Director, Entrepreneurship

Yale University; New Haven, Northern (CT, KY); On-site; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Tsai CITY at Yale in New Haven seeks a Director of Entrepreneurship to lead a portfolio of student innovation programs, mentor founders, and build strategic partnerships across Yale’s entrepreneurship ecosystem. Reporting to the Managing Director, Entrepreneurship, the role will design and launch initiatives that move students from ideas to venture growth.

The Director will establish meaningful metrics, collaborate with mentors, investors, and alumni, and cultivate an inclusive culture of

Responsibilities

• Lead Tsai CITY's flagship venture development programs and develop new founder-focused initiatives that responds to emerging student needs and evolving entrepreneurial landscapes.
• Establish success metrics and evaluate program effectiveness through meaningful venture, founder, and ecosystem outcomes. Provide regular reports to leadership and key stakeholders.
• Serve as a visible champion for student entrepreneurship across Yale, cultivating a vibrant and inclusive culture of innovation while identifying opportunities to expand Tsai CITY's reach and impact. Build strong relationships with founders, mentors, investors, alumni, and partners to enhance the student experience.
• Lead the strategy and administration of student venture funding programs and Startup Yale prize competitions, deploying capital that supports a broad range of innovation activities, including customer discovery, prototyping, venture validation, and early‑stage growth. Develop systems and processes that maximize access, transparency, and impact.

Job description

Department: Center for Innovative Thinking - Communications and Operations

Working at Yale means contributing to a better tomorrow. Whether you are a current resident of our New Haven-based community, eligible for opportunities through the New Haven Hiring Initiative, or a newcomer, interested in exploring all that Yale has to offer, your talents and contributions are welcome. Discover your opportunities at Yale!

Overview

The Tsai Center for Innovative Thinking at Yale (Tsai CITY) mission is to inspire students from diverse backgrounds and disciplines to seek innovative ways to solve real-world problems. Our unique innovation center welcomes students from all backgrounds to explore entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship across a wide spectrum of innovation—from venture ‑ backable startups in areas like AI and deep tech, to policy and civic initiatives that drive meaningful systems change, to transformative creative innovations such as documentary films and immersive media that shape culture. We serve students from across Yale’s campus through non-academic programs, funding, and mentoring.

The Director, Entrepreneurship, a dynamic leader with proven innovation or entrepreneurial experiences, leads the design and implementation of a broad range of projects and initiatives related to student innovation and entrepreneurship programming for student innovators from all parts of campus. The Director, Entrepreneurship will manage innovative programming, build strategic partnerships, mentor students, and work collaboratively across Yale’s vibrant entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystem to advance Tsai CITY’s mission: To inspire students from diverse backgrounds and disciplines to seek innovative ways to solve real-world problems.

Reporting to the Managing Director, Entrepreneurship, the Director, Entrepreneurship leads the design, launch, and continuous improvement of a portfolio of programs, resources, and experiences that help students move from idea generation to venture creation and growth with the team and partner organizations.

• Lead Tsai CITY's flagship venture development programs and develop new founder-focused initiatives that responds to emerging student needs and evolving entrepreneurial landscapes.
• Establish success metrics and evaluate program effectiveness through meaningful venture, founder, and ecosystem outcomes. Provide regular reports to leadership and key stakeholders.
• Serve as a visible champion for student entrepreneurship across Yale, cultivating a vibrant and inclusive culture of innovation while identifying opportunities to expand Tsai CITY's reach and impact. Build strong relationships with founders, mentors, investors, alumni, and partners to enhance the student experience.
• Lead the strategy and administration of student venture funding programs and Startup Yale prize competitions, deploying capital that supports a broad range of innovation activities, including customer discovery, prototyping, venture validation, and early‑stage growth. Develop systems and processes that maximize access, transparency, and impact.
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