Innovation Community Manager

Innovation Community Manager

The Lubar Entrepreneurial Center (LEC) at the University of WisconsinMilwaukee is a dynamic hub that empowers students, faculty, and staff to nurture ideas, build confidence, and grow as entrepreneurs, innovators, and change-makers. As a cornerstone of both UWM's and Milwaukee's innovation ecosystem, the center delivers multidisciplinary programming that strengthens creativity, design thinking, and real-world problem-solving skills. It serves as a resource for emerging ventures, offers experiential learning opportunities, and hosts key programs that help develop a strong regional talent pipeline. The center's collaborative innovation spaces - including open commons, co-working areas, and maker labs - are intentionally designed to spark creativity and support experimentation, prototyping, and teamwork.

Key Job Responsibilities:

The Innovation Community Manager plays a strategic role in building, activating, and sustaining UWM's innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem. This position leads ecosystem mapping and community strategy to increase visibility, accessibility, and engagement across campus and external partners. This position designs and delivers inclusive, low-barrier programming that fosters collaboration, cross-disciplinary co-creation, and shared problem-solving among students, faculty, staff, and community stakeholders. Serving as a connector and facilitator, this role cultivates partnerships, aligns stakeholders around shared goals, and develops contributor pathways that encourage community ownership and leadership. The position also oversees program evaluation, impact measurement, and continuous learning to strengthen community outcomes and demonstrate impact. This is a highly collaborative, systems-oriented role that helps advance a thriving, connected culture of innovation at UWM.

1. Ecosystem Mapping & Strategy

Map existing innovation and entrepreneurship communities across UWM (programs, labs, student orgs, faculty clusters, external partners).

Identify gaps, overlaps, and opportunities for connection and growth.

Develop a community systems strategy that increases visibility, accessibility, and participation across the ecosystem.

2. Community Activation & Programming

Design and deliver programming that re-activates and sustains communities of practice, including:

- Innovation convenings and cross-community meetups.

- Design sprints, workshops, and collaborative labs.

- Peer-led and contributor-driven events.

Build low-barrier entry points for new participants and clear pathways toward deeper engagement.

3. Cross-Community Collaboration

Create mechanisms that encourage collaboration across traditionally siloed groups, such as:

- Shared challenges or thematic initiatives

- Cross-disciplinary project teams

- Facultystudentindustry co-creation opportunities

Serve as a connector and facilitator, aligning stakeholders around shared goals.

4. Open Innovation & Contributor Pathways

Adapt best practices from open-source communities to:

- Develop contributor roles (e.g., organizers, facilitators, mentors, builders)

- Enable community ownership and distributed leadership

- Encourage knowledge sharing and co-creation

Design systems that move participants along a continuum:

observer ? participant ? contributor ? leader

5. Metrics, Evaluation & Learning

Develop and track metrics that capture:

- Community growth and diversity

- Engagement depth (not just attendance)

- Collaboration across communities

- Conversion to active contributors

Use qualitative and quantitative data to continuously refine strategy and demonstrate impact.

6. Partnerships & Stakeholder Engagement

Build relationships with faculty, campus units, student organizations, and external partners.

Collaborate with initiatives such as NSF I-Corps, Founder Factory, and other LEC programs to integrate community engagement into core programming.

Serve as a trusted partner and facilitator for stakeholders seeking to engage with the innovation ecosystem.

Compensation:

$80,000 90,000 (Final salary offer will be determined based on qualifications and experience)

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree.
• 3+ years of experience in program management, community building, or innovation ecosystems.
• Demonstrated experience designing and facilitating workshops, convenings, or collaborative programs.
• Strong interpersonal skills demonstrated through experience working collaboratively with individuals and/or groups.
• Experience working across diverse stakeholder groups.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Advanced degree.
• Experience with human-centered design, design thinking, or entrepreneurial methodologies.
• Background working in higher education, nonprofit leadership, or innovation programs.
• Experience managing or contributing to communities of practice or network-based initiatives.
• Familiarity with open-source or distributed collaboration models.
• Experience with impact measurement, evaluation, and reporting.

How to Apply:

Interested applicants are required to apply online and provide a cover letter, detailed resume/CV that addresses your professional level work experience as it relates to all required and preferred qualifications. Applications missing any of the required documents listed prior to the application deadline will be marked as incomplete and will not be considered.

In instances where the Search and Screen Committee is unable to ascertain from a candidate's application materials whether they meet any of the qualifications, they will be evaluated as not meeting such qualifications.

Finalist candidate(s) being considered for hire will be required to provide three professional/supervisor references through an external reference checking tool. References will not be contacted prior to candidates being notified.

Note: Applicants must complete all required fields and attach all required documents prior to submitting the online application to ensure full consideration. Additional documents submitted aside from a cover letter and resume/CV will not be considered. Please be detailed. In instances where the Search and Screen Committee is unable to ascertain from the candidates' application materials whether they meet any of the qualifications, they may be evaluated as not meeting such qualifications.

Additional Information: This position does not offer visa sponsorship. Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of hire. Selected candidates will be required to verify eligibility to work in the United States by completing the required I-9 form upon hire.

Apply electronically by the application deadline date of June 29, 2026. Questions about this position should be directed to Joshua Xiong at View email address on click.appcast.io.