Temporary Community Experience Manager

The University of Chicago; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 55,000 - 69,000; Part time

Job summary

The University of Chicago is seeking a Community Experience Manager for the Third Coast Foundry in San Francisco. This role blends in-space operations, user management, and programming coordination to connect Midwest innovation with the Bay Area ecosystem.

You will manage daily space usage, coordinate events, and support relationship-building with startups, faculty, students and partners while translating strategic guidance into practical operations.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor's degree required.
• 1–3 years of relevant work experience.
• Background in community-building, program coordination or event management.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a welcoming, high-touch contact for visitors, partners, and stakeholders.
• Shape and maintain in-space experience and culture.
• Oversee user management and event hosting logistics.
• Provide input on policies, guidelines, and communications to users.
• Support interns and day-to-day space readiness.
• Coordinate event calendars, logistics, and vendor needs.
• Build relationships with startups, faculty, students and partners.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Problem-solving

Independent

Event management

Community building

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

CRM software

Microsoft Office

Job description

About the Department

Originally established at Chicago Booth in 1998, the Polsky Center has provided over two decades of venture support for students interested in entrepreneurship and robust training for students interested in pursuing a career in venture capital and private equity. In 2016, with a generous gift from University trustee and Chicago Booth alum Michael Polsky, MBA '87, the Polsky Center's mission expanded to include an additional focus on supporting all University of Chicago faculty inventors in commercializing their discoveries. This effort was further accelerated in 2022 with the launch of Deep Tech Ventures, a new initiative offering a suite of sector-specific accelerators and investment opportunities dedicated to translating deep tech innovations into startups that bring lifesaving, world-changing science and technology to market. The Polsky Center also supports local South and West Side community entrepreneurs and small business owners as well as University of Chicago alumni around the globe. Today, the Polsky Center is a 60-person professional staff responsible for advancing all University of Chicago entrepreneurship and research commercialization innovation activities through the creation of new ventures and partnerships. By igniting a spirit of innovation and fostering connections that extend across the University, city, region and world, the Polsky Center enables more ideas to have a meaningful impact on society.

Third Coast Foundry

The 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.

Job Information

Job Summary: The Community Experience Manager helps make the Third Coast Foundry a vibrant, well‑connected hub for Midwest innovation in the Bay Area. This role combines in‑space operations and user management with programming coordination and relationship building. The Community Experience Manager ensures that daily use of the space, along with its programming and events, supports Third Coast Foundry's mission, oversees the user experience, and helps connect Third Coast Foundry users to each other and to the broader Bay Area ecosystem.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a welcoming and high touch point of contact for key visitors, partners, and University stakeholders.


• Shape and maintain the overall in‑space experience and culture.


• Oversee user management across the space including prioritization of rooms, guiding event hosts on usage, and resolving conflicts.


• Provide input on and help refine policies, guidelines, and communications to users.


• Support management of any interns working at the Third Coast Foundry.


• Oversee day‑to‑day operational readiness of the space including signage, calendars, and upcoming partner visits.


• Serve as a point of contact with building management and security for facilities needs.


• Translate strategic guidance from University leadership and the Third Coast Foundry team into practical operations and user‑facing processes.


• Coordinate with building staff on upcoming weekly and long‑term event calendars.


• Coordinate event logistics and planning with hosts to ensure smooth execution of events, meetings, receptions, partner gatherings, and other programming in the office suite or shared building amenity spaces.


• Provide oversight and guidance for set‑up and takedown of furniture and equipment for gatherings and events, with occasional hands‑on support as needed.


• Assist with additional event needs such as room set‑up, basic A/V checks, signage, and directing event flow.


• Support design and logistics of recurring programming aligned with Third Coast Foundry goals.


• Build relationships with Third Coast Foundry users (startups, faculty, students, partners) and understand their needs in the space.


• Serve as a connector between Midwest university stakeholders and Bay Area entrepreneurs, investors, and thought leaders in coordination with the Third Coast Foundry team.


• Help maintain and update contact lists, partner profiles, and basic CRM tracking for ongoing engagement.


• Provide University leadership and Third Coast Foundry partners with updates on space usage, user feedback, and emerging opportunities or issues.


• Collaborate on reporting regarding metrics and use of Third Coast Foundry.


• Develop strategies to advance communications to users and ecosystem partners.


• Perform other duties as assigned.

Competencies

• Strong interest in university innovation, entrepreneurship, or Midwest/Bay Area ecosystems.


• Demonstrated ability to operate independently, problem‑solve, and exercise judgment while representing institutional interests professionally.


• Exceptional interpersonal skills and comfort engaging with a wide range of stakeholders, including founders, investors, faculty, and alumni.


• Understanding and application of community‑building, program coordination, or event management.


• Strong organizational skills and manage multiple threads simultaneously.

Additional Responsibilities

[No additional responsibilities listed]

Education, Experience or Certifications

• Education: Bachelor's degree required.


• Experience: 1 to 3 years of relevant work experience.


• Background in community‑building, program coordination, event management, or a similar professional field.

Working Conditions and Physical Requirements

Part‑time position, approximately 18 hours per week, typically two days per week. Temporary appointment. Occasional manual labor, including overseeing and guiding event set‑up and takedown of furniture and equipment, and providing hands‑on support when necessary to ensure successful event operations.

Required Documents

Resume/CV

Job Family

Temporary Staff

Scheduled Weekly Hours

18

Drug Test Required

No

Health Screen Required

No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required

No

Pay Frequency

Hourly

Pay Rate Type

Hourly

FLSA Status

Non‑Exempt

Pay Range

$40.00 - $50.00

Benefits Eligible

This position is not eligible for benefits.

Posting Statement

The University of Chicago is an equal 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.

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.

The University of Chicago's Annual Security & Fire Safety Report (Report) provides information about University offices and programs that provide safety support, crime and fire statistics, emergency response and communications plans, and other policies and information. The Report can be accessed online at: http://securityreport.uchicago.edu.

Paper copies of the Report are available, upon request, from the University of Chicago Police Department, 850 E. 61st Street, Chicago, IL 60637.