Partnerships & Programs Manager (US)

About Foundervine

Foundervine is an entrepreneurship organisation helping founders build and grow successful businesses. Since 2018, we have supported more than 1,900 founders and entrepreneurs through our programmes, partnerships and wider ecosystem.

We work with some of the UK's and world's leading organisations to design and deliver programmes that support entrepreneurship, innovation and business growth. Our clients and partners have included Barclays, Lloyds Banking Group, NatWest, Google, Sainsbury's, Campari and local government, alongside investors, universities and organisations across the startup ecosystem.

Our work has been recognised externally, including being named one of Europe's Leading Startup Hubs by the Financial Times and Statista in both 2025 and 2026, and winning Top Workplace at the SeedLegals Startup Awards 2026.

A Culture of Support and Development

At Foundervine, we’re an ambitious, high-performing team that cares deeply about the people we work with. We set high standards for ourselves, take ownership of our work and are motivated by delivering meaningful results. At the same time, we believe people do their best work when they feel supported, valued and able to bring their best selves to work.

Our culture is built around performance, accountability, collaboration and continuous learning , alongside a genuine commitment to wellbeing. We encourage people to take initiative, challenge ideas, learn from one another and work together to achieve shared goals. Through regular check-ins, cross-team collaboration and knowledge sharing, we create an environment where people can grow while being trusted to deliver.

You’ll be part of a team that is ambitious about what we can achieve, accountable for the results we deliver, and intentional about how we work together.

The Role

We are seeking a candidate who can take initiative, operate independently, with a deep passion for entrepreneurship to help build the foundations of our US operations. This is a fast-paced role that offers the opportunity to shape the vision and long-term delivery of Foundervine, laying the groundwork for sustainable growth and regional impact.

We’re looking for someone with significant project management experience, who has independently managed programs or operations within the US, including setting up processes, working in cross-border teams, and overseeing local delivery. If you bring exceptional communication, stakeholder management, and strategic planning skills, this could be the perfect next step in your journey.

Your time will be split roughly 70% on US programs and 30% on partnerships and business development.

What You'll Do

• Program Management:
• Independently set up and deliver Foundervine programs, projects, and specific events, predominantly managing start-up and scale-up accelerator programs across the US, collaborating with UK and Ghana based offices.
• Lead the end-to-end project lifecycle, including establishing operations, monitoring progress, and reporting to leadership teams based in other regions.
• Develop, manage, and monitor detailed project schedules and work plans using digital tools like Asana, Notion, Google Suite and Slack.
• Proactively manage program resources, budgets, risks, and issues, ensuring smooth execution and problem resolution.
• Support facilitators, speakers, mentors, and coaches throughout program delivery.
• Partner with the Marketing and Operations teams to promote programs and communicate brand value.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with external partners, sponsors, and stakeholders, leading all program communications.
• Program Design and Development:
• Design and develop new programs in collaboration with local governments, higher education institutions, and corporate partners.
• Work with the Operations team to create and optimise workflows and processes for seamless program delivery.
• Manage the end-to-end recruitment and relationship building with experts, ensuring alignment with cohort needs and program objectives.
• Program Delivery:
• Host Foundervine at events and meetings, advocating for the organisation’s mission and portfolio.
• Engage participants throughout program delivery, ensuring they receive the necessary support.
• Oversee the end-to-end delivery of programs, adhering to Central Projects Office (CPO) guidelines and maintaining proper documentation.
• Manage program cohort end-to-end, ensuring smooth delivery and strong participant engagement throughout.
• Partnerships & Growth
• Lead the development of new US partnerships with corporates, foundations, universities, local governments and ecosystem players (VCs, accelerators, chambers of commerce), working closely with our Business Development (BD) team.
• Own partner conversations from first meeting through to proposal, with BD supporting on pricing, contracting and commercial structure. Final sign-off on all pricing and contracts sits with the Chief Operating Officer.
• Translate partner goals (e.g. supplier diversity, economic development, talent pipelines) into compelling accelerator proposals and pitches.
• Grow relationships with existing US partners, including those from our first US accelerator, turning successful programs into renewals and multi-year partnerships.
• Act as Foundervine's representative in the US ecosystem: building a strong network, attending and speaking at events, and raising our profile with founders and funders.
• Bring market insight back to BD and leadership on what partners need, how they buy, and where the opportunities are.
• Track the partnership pipeline in our CRM and report on agreed targets (e.g. meetings held, proposals submitted, partnerships secured).

What Success Looks Like

In your first 12 months, success will look like:

• Delivering our US accelerator program(s) on time and within budget, with strong participant feedback.
• Securing at least three new or renewed US partnerships, working with Business Development.
• Building a qualified US partnership pipeline worth $600,000, tracked in our CRM, to support growth in year two.

Other Role Details

• Employment model: Full time, 12-month fixed-term employment contract with Foundervine LLC, with the possibility of extension
• Location: DMV area (Washington DC, Maryland or Virginia). Remote-first, with travel into DC (i.e every month) expected for partner meetings, program sessions and ecosystem events.
• Key Relationships: Partners, funders and ecosystem stakeholders; Client, Business Development, Programmes, C suite and Marketing

Requirements

We’re looking for someone with a solid mix of formal qualifications, hands-on experience, and digital fluency to excel in this dynamic, partnership- and delivery-focused role.:

Essential Competencies and Qualifications:

• A proven track record of managing programs or operations, building partnerships or closing deals in the US market
• Experience working with or reporting into international teams, preferably in Europe or other global regions
• Strong experience with Project Management Tools, such as Asana, Monday.com, Todoist
• Proficiency in Knowledge & Operations Platforms, such as Notion, ClickUp or Jira
• Experience working with cross-functional teams (e.g., Marketing, Ops, Comms) and delivering high-impact, community-driven programs
• Strong data analysis and reporting skills: able to build dashboards, report on KPIs, and use insights to inform delivery
• Comfortable managing budgets, timelines, and risk, particularly in a grant- or partner-funded program environment
• Experience working in or with the social impact, entrepreneurship, or non-profit sectors

Desired Competencies and Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant field (e.g., Business Administration, International Development, Project Management, Operations, or related disciplines) — desirable
• PMP (Project Management Professional), PRINCE2, or equivalent project management certification — desirable
• Good understanding of CRM systems – such as Salesforce, HubSpot, or Zoho

Benefits

What we offer:

• Competitive Salary: A salary range of $80,000- 120,000 per year, set in line with the market.
• Healthcare Plan Contribution: A monthly healthcare allowance to support access to private insurance or medical services of your choice.
• Remote-First Workstyle: Work remotely from the DMV area, with regular time in DC (i.e every month) and a schedule that supports productivity and balance.
• Online Socials & Team Connection: Join regular virtual meetups, culture-building events, and socials that keep you connected with the wider global team.
• Opportunities for skill-building through workshops, internal training, and curated content.
• Project Ownership: Lead high-impact programs with the space to grow your influence and autonomy.
• Reward & Recognition Systems: We celebrate great performance and meaningful individual contributions through structured recognition, public appreciation, and rewards aligned to impact.