Manager, Program - Entrepreneurial Climate and Research Capacity

Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce; Seattle (WA); Hybrid; USD 51,000 - 63,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, Vision coverage

401(k) & Roth retirement plans

Holiday and PTO with community service

Mindfulness resources

ORCA card

Job summary

Seattle Metro Chamber seeks a part-time Manager, Program - Entrepreneurial Climate and Research Capacity in Seattle, WA. Reports to the CEO, Technology Alliance. Onsite at least 2 days a week with remote work possible on 3 days.

Join a statewide nonprofit focused on fostering Washington’s innovation economy with a strong benefits package. The role requires 3+ years in program/project management, policy, or related fields, with experience coordinating committees, researchers, and stakeholders.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of progressively responsible experience in program management, project management, policy, economic development, nonprofit, civic, higher education, or related work.

Responsibilities

• Serve as program manager for the Entrepreneurial Climate and Research Capacity committees, advancing two board-approved workplans beginning in October 2026.
• Directly manage two University Fellows supporting the committee workplans, including onboarding, work planning, task delegation, regular check-ins, quality control, coaching, and accountability.
• Develop and maintain a strong working understanding of Washington’s innovation ecosystem, including entrepreneurship, research capacity, commercialization, technology-based industries, public policy, universities, funders, founders, and regional economic-development partners.
• Translate committee priorities into concrete programs, projects, timelines, deliverables, and decision points.
• Lead implementation of the Entrepreneurial Climate workplan, including founder and funder listening, landscape mapping, gap/opportunity analysis, startup roadmap development, angel network support, startup talent matching, legislative engagement, sponsorship planning, and evaluation.
• Lead implementation of the Research Capacity workplan, including committee input, problem-statement decomposition, university liaison engagement, platform-moment development, pilot scoping, progress tracking, evaluation, and recommendations to the TA Board.

Skills

Program management

Project management

Policy

Economic development

Nonprofit

Civic

Higher education

Communication

Tools

Microsoft Office 365

Job description

At the Seattle Metro Chamber, we work collaboratively to help our members thrive in an equitable and inclusive regional economy. We are an independent business advocacy organization with 2,500 members throughout the Seattle metro region – from your neighborhood restaurant to our area’s largest employers.

We’re honored that we were recognized as one of Washington’s 100 Best Places to Work in 2019, based on staff feedback. What makes us stand out? High impact on our community, a supportive atmosphere, and a competitive benefits package.

Interested in being part of the Seattle Metro Chamber or one of our affiliate organization teams? View our open positions below and click the position titles to see the full job descriptions.

Position: Manager, Program - Entrepreneurial Climate and Research Capacity

Location: Seattle, WA

Job Id:223

# of Openings:1

Job Title: Manager, Program - Entrepreneurial Climate and Research Capacity

Classification: Part-Time, Non-Exempt
Reports To: CEO, Technology Alliance

About Us

The Technology Alliance is a statewide, non-profit organization of leaders from Washington’s technology-based businesses and research institutions. United by our vision of a vibrant innovation economy that benefits all of our state's citizens. Through programs, events, data analysis, and policy activities, we advance excellence in education, research, and entrepreneurship to support the growth of our high-impact industries; the creation of high-wage jobs; and economic prosperity for our entire state.

We represent companies and organizations spanning Washington’s diverse sectors – aerospace, energy, IT, and life sciences - and position innovation as core to their growth and impact. Through research, events, and program incubation, the Tech Alliance keeps the state focused on key pillars of innovation – a strong education system, a robust climate for entrepreneurship, a significant investment in R&D, and a shared understanding of the impact & opportunity created by an innovation-driven economy.

• Serve as program manager for the Entrepreneurial Climate and Research Capacity committees, advancing two board-approved workplans beginning in October 2026.
• Directly manage two University Fellows supporting the committee workplans, including onboarding, work planning, task delegation, regular check-ins, quality control, coaching, and accountability.
• Ensure the Fellows’ work is well-directed, productive, and aligned with committee goals, minimizing the need for day-to-day CEO oversight.
• Develop and maintain a strong working understanding of Washington’s innovation ecosystem, including entrepreneurship, research capacity, commercialization, technology-based industries, public policy, universities, funders, founders, and regional economic-development partners.
• Translate committee priorities into concrete programs, projects, timelines, deliverables, and decision points.
• Lead implementation of the Entrepreneurial Climate workplan, including founder and funder listening, landscape mapping, gap/opportunity analysis, startup roadmap development, angel network support, startup talent matching, legislative engagement, sponsorship planning, and evaluation.
• Lead implementation of the Research Capacity workplan, including committee input, problem-statement decomposition, university liaison engagement, platform-moment development, pilot scoping, progress tracking, evaluation, and recommendations to the TA Board.
• Plan, organize, and support committee meetings, including agenda development, pre-work, meeting materials, notes, follow-up items, and progress dashboards.
• Conduct and synthesize research, interviews, stakeholder input, ecosystem mapping, policy information, and best practices to inform committee decisions and program design.
• Monitor progress, identify barriers, recommend adjustments, and help ensure successful delivery of priority initiatives and workplan objectives.
• Review, edit, and synthesize Fellow work products, including research memos, interview summaries, landscape scans, pilot proposals, presentations, dashboards, and recommendations.
• Build and maintain productive relationships with business, academic, nonprofit, philanthropic, startup, investor, and public-sector stakeholders connected to entrepreneurship and research capacity.
• Develop program concepts, events, briefings, reports, materials, and other activities that help public- and private-sector leaders understand and act on innovation-economy priorities.
• Track milestones, deliverables, participation, outcomes, risks, and lessons learned across both committee workplans.
• Prepare clear written materials for the CEO, committees, board members, partners, and other stakeholders, including summaries, recommendations, presentations, correspondence, briefing documents, and impact reports.
• Identify opportunities for sponsorship, partnership, board engagement, and long-term sustainability for committee-related initiatives.
• Maintain alignment between committee work, Technology Alliance priorities, Seattle Metro Chamber expectations, and the broader goal of strengthening Washington’s innovation economy.

Who You Are

Qualifications:

• 3+ years of progressively responsible experience in program management, project management, policy, economic development, nonprofit, civic, higher education, or related work.
• Experience working with executive leaders, boards, advisory committees, founders, investors, university leaders, or other senior stakeholders, preferably in entrepreneurship, innovation, technology, research commercialization, economic development, or related innovation ecosystem environments.
• Demonstrated experience managing the work of others, which may include direct reports, interns, fellows, consultants, contractors, volunteers, student teams, or cross-functional project contributors.
• Strong ability to set priorities, define scopes of work, delegate assignments, establish timelines, monitor progress, and hold contributors accountable for achieving program objectives and high-quality deliverables.
• Experience coaching or mentoring early-career professionals, students, fellows, interns, or project contributors, including providing clear direction, constructive feedback, and support for professional growth.
• Proven ability to manage multiple workstreams simultaneously while maintaining strong follow-through, attention to detail, and communication with senior leaders and stakeholders.
• Experience working with committees, boards, advisory groups, coalitions, or other senior stakeholder groups preferred.
• Experience conducting or managing research, interviews, stakeholder input, landscape scans, program design, pilot development, or evaluation preferred.
• Experience working in or around entrepreneurship, research commercialization, technology, higher education, public policy, economic development, or Washington’s innovation ecosystem preferred.
• Strong written and verbal communication experience, including the ability to synthesize complex information into clear summaries, recommendations, presentations, and briefing materials.

Technical Skills and Competencies:

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and Microsoft 365 tools, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, and SharePoint.
• Ability to independently create, organize, update, and manage shared documents, spreadsheets, presentations, project trackers, calendars, and collaboration tools.
• Comfort learning and using new technology tools as needed to support research, collaboration, project management, and program delivery.

T his position is onsite a minimum of 2 days a week, with the possibility of remote work on 3 days.

The Chamber is committed to internal and market equity. The anticipated hiring range for this position is $36.86 hourly - $46.07 hourly, based on experience. The Chamber provides a comprehensive and competitive benefits package including but not restricted to:

• Medical, Dental, and Vision Coverage, employer pay 96% of the employee premium, including $0 prescriptions and appointments
• 401(k) and Roth Retirement Accounts, with Employer Match of up to 6%
• Generous Holiday and Paid Time Off Schedule, including Community Service leave and winter closure
• Mindfulness and Wellness Resources
• Company-sponsored ORCA Card

Our Commitment to Equal Opportunity

The Chamber is an equal opportunity employer. All employees and potential employees will be recruited, selected, trained, promoted, and, if necessary, disciplined without regard to sex, race, religion, creed, caste, marital status, age, national origin, ancestry, color, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, political ideology or activity, disability, honorably discharged veteran, or military status. All applicants are carefully screened, and full consideration is given to their training, education, skills, aptitudes, experience, and previous work record. In addition, the Chamber does not discriminate on the basis of genetic information in its employment related policies and practices, including coverage under its health benefits program.