working with youth or academic communities.
• Fluency in both written and spoken Arabic and English.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and management of innovation and entrepreneurship programs.
• Build relationships with faculty to create innovation pipelines.
• Manage the Center’s operations, team, and physical space.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Program design and management

Interpersonal communication

Relationship building

Data-driven decision making

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Innovation, Engineering, Education or related fields (Master’s preferred)

Tools

Design Thinking

Lean Startup

Agile

Job description

Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center Manager - Riyadh

Full-time

About US

SEA Ventures is a business accelerator and incubator that strives to unlock and invest in human potential. We work on building the entrepreneurship ecosystem by implementing the best practices locally and globally along with our strategic partners.

Our Vision

Develop highly skilled entrepreneurial leaders whose ventures will develop their countries to a brighter sustainable future.

Our Mission

We are committed to accelerating entrepreneurs' career and business success.

Job Summary

The Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center Manager will lead the design, delivery, and management of a comprehensive suite of innovation and entrepreneurship programs within a university campus environment. The role will focus on fostering a culture of innovation among students and professors, serving as a catalyst for startup creation, technology commercialization, and entrepreneurial mindset development. Key initiatives include bootcamps, hackathons, meetups, venture builder programs, incubators, accelerators, and investment demo days.

Key Responsibilities

• Program Development & Delivery
  • Design and implement dynamic, experiential learning programs tailored to university students and faculty, including startup bootcamps, hackathons, idea labs, and meetups.
  • Deliver venture builder initiatives and commercialization tracks that help academic research and student ideas become market‑ready ventures.
  • Launch and manage incubation and acceleration programs that provide mentorship, workspace, technical support, and access to funding.
• Strategic Leadership
  • Develop the Center’s strategic roadmap in alignment with the university’s innovation and entrepreneurship vision.
  • Drive a university‑wide innovation agenda by integrating programs with academic departments and student affairs.
  • Stay informed on global innovation trends and embed best practices into program offerings.
• Stakeholder Engagement
  • Build collaborative relationships with faculty members to co‑create academic‑industry innovation pipelines.
  • Engage students, researchers, and staff through targeted outreach and inclusive program design.
  • Develop partnerships with government entities, corporates, investors, and entrepreneurial support organizations.
• Campus Integration
  • Position the Center as a core hub within the university, aligning with the academic calendar, student clubs, research labs, and technology transfer offices.
  • Coordinate with campus departments to ensure programs complement curricular and extracurricular initiatives.
• Operations & Team Management
  • Manage the Center’s team, operations, and physical space within the university campus.
  • Oversee budgeting, procurement, vendor management, and reporting for all Center activities.
  • Monitor impact metrics related to student/faculty engagement, startup creation, investment readiness, and employment outcomes.
  • Provide mentorship and advisory to student‑ and faculty‑led startups.
  • Organize investment demo days and pitch competitions connecting university ventures with local and regional investors.
  • Develop alumni networks and offer ongoing support for graduates of the Center’s programs.
• Qualifications & Core Competencies
  • Strategic thinking and leadership in a university context.
  • Passion for education, youth empowerment, and innovation.
  • Program design and management.
  • Excellent interpersonal, communication, and facilitation skills.
  • Relationship‑building with academic, public, and private sector stakeholders.
  • Data‑driven decision making and reporting.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Innovation, Engineering, Education, or related fields (Master’s preferred).
• 5–7 years of experience in managing innovation hubs, entrepreneurship programs, or startup ecosystems, ideally within an educational setting.
• Demonstrated experience working with youth or academic communities is highly preferred.
• Deep knowledge of innovation tools (Design Thinking, Lean Startup, Agile), startup development, and funding landscapes.
• Proven track record in managing accelerator programs, incubators, or startup support initiatives.
• Fluency in both written and spoken Arabic and English is essential.
• Willingness to work on weekends and after‑hours as needed.
• Flexibility to travel as needed.

Additional Requirements

• Flexibility to accommodate after‑hours commitments as needed.
• Willingness to work on weekends when necessary.
• Flexibility to travel as needed.
• Passion for venture creation.
• Leadership and team management: Proven ability to lead a small team and manage programs, including end‑to‑end project and program management.
• Operational expertise: Skilled at overseeing and leading operations in a fast‑paced environment with limited resources.
• Problem‑solving and creativity: A creative problem‑solver with a proven ability to deliver exceptional results.
• Detail‑oriented: Highly organized with exceptional attention to detail.
• Adaptability and feedback: Open to feedback, willing to learn, and highly adaptable in dynamic environments.
• Work ethic and resilience: Efficient, resilient, and flexible, with a strong commitment to results‑driven work.
• Cultural fit: Enjoys working in an environment that is transparent, curious, collaborative, and fun.