Strategic Leader, AI Ventures & Global Events

Macmillan Learning; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 157,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

Macmillan Learning is launching a venture studio as part of the Holtzbrinck AI Hub in San Francisco. You will shape strategy, build partnerships, and organize flagship events like Liquid Content Summit, demo nights, and hackathons that connect AI, science, education and media leaders.

You will own end-to-end ventures from validation to funding decisions, working closely with the Executive Board and Strategy/ Ventures teams to move ideas into pilots and partnerships.

Qualifications

• Strong network among builders in AI, science, education or media.
• Proven experience in strategy consulting, venture building, or large-scale event production.
• Hands-on operating style, balancing strategy and operations.
• Technical fluency with AI tools; can assess startup tech credibility.
• Founder empathy to support early-stage teams through ambiguity.
• Proven event craft: curating speakers and memorable experiences.
• Sharp analytical skills turning fast-moving developments into exec briefings.

Responsibilities

• Build and launch new ventures end to end from validation to funding.
• Develop founder pipelines from internal and external sources; run selection and team formation.
• Prepare funding recommendations for the Executive Board and track ventures post-launch.
• Organize the Liquid Content Summit, the AI Hub's flagship event.
• Run demo nights and hackathons to drive pilots, partnerships or investments.

Skills

Strategy

Venture building

Event production

AI tools

Networking

Stakeholder mgmt

Tools

AI tools

Job description

Macmillan Learning is launching a venture studio as part of the Holtzbrinck AI Hub in San Francisco. You will shape strategy, build partnerships, and organize flagship events like Liquid Content Summit, demo nights, and hackathons that connect AI, science, education and media leaders.

You will own end-to-end ventures from validation to funding decisions, working closely with the Executive Board and Strategy/ Ventures teams to move ideas into pilots and partnerships.