Assistant Project Director, Adelphi Entrepreneur (AE) Experience

Adelphi University; Village of Garden City (NY); On-site; USD 70,000 - 73,000; Full time

Job summary

Adelphi University’s Robert B. Willumstad School of Business seeks an Assistant Project Director to oversee the Entrepreneurial Development model and two 20-student cohorts each year.

You’ll manage grant expenditures, coordinate with Entrepreneurs-in-Residence and SMEs, and supervise staff while guiding recruitment and program delivery across the Greater New York innovation economy. You will work with campus faculty and external partners to ensure data collection, compliance with FERPA, and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration or related field required.
• Master's degree preferred for advancement.
• Experience in program administration, project management, or grant-funded initiatives.
• Experience in higher education administration, startup accelerators, venture studios, or economic development programs.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day administrative, logistical, and operational workflows for the nine-month Entrepreneurial Development model.
• Manage grant budget expenditures and procurement in line with MBDA guidelines.
• Coordinate data collection across program phases and track metrics such as demographics, attendance, and milestones.
• Supervise staff including a part-time Student Success Advisor and a Student Social Media Manager.

Skills

Communication skills

Supervision experience

Stakeholder coordination

Data analysis basics

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration or related field

Master's degree preferred

Tools

MS Office/Google Workspace

Learning Management Systems (LMS)

Job description

Robert B. Willumstad School of Business

JOB SUMMARY:

The Assistant Project Director oversees the day-to-day operations and management of The Adelphi Entrepreneur (AE) Experience-a premier regional entrepreneurship ecosystem initiative supported by a Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) federal grant. Designed as a non-credit-bearing, stackable-credential model, the AE Experience combines evidence-based academic instruction, experiential learning, and practitioner mentorship to equip student entrepreneurs to successfully launch, grow, and sustain ventures across Empire State Development's Office of Strategic Workforce Development (OSWD) target high-growth sectors.

The Assistant Project Director leads operational execution, manages sprint schedules for two 20-student cohorts (Spring 2027 and Fall 2027), oversees grant expenditures, coordinates ecosystem stakeholders (Entrepreneurs-in-Residence, Subject Matter Experts, and regional partners), supervises direct report staff, and executes marketing and student recruitment across the Greater New York innovation economy.

SALARY INFORMATION:

In compliance with New York's Pay Transparency Act, the annual base salary range for this position is $70,000 - $73,000. Adelphi University considers factors such as departmental budgets, scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate's work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, as well as market and organizational considerations when extending an offer. The above hiring range represents the University's good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting. An annual base salary higher than the range may be warranted in circumstances where a candidate has demonstrable equivalent prior higher education experience at another University.

Adelphi University provides a comprehensive benefit package for faculty and staff employees.

RESPONSIBILITIES & DUTIES:

Operational Leadership & Grant Administration:

• Oversee day-to-day administrative, logistical, and operational workflows for the 9-month Entrepreneurial Development (ED) Model and its six 4-week sprint cycles.
• Manage and track grant budget expenditures, operational expenses, and procurement processes in strict accordance with University policies and MBDA grant guidelines.
• Facilitate comprehensive data collection across all four program phases (Launch, Operational, Completion, and Final Evaluation), tracking metrics such as student demographics, attendance, Panther Playbook completions, externships, prototypes, capital infusion, and business formations.
• Maintain administrative systems for FERPA compliance, data exchange, and continuous program improvement based on stakeholder feedback and monthly reviews.

Programmatic Coordination & Panther Playbook Operations:

• Coordinate the scheduling, delivery, and logistics of the Panther Playbook modules in close collaboration with Robert B. Willumstad School of Business faculty leads and facilitators.
• Seamlessly integrate and execute the seven core components of the ED Model: Panther Playbook, Externships, Insights by Experts, Founder Circles, Faculty Venture Studio Hours, Success Coaching, and Mentorship.
• Organize and manage regional events, workshops, and networking sessions at Adelphi's main campus, regional startup hubs, co-working spaces, and partner facilities across target counties.

Stakeholder Management & Ecosystem Engagement:

• Recruit, onboard, and coordinate schedules for Entrepreneurs-in-Residence (EIRs), Venture Subject Matter Experts (SMEs), and industry mentors representing OSWD high-growth sectors (e.g., Biotech, Cleantech, Software/Digital Media, AI, Financial Services).
• Serve as an operational liaison to key grant partners, including CVL Economics (data evaluation) and Extern (externship facilitation).
• Partner with University Communications to develop branding assets, manage media promotion, and highlight student founder milestones and regional economic impact.

Student Recruitment & Personnel Supervision:

• Execute outreach and recruitment campaigns across university and community networks to recruit two cohorts of 20 highly qualified student entrepreneurs.
• Provide direct supervision, workflow management, and performance guidance to direct reports: the Student Success Advisor (Part-Time) and the Social Media Manager (Student).
• Monitor student progress toward certificate completion requirements, tracking attendance, business plan validation, prototype execution, and milestone achievements.

Organizational & Team Structure:

This position functions within a dedicated multi-disciplinary project team:

• Project Leadership: Reports directly to the Project Director (Dean, Willumstad School of Business) and Co-Project Director (Associate Dean).
• Direct Reports: Directly supervises the Student Success Advisor (Part-Time) and Social Media Manager (Student Worker).
• Key Collaborators: Works in close coordination with the Project Manager, Faculty Curriculum Developers (5), Faculty Facilitators (5), CVL Economics evaluation leads, Extern coordinators, and regional EIRs/SMEs.

EDUCATIONAL/EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Higher Education, Innovation/Entrepreneurship, or a closely related field is required.
• Master's degree is preferred.
• Minimum of two years of experience in program administration, project management, or grant-funded initiatives.
• Experience in higher education administration, startup accelerators, venture studios, or economic development programs.
• Ability to supervise staff, student workers, or cross-functional teams.
• Experience facilitating collaboration across diverse stakeholders (faculty, corporate partners, mentors, student founders), and managing academic support staff, student success advisors, or marketing/social media teams.
• Excellent oral, written, and presentation skills.
• Proficiency in basic data analysis, survey tools, Learning Management Systems (LMS), and MS Office/Google Workspace.

POSTION(S) SUPERVISED:

• Student Success Advisor (Part-Time).

ABOUT ADELPHI:

Adelphi University, New York, is a highly awarded, nationally ranked, powerfully connected doctoral research university dedicated to transforming students' lives through small classes with world-class faculty, hands-on learning and innovative ways to support academic and career success. Adelphi offers exceptional liberal arts and sciences programs and professional training, with particular strength in our Core Four-Arts and Humanities, STEM and Social Sciences, the Business and Education Professions, and Health and Wellness. Recognized as a Best College by U.S. News & World Report, Adelphi is Long Island's oldest private coeducational university, serving more than 7,300 students at its beautiful main campus in Garden City, at learning hubs in Manhattan, the Hudson Valley and Suffolk County, and online. The University offers students 72 undergraduate programs and 92 master's degree and doctoral programs in the liberal arts, the sciences and professional training. With powerful partnerships throughout the New York area, more than 123,000 graduates across the country, a growing enrollment of students from 44 states and 63 countries, and rising rankings from top publications and organizations, Adelphi is a dynamic community that plays a leadership role on Long Island and in the region.