Emerging Talent Manager (Cincinnati)

Who We Are

Cintrifuse is a nonprofit organization dedicated to making Cincinnati the best place in the Midwest to launch and scale a high-growth startup. Through founder-focused programming, strategic connections, venture capital investment, and ecosystem-building initiatives, we help entrepreneurs access the resources they need to grow.

As the convener of the StartupCincy ecosystem, Cintrifuse works alongside founders, investors, corporations, universities, and community partners to foster a thriving innovation economy. Our vision is a region where more startups are built, more companies scale, more capital is invested, and more successful founders create the next generation of high-growth businesses.

The Role

The Emerging Talent Manager connects great early-career talent with the startups in our portfolio. You’ll build and own Cintrifuse’s relationships with universities across the Midwest, serving as the single point of contact for each partner school and the face of Cintrifuse on campus. You’ll also lead Startup Fellows, placing top college students in internships with our portfolio companies. The network you build will become the talent engine behind our Emerging Founder Residency (EFR) and other Cintrifuse programs.

What You’ll Own

• University partnerships: Serve as the dedicated point of contact for each target school, building relationships with career centers, faculty, and students at Cincinnati-area institutions, Purdue, IU, Ohio State, University of Michigan, University of Kentucky, University of Louisville, Chicago-area schools, and others within about a six-hour drive.
• Startup Fellows: Lead the program from a talent standpoint, with the program delivery team handling day-to-day logistics. Work with startup teams to understand their needs, recruit strong students for quality and fit, and match them to internships across the portfolio.
• Campus outreach: Promote the full slate of Cintrifuse programming to students, including Startup Fellows, Builder Fellows, EFR, and hackathons. Attend career fairs and host on-campus events, especially during fall and spring recruiting seasons..
• Portfolio talent pipeline: Keep an active bench of recent graduates for junior roles like SDRs and junior engineers, and build a process for routing mid-career and senior inquiries.
• Program funding: Partner with the CEO to grow sponsor funding for Startup Fellows and help identify new funding sources.
• Future growth: Build out the Startup Fellows alumni network and lay the groundwork with university contacts for the EFR campus pipeline.
• Additional support: Take on other projects and responsibilities as they come up to support Cintrifuse’s talent and programming goals.

What We’re Looking For

• Experience: A bachelor’s degree and 5+ years of professional experience, ideally including recruiting at a startup or high-growth company. Existing university relationships, campus recruiting experience, or familiarity with venture capital are a plus.
• Talent judgment: A strong eye for talent and sound judgment in evaluating candidates, with experience hiring and/or managing people.
• Relationship building: A track record of building and maintaining relationships with external partners like career centers, faculty, students, and sponsors.
• Presence: Comfort presenting and pitching to outside audiences, including prospective sponsors.
• Travel: Willingness to travel regularly to partner campuses within about six hours of Cincinnati.

Compensation and Benefits

This is a full-time, Cincinnati-based position that requires regular regional travel, with peak travel during fall and spring career fair season. Salary is based on experience, with performance bonus potential. Benefits include full health benefits, HSA/FSA, a wellness program, 401(k) match, parental leave, and PTO. You’ll work in a collaborative, dog-friendly, casual co-working space at Union Hall, with access to all Cintrifuse and Union Hall events.

Regulatory Note

The Emerging Talent Manager will be considered an access person for Cintrifuse Capital. As an SEC registered investment adviser, all access persons of Cintrifuse Capital are required to comply with the rules and regulations of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and report on the firm’s code of ethics.

Cintrifuse is committed to diversity, equity and inclusion and is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace that seeks to recruit, develop and retain the most talented people from a variety of backgrounds, perspectives and skills. We encourage applicants from all genders, races, religions, ages and sexual orientations, as well as veterans, people living with disabilities, and any other groups who could bring diverse perspectives to our mission.