Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center Manager - Riyadh
Job Summary:
The Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center Manager will lead the design, delivery, and management of a comprehensive suite of innovation and entrepreneurship programs within a university campus environment. The role will focus on fostering a culture of innovation among students and professors, serving as a catalyst for startup creation, technology commercialization, and entrepreneurial mindset development. Key initiatives include bootcamps, hackathons, meetups, venture builder programs, incubators, accelerators, and investment demo days.
Key Responsibilities:
Program Development & Delivery
Design and implement dynamic, experiential learning programs tailored to university students and faculty, including startup bootcamps, hackathons, idea labs, and meetups.
Deliver venture builder initiatives and commercialization tracks that help academic research and student ideas become market-ready ventures.
Launch and manage incubation and acceleration programs that provide mentorship, workspace, technical support, and access to funding.
Strategic Leadership
Develop the Center’s strategic roadmap in alignment with the university’s innovation and entrepreneurship vision.
Drive a university-wide innovation agenda by integrating programs with academic departments and student affairs.
Stay informed on global innovation trends and embed best practices into program offerings.
Stakeholder Engagement
Build collaborative relationships with faculty members to co-create academic-industry innovation pipelines.
Engage students, researchers, and staff through targeted outreach and inclusive program design.
Develop partnerships with government entities, corporates, investors, and entrepreneurial support organizations.
Campus Integration
Position the Center as a core hub within the university, aligning with the academic calendar, student clubs, research labs, and technology transfer offices.
Coordinate with campus departments to ensure programs complement curricular and extracurricular initiatives.
Operations & Team Management
Manage the Center’s team, operations, and physical space within the university campus.
Oversee budgeting, procurement, vendor management, and reporting for all Center activities.
Monitor impact metrics related to student/faculty engagement, startup creation, investment readiness, and employment outcomes.
Startup & Innovation Support
Provide mentorship and advisory to student- and faculty-led startups.
Organize investment demo days and pitch competitions connecting university ventures with local and regional investors.
Develop alumni networks and offer ongoing support for graduates of the Center’s programs.
Key Skills & Competencies:
Strategic thinking and leadership in a university context
Passion for education, youth empowerment, and innovation
Program design and management
Excellent interpersonal, communication, and facilitation skills
Relationship-building with academic, public, and private sector stakeholders
Data-driven decision making and reporting
Work Environment:
Based full-time on a university campus.
Requires flexibility to engage in evening/weekend activities to accommodate student schedules.
Includes interaction with a diverse academic community and external innovation ecosystem partners.
Qualifications
Qualifications & Experience:
Bachelor's degree in Business, Innovation, Engineering, Education, or related fields (Master’s preferred).
5–7 years of experience in managing innovation hubs, entrepreneurship programs, or startup ecosystems, ideally within an educational setting.
Demonstrated experience working with youth or academic communities is highly preferred.
Deep knowledge of innovation tools (Design Thinking, Lean Startup, Agile), startup development, and funding landscapes.
Proven track record in managing accelerator programs, incubators, or startup support initiatives.
Others:
- Flexibility to accommodate after-hours commitments as needed.
- Willingness to work on weekends when necessary.
- Flexibility to travel as needed.
Additional Information
- PASSION FOR VENTURE CREATION
- Fluency in Languages: Fluency in both written and spoken Arabic and English is essential.
- Leadership and Team Management: Proven ability to lead a small team and manage programs, including end-to-end project and program management.
- Operational Expertise: Skilled at overseeing and leading operations in a fast-paced environment with limited resources.
- Problem-Solving and Creativity: A creative problem-solver with a proven ability to deliver exceptional results.
- Detail-Oriented: Highly organized with exceptional attention to detail.
- Adaptability and Feedback: Open to feedback, willing to learn, and highly adaptable in dynamic environments.
- Work Ethic and Resilience: Efficient, resilient, and flexible, with a strong commitment to results-driven work.
- Cultural Fit: Enjoys working in an environment that is transparent, curious, collaborative, and fun.