Operations & Programming Manager - Member Experience

Portal Innovations; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 68,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental and Vision

Life and Disability Benefits

Flexible PTO

401K Program

In Office Perk: Unlimited Coffee andSn

Job summary

Portal Innovations seeks a dynamic professional to join the UChicago Science Incubator at Hyde Park Labs, delivering a white‑glove experience for members and fostering a collaborative ecosystem with entrepreneurs, scientists, investors, and partners.

This full-time onsite role supports programming, events, and daily operations while coordinating with the Polsky Center and Portal teams to grow the incubator’s impact. Competitive compensation reflects experience and responsibilities.

Qualifications

• Experience in programming and events, entrepreneurship, customer service, and communications.
• Excellent organizational, communication, and customer service skills.
• Strong problem-solving and critical thinking abilities.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.

Responsibilities

• Lead member orientation and onboarding, manage access, serve as primary contact for facilities and engineering.
• Lead incubator event logistics and internal marketing coordination with Polsky Center.
• Develop SOPs to support operations and programming with national Portal Member Experience sites.
• Collaborate with Portal and Polsky Center to organize value-added programming.
• Build relationships with members through regular check-ins to improve service delivery.
• Oversee day-to-day site operations, inventory, and the operations budget.
• Welcome incubator visitors at the front desk and conduct site tours, engage ecosystem partners.
• Support outreach to prospective members and advance the membership sales pipeline.

Skills

Programming & events

Entrepreneurship

Customer service

Communications

Organizational skills

Education

Bachelor's Degree in a related field

Tools

Microsoft Office

Google Workspace

Job description

Who Is Portal Innovations:

Portal Innovations is a venture development engine, focused on investing in and supporting early-stage life science enterprises. We help exceptional life sciences innovators build their companies where they live and beyond. Launched in 2020, we surround these entrepreneurs with the resources and network they need for seed capital, state-of-the-art lab space, a community-based ecosystem, and access to experts in their fields and prospective investors and partners.

About This Role:

Portal Innovations is seeking a dynamic person to join the UChicago Science Incubator at Hyde Park Labs.This person will work with our team to deliver a white glove experience to our members and help foster a vibrant, collaborative community that connects entrepreneurs, scientists, investors, industry leaders, and ecosystem partners and encourages meaningful engagement among UChicago Science Incubator members. This partnership between the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the University of Chicago and Portal Innovations supports innovative science-based companies in the areas of life sciences, clean technology, quantum, and AI.

This is a FULL-TIME ONSITE role. This role offers a dependable routine from Monday through Friday. While we primarily stick to our standard business hours, our team does need to have flexibility and occasionally extends the day and week to meet the evolving needs of our growing business.Applicants must have a process- and customer-oriented mindset and the ambition to succeed in a fast-paced environment. Experience with programming and events, incubator programming, entrepreneurship, or early-stage science start-ups is preferred. Administration, hospitality, project management, event management, or other related experience is also a plus.

What You'll Do:

• Lead the member orientation and onboarding process, including managing incubator security access; serve as the primary point of contact with building facilities and engineering, monitoring systems and submitting work orders for facility-related issues and needs.
• Lead incubator event logistics and execution. Own internal event marketing and promotion, along with the relationship with the Polsky Center marketing team, to support the incubator's broader marketing strategy across the website and social media.
• Develop SOPs to support operations and programming execution, partnering with Portal Member Experience sites nationally to leverage best practices.
• Collaborate with the broader Portal team and the Polsky Center to organize programming that adds value to members and the broader ecosystem.
• Build ongoing relationships with members through regular check-ins to understand their satisfaction and needs, translating that insight into improved service delivery for current and prospective members.
• Own day-to-day site operations, including ordering supplies and managing site amenity areas(kitchen, common area, office), and manage the operations budget.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for incubator visitors, welcoming guests at the front desk and leading site tours, while fostering relationships with ecosystem partners to expand the breadth of available resources for incubator members.
• Support the Executive Director with outreach and follow-up communications to prospective members, including tour inquiries and pipeline leads, helping move prospects through the membership sales pipeline and gaining direct exposure to Portal's business development process.

What We Are Looking For:

• Demonstrated relevant experience in programming and events, entrepreneurship, customer service, communications
• Excellent organizational, communication, and customer service skills
• Strong problem-solving and critical thinking skills
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and Google Suite.
• Ability to adapt to a dynamic work environment.
• Knowledge and interest in life sciences, quantum, clean tech, or AIis a plus.
• Bachelor's Degree in a related field preferred

Compensation: Based on experience

Range: $68,000 - $75,000 annually

• Excellent Medical, Dental and Vision
• Life and Disability Benefits
• Flexible PTO Policy
• 401K Program
• In Office Perk: Unlimited Coffee and Snacks to keep you going throughout the day

Work Authorization/Security-Clearance Requirements:

Must be eligible to work in the United States.

Portal is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We consider qualified applicants without regard to race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, marital or family status, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other legally protected basis under provincial, federal, state, and local laws, regulations, or ordinances.