Cohort Program Manager

University of Nebraska-Lincoln; Lincoln (NE); On-site; USD 70,000 - 86,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln is seeking a Cohort Program Manager to advance the Center for Entrepreneurship. This role manages the Accelerator and Catalysts cohorts, coaches student teams through startup development, and maintains mentor, service provider, and investor relationships that enable program success.

The position requires AI fluency to improve work, including coaching on customer discovery, market assessment, and go-to-market strategy.

Qualifications

• Minimum Qualification: Bachelor's degree and five (5) years of relevant startup experience or equivalent, including roles alongside a founder or in venture development.
• Demonstrated experience leveraging AI tools in a professional or entrepreneurial context.

Responsibilities

• Manage and enhance the Center's cohort programs (the Accelerator and the Catalysts cohort).
• Coach student teams through the startup development process.
• Maintain mentor, service provider, and investor relationships essential to program success.
• Co-advises Husker Venture Fund, the Center's student-run venture capital fund, and supports the Cornhusker Venture Capital Investment Competition.
• Occasional evening and weekend hours will be required.

Skills

AI tools experience

Coaching or mentoring

Workshop facilitation

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree

Job description

Working Title

Cohort Program Manager

Department

Center for Entrepreneurship-1302

Description Of Work

The Cohort Program Manager will support the advancement of the mission and purpose of the Center for Entrepreneurship. This position is primarily responsible for managing and enhancing the Center's cohort programs (the Accelerator and the Catalysts cohort), coaching student teams through the startup development process and maintaining the mentor, service provider, and investor relationships that make those programs successful. This position also co-advises the Husker Venture Fund, the Center's student-run venture capital fund, and supports the Cornhusker Venture Capital Investment Competition. Occasional evening and weekend hours will be required. As an EO/AA employer, qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, national origin, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, and/or political affiliation. See: http://www.unl.edu/equity/notice-nondiscrimination. The ideal candidate possesses a deep network within regional or national startup ecosystems. AI fluency is a baseline expectation throughout this role: the person in this position should naturally leverage current AI tools to improve their work, including in coaching students on customer discovery, market assessment, and go-to-market strategy. We are seeking a self-starter, connector, and practitioner who can teach, coach, and inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs.

Minimum Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and five (5) years of relevant experience in a startup environment or equivalent- including direct experience founding a company, working in a key operational role alongside a founder (e.g., chief of staff, co-founder, early employee), or comparable experience in venture development, accelerator/incubator leadership, or a closely related field.
• Demonstrated experience leveraging AI tools in a professional or entrepreneurial context.

Preferred Qualifications

• Masters degree.
• Coaching or mentoring early-stage entrepreneurs.
• Experience teaching or facilitating workshops in a higher education or accelerator setting.
• Familiarity with venture capital, angel investing, or student-run investment funds.

Posted Salary

$78,000/year minimum