Entrepreneurship & Innovation Center Program Manager

PeopleAdmin, Inc.; Kokomo (IN); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Indiana University Kokomo is seeking a Program Manager for the IU Innovates Entrepreneurship Center. You will lead programming, engage students, and connect the campus with faculty, alumni, and community partners.

This role coordinates workshops, founder groups, and speaker events, while mentoring students and helping them explore venture ideas. You will drive engagement and outcomes across the Learning & Launch Journey in a collegiate setting.

Qualifications

• Strong project or program management experience.
• Experience working with students, founders, startups, nonprofits, or innovation initiatives.
• Excellent relationship-building and communication skills.
• Ability to organize and manage multiple initiatives simultaneously.
• Comfort working in a collaborative, entrepreneurial environment.
• Passion for helping students progress through the IU Innovates Learning & Launch Journey.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary liaison for Entrepreneurship & Innovation Center programming.
• Coordinate workshops, founder groups, speaker events, and bootcamps.
• Mentor and coach students and founders, guiding venture development.
• Build partnerships with faculty, alumni, investors, and community partners.
• Track engagement and outcomes across IU Innovates Learning & Launch Journey.
• Ensure alignment with campus priorities and statewide framework.

Skills

Project management

Stakeholder engagement

Communication skills

Multitasking

Team collaboration

Entrepreneurship education

Job description

The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report, containing policy statements, crime and fire statistics for all Indiana University campuses, is available online . You may also request a physical copy by emailing IU Public Safety at [e-mail]

Please see Special Instructions for more details.

Department IU Kokomo Academic Affairs

Location Kokomo

Position Summary

FOR INDIANA UNIVERSITY KOKOMO FULL - TIME RESIDENT FACULTY MEMBER ONLY * * * One of eight campuses of Indiana University, Indiana University Kokomo is a comprehensive non-residential campus located 50 miles north of Indianapolis in Kokomo, Indiana, a city with a population of about 57,000. Committed to student success, the campus serves approximately 3,230 students from a 14-county area in north-central Indiana. lU Kokomo has around 260 full‑time faculty and staff. Associate, baccalaureate, and master’s degrees are offered. Additional information about Indiana University Kokomo can be accessed at

Position Purpose

The Entrepreneurship & Innovation Center Program Manager serves as the operational lead for IU Kokomo’s Entrepreneurship & Innovation Center and the primary campus liaison to IU Innovates. This individual is responsible for coordinating entrepreneurship programming, cultivating student engagement, activating the center as a hub of innovation, and connecting students with faculty, alumni, and community partners.

Working collaboratively with campus leadership and IU Innovates, the Program Manager builds a vibrant entrepreneurship ecosystem that guides students through the IU Innovates Learning & Launch Journey—supporting learners from initial curiosity and problem exploration through venture development, customer discovery, and launch.

Core Objectives

• Guide students through the IU Innovates Learning & Launch Journey.
• Activate the Entrepreneurship & Innovation Center as the campus hub for innovation.
• Strengthen connections between campus, alumni, and the regional entrepreneurship ecosystem.

Primary Responsibilities

Student Engagement & Founder Coaching

• Serve as the primary point of contact for students interested in entrepreneurship and innovation.
• Provide direct coaching and mentorship through one‑on‑one meetings, Founder Groups, workshops, bootcamps, and other experiential learning opportunities.
• Assess each student’s stage in the IU Innovates Learning & Launch Journey and provide individualized guidance, accountability, and connections to mentors, alumni, investors, funding opportunities, and campus resources.
• Foster a welcoming and inclusive environment that encourages students to explore ideas, develop ventures, and engage with the entrepreneurship community.

Program Coordination

• Coordinate implementation of IU Innovates programming at IU Kokomo that supports students throughout the Learning & Launch Journey.
• Develop and maintain the annual entrepreneurship programming calendar in collaboration with campus partners.
• Plan and execute workshops, Founder Groups, speaker events, networking opportunities, pitch competitions, bootcamps, and other entrepreneurship programming.
• Ensure programming aligns with campus priorities while maintaining consistency with the IU Innovates statewide framework.
• Activate the Entrepreneurship & Innovation Center as a vibrant gathering space for students.
• Coordinate drop‑in hours, networking opportunities, community‑building activities, and regular center programming.
• Collaborate with faculty and campus partners to integrate entrepreneurship into academic and co‑curricular experiences.
• Increase student awareness and utilization of the Center.

Community Manager Leadership

• Recruit, hire, train, and supervise student Community Managers.
• Coordinate Community Manager schedules, office hours, Founder Groups, and student engagement activities.
• Hold regular planning meetings and provide ongoing coaching to ensure consistent program delivery and peer mentorship.

Campus & Community Partnerships

• Build relationships with faculty, alumni, entrepreneurs, investors, and regional ecosystem partners.
• Connect students to entrepreneurship events, accelerators, competitions, mentors, internships, and funding opportunities.
• Expand partnerships that enhance experiential learning and strengthen the campus entrepreneurship ecosystem.

Operations & Communication

• Coordinate logistics for entrepreneurship programming and events.
• Collaborate with IU Innovates on communications, storytelling, marketing, reporting, and statewide initiatives.
• Maintain calendars, documentation, program resources, and other operational materials.
• Track student participation, venture progression, and outcomes across the IU Innovates Learning & Launch Journey.
• Collect student feedback and recommend program improvements.
• Prepare reports and updates for campus leadership, IU Innovates, and external stakeholders.
• Monitor key performance indicators related to engagement, venture development, mentorship, and ecosystem growth.

• IU Kokomo faculty and staff
• IU Innovates leadership
• Student Community Managers
• Alumni founders
• Community organizations and funders

Desired Qualifications

The ideal candidate demonstrates:

• Strong project or program management experience.
• Experience working with students, founders, startups, nonprofits, or innovation initiatives.
• Excellent relationship‑building and communication skills.
• Ability to organize and manage multiple initiatives simultaneously.
• Comfort working in a collaborative, entrepreneurial environment.
• Passion for helping students progress through the IU Innovates Learning & Launch Journey while building an inclusive entrepreneurship ecosystem.

For further information, please contact Academic Affairs at 765.455-9248.

For Best Consideration Date 08/12/2026

Expected Start Date 08/24/2026

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

Required Documents

• Curriculum Vitae
• Letter of Application

Optional Documents