Manager, Third Coast Foundry

University of Chicago; California; On-site; USD 80,000 - 115,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Chicago seeks a Third Coast Foundry Manager, based in San Francisco, to run day‑to‑day operations, events, and stakeholder engagement for the Third Coast Foundry hub. You will ensure a welcoming, high‑functioning space that connects Midwest innovation with the West Coast startup ecosystem.

You will lead programming, manage space operations, vendors, and user experience while collaborating with Polsky Center staff and partner universities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related field.
• 5-7 years of work experience in a related job discipline.
• Experience in higher education, startup ecosystems, or university partnerships preferred.

Responsibilities

• Serve as on-the-ground ambassador for Third Coast Foundry in San Francisco and represent the University of Chicago to founders, investors, alumni and stakeholders.
• Translate strategic guidance into practical operating plans, processes, and communications.
• Oversee daily operations and ensure the space is welcoming, professional, and ready for use by startups, faculty, students, alumni, investors, and visitors.
• Design and oversee the in‑space experience, user journey, and policies, enabling inclusive programming and community engagement.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Project management

Event coordination

Operations management

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Department SIP Polsky Operations - Administration

About the Department Third Coast Foundry is a new physical space in San Francisco for partner university-founded startups and teams traveling to the Bay Area. Designed to improve access to venture capital and networks on the West Coast without requiring startups to relocate, it provides opportunities for investors, alumni, and other partners to engage through meetings, events, and programming. At its core, Third Coast Foundry is a bridge between Midwest innovation and coastal capital. The Third Coast Foundry partner institutions include Carnegie Mellon University, Northwestern University, The Ohio State University, Purdue University, the University of Chicago, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Washington University in St.Louis, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The Polsky Center’s mission is to advance innovative ideas and technologies from the University of Chicago ecosystem to the world. Through education, resources, and programs, the Polsky Center commercializes discoveries, partners with companies, and attracts venture capital. The Polsky Center runs a top-ranked business accelerator, the Edward L. Kaplan, ’71, New Venture Challenge; operates a multi-disciplinary co-working space called the Polsky Exchange; and manages the George Shultz Innovation Fund that invests in early-stage ventures. Finally, the Polsky Center houses the University of Chicago’s technology transfer unit, which manages all University-based intellectual property originating from faculty research and discoveries that can be licensed to industry partners and investors.

Job Summary

The Third Coast Foundry Manager is a full-time, San Francisco–based staff member responsible for ensuring that Third Coast Foundry operates smoothly and serves as a welcoming, high-functioning hub for Midwest innovation in the Bay Area. This role is primarily focused on day-to-day operations, facilities, technology, scheduling, and event execution, while also serving as an ambassador for the space, executing strategic vision, and building programming and community engagement that enhance the Third Coast Foundry. The position manages academic, research, clinical or administrative programs. The Manager will work closely with the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the University of Chicago, as well as other UChicago stakeholders such as the Data Science Institute, in addition to the other University partners of the Third Coast Foundry and their stakeholders. The Manager oversees the daily experience of the space, including user access, room reservations, vendor and building coordination, space readiness, and basic operational support for meetings and events. In addition, the Manager plays an important outward-facing role by helping lead programming, supporting partnerships and stakeholder engagement, and serving as an on‑the‑ground representative of Third Coast Foundry. This position is ideal for someone who is highly organized, service‑oriented, and comfortable balancing hands‑on operational management with relationship-building and program support. The Manager will work closely with University and ecosystem partners to ensure that Third Coast Foundry is both well‑run and meaningfully connected to the innovation communities it serves.

Responsibilities

• Serves as an on-the-ground ambassador for Third Coast Foundry in San Francisco, representing the University of Chicago and partner institutions to founders, investors, alumni, and other stakeholders.
• Translates strategic guidance from University leadership and the Third Coast Foundry team into practical operating plans, user‑facing processes, and communications.
• Manages daily operations ensuring the space is welcoming, professional, and ready for use by startups, faculty, students, alumni, investors, and other visitors.
• Oversees day‑to‑day operations and facilities, including coordination with building management and security on maintenance, cleaning, safety, and access control.
• Develops, implements, and refines operational procedures, including opening/closing routines, visitor protocols, safety basics, and user guides.
• Designs and oversees the overall in‑space experience, culture, and user journey, ensuring the Third Coast Foundry is welcoming, inclusive, and aligned with institutional values.
• Leads user management across the space, including prioritization of rooms, scheduling of users and events, development and enforcement of policies and guidelines, and resolution of conflicts over shared resources.
• Orients and checks‑in users/visitors, ensures adherence to guidelines and policies, collects and relays feedback.
• Leads the design, coordination, and execution of events and programming, including meetings, receptions, workshops, partner gatherings, and recurring series hosted in the office suite and building amenity spaces.
• Oversees event logistics such as room configurations, furniture set‑up and takedown, basic A/V readiness and troubleshooting, signage, check‑in, wayfinding, and event flow; provides hands‑on support for events as needed.
• Builds and manages relationships with Third Coast Foundry users (startups, faculty, students, corporate partners, investors, alumni) and understand their needs in the space.
• Serves as a connector between Midwest university stakeholders and the Bay Area startup, venture capital, and innovation ecosystems, including identifying and cultivating new partners, mentors, and sponsors.
• Contributes to and communicates the development/refinement of policies, guidelines, and user communications.
• Develops and oversees communications strategies to users and ecosystem partners, including in‑space signage, digital communications, calendars, and announcements.
• Develops and communicates program priorities and performance standards and assesses operations using these criteria.
• Plans and conducts quality assurance reviews and recommends changes as appropriate.
• Maintains basic CRM and contact records for ongoing engagement with startups, partners, and investors, in coordination with Polsky Center staff.
• Oversees tracking and reporting on usage metrics, including user counts, events, partner categories, and other indicators of impact; prepare regular updates for University leadership and key stakeholders.
• Assists in building and maintaining preferred vendor lists, such as caterers, furniture and A/V vendors, event services, and managing relationships with these vendors.
• Manages or supports the supervision of staff and interns associated with Third Coast Foundry.
• In the absence of supporting staff, directly performs or oversees core operational and event functions.
• Identifies operational, programmatic, or strategic issues as they arise; troubleshoots, escalates, and proposes solutions as appropriate.
• Recommends practical improvements to enhance efficiency and user experience.
• Helps execute the strategic vision set by University leadership by translating priorities into day‑to‑day operations and programming.
• Ensures compliance with relevant University policies, building regulations, and applicable laws.
• Manages program budgets and recommends or makes budgetary recommendations.
• Has a deep understanding when interacting with faculty, researchers and staff for committee work or information.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

• Education: Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.
• Work Experience: Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 5-7 years of work experience in a related job discipline.
• Certifications: ---

Preferred Qualifications

• Education: Advanced degree in relevant field.
• Experience: Event coordination, facility operations, higher education, university customer service, startup/venture capital stakeholder engagement or other relevant experience.
• Background in entrepreneurship/innovation centers, startup/venture capital ecosystems, university programs, shared space operations, event/program management strongly preferred.

Preferred Competencies

• Strong interest and familiarity with university innovation, entrepreneurship, and Midwest/Bay Area startup ecosystems.
• Demonstrated ability to execute strategic vision while engaging in hands‑on operations/event work.
• Proven experience managing communities, programs, or shared spaces, with focus on user experience and culture.
• Outstanding interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills; professional and welcoming engagement with varied stakeholders.
• Strong knowledge of operations, facility management, and event coordination.
• Operate independently, exercise sound judgment, and creatively solve problems/conflicts.
• Robust organizational, time management, and project management skills.
• Manage staff/interns as needed and coordinate with multiple stakeholders.
• Manage multiple priorities concurrently.

Working Conditions

Full-time in-person position, based in San Francisco. This position is currently expected to work five days per week in the office. May require occasional evening/weekend work and in‑person staffing for events or delegations. Requires regular manual labor, including supporting event set‑up and takedown of furniture/equipment. Comfortable with manual labor, such as room/furniture configuration, A/V set‑up, supply moves.

Application Documents

• Resume/CV (required)
• Cover Letter (preferred)

The University of Chicago uses AI‑assisted tools to streamline and augment some recruitment processes; however, AI is not used to make hiring decisions. When applying, the document(s) MUST be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.

Job Family Administration & Management Role Impact Individual Contributor Scheduled Weekly Hours 37.5 Drug Test Required No Health Screen Required No Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required No Pay Rate Type Salary FLSA Status Exempt Pay Range $80,000.00 - $115,000.00 The included pay rate or range represents the University’s good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting. Benefits Eligible Yes The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook.

The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history. A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment. Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case‑by‑case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

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