Head of Venture Acceleration, Program Manager

Job Description Special Instructions to Applicants: All interested applicants should attach a resume in the SupportingDocuments section of the application, preferably in a PDF format to avoid any formatting issues. Position Summary The Liu Idea Lab for Innovation & Entrepreneurship (Lilie) is seeking a Program Manager to lead our Venture Acceleration program. This is a unique opportunity to be at the forefront of innovation and help Rice entrepreneurs bring their cutting‑edge ideas to market. In this role, you will be responsible for identifying promising people, research, and companies from across the Rice University ecosystem, and building the immersive, experiential programs to catalyze their next great startup. You will work closely with student startup founders to help them accelerate their growth, secure funding, and achieve their goals while acting as connective tissue to the broader Texas and U.S. startup ecosystems. In practice, this means you will facilitate mentorship and networking opportunities, develop and lead co‑curricular and accelerator programs, and manage relationships with partners, sponsors, and key stakeholders to ensure Lilie’s venture acceleration efforts are a success. Ideal Candidate Statement The ideal candidate is someone who has been a founder or an operator in an early‑stage start‑up, especially if pursued while a student, and is interested in the worlds of entrepreneurship, deeptech, and venture capital. The ideal candidate is a proactive, service‑oriented communicator who enjoys collaborating with others to iteratively refine products to perfection. Workplace Requirements Rice Business primarily delivers residential classes and activities taking place almost daily between 7 am and 10 pm. We value a highly collaborative and community‑based culture, with expectations to provide in‑person support and services to all members of our community. Remote work options are limited. Most employment activities are required to be performed in‑person and on‑campus. This in‑person approach is central to the successful achievement of our research and academic missions. This position is exclusively on‑site, necessitating all duties to be performed in‑person on campus Monday – Friday 9am to 5pm. This is a two‑year term‑limited position with a possibility of an extension. Hiring Range $95,000 to $105,000, commensurate with education and experience. Exempt (salaried) positions under FLSA are not eligible for overtime. Minimum Requirements Bachelor’s degree Four or more (4+) years of entrepreneurship, program management and/or start‑up experience In lieu of the experience requirement, additional related education, above and beyond what is required, may be substituted on an equivalent year‑for‑year basis. Skills: Ability to develop complex and/or multiple program partnerships and funding sources Ability to develop and initiate new strategies Ability to work well under pressure and manage projects simultaneously Ability to work independently and as part of a team to meet expected deadlines, schedules, and goals Adept at problem solving, creating contingency plans and handling issues when necessary Excellent organizational and time management skills Excellent verbal and written communication skills Excellent client service orientation Ability to prioritize, take initiative, and ownership of projects Ability to routinely and independently exercise sound judgment in making decisions Preferences Five or more (5+) years of entrepreneurship, program management experience Experience with startups and startup accelerator programs Experience engaging within and across a startup ecosystem Shares work early and often, valuing a process of iterative feedback to produce exceptional results Essential Functions Leads the development and implementation of major program(s) Collaborates with faculty and/or staff leadership to design programs and establish long‑range strategic and operational plans Identifies promising research and technology from across the Rice University ecosystem Oversees the operations, administration and evaluation of programs Identifies and implements program changes to ensure alignment with mission and program effectiveness Develops and implements strategies related to outreach, events, communications, development, partnerships and fundraising/funding Devises and manages financial and budgetary plans for the program(s), approves and monitors expendituresMay teach a course, seminar or workshop Performs all other duties that assigned Additional Functions Responsible for tracking and reporting on all program metrics and impact. You may support other Lilie programming and courses as the need arises Rice University EEO Statement Rice University is committed to ensuring Equal Employment Opportunity and welcoming the fullness of diversity into our candidate pools. Rice considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, genetic information, disability, or protected veteran status. Rice also provides reasonable accommodations to qualified persons with disabilities. If an applicant requires a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process, please get in touch with Rice University’s Human Resources Office via email at View email address on click.appcast.io for support. If you have any additional questions, please email us at View email address on click.appcast.io. #J-18808-Ljbffr The Chronicle Of Higher Education, Inc.