Program Manager, Incubator

POSTED: December 1, 2022
BUSINESS: Purdue Research Foundation
POSITION TYPE: Full-time
START DATE: Immediate Availability

Essential Functions

• Develop and deploy programs that will effectively advance (de-risk) Purdue-affiliated technologies and startups (defined as those technologies and startups created around Purdue IP and/or by Purdue faculty, staff, students, or alumni). Programs should be developed and deployed spanning the range from ideation through business formation, including customer discovery and market validation.
• Develop content for Purdue-affiliated clients focused on de-risking the market, technology, IP, team, business model and funding strategies.
• Recruit Purdue faculty, staff, students, and alumni to be involved in the commercialization ecosystem at Purdue.
• Create a vibrant commercialization and entrepreneurial ecosystem on campus.
• Stay up-to-date on best practices for de-risking early-stage technologies and startups.
• Work closely with the Office of Technology Commercialization (OTC) business development managers and the Incubator team to maintain a constant pipeline of technologies and startups that participate in the programming.
• Work closely with the Startup Foundry to identify investible startups that are ready to raise their first round and prepare them for the Startup Foundry.
• Serve as primary manager to coordinate a de-risking plan for all Purdue-affiliated technologies and startups in the Incubator.
• Create and manage workshops focused on de-risking early-stage technologies and startups for Purdue-affiliated clients utilizing community members, service providers, mentors and advisors.
• Manage client intake/process prescription/stage gate process (in collaboration with other Incubator Managers and Director).
• Promote all Incubator training and workshops with the assistance of the PRF Marketing team.
• Represent the Incubator when requested for meetings with investors, visitors, alumni, etc.
• Prepare materials for meetings.
• Other duties as assigned.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities 

• Ability to understand a wide variety of technologies and an appetite to learn.
• Familiarity with ideation, customer discovery, market validation and business formation.
• Engaging instructor with the ability to comprehend and work with a wide variety of technologies and business models.
• Excellent communication skills, including oral, written, and proofreading skills.
• Engaging and outgoing personality that invites conversation and brainstorming.
• Strong organizational and planning skills with the ability to manage multiple projects at once.
• Ability to perform with minimal supervision, prioritize assignments to meet deadlines, and produce high-quality work with attention to detail.
• Ability to take initiative and solve problems while being flexible.
• Ability to influence and build working relationships among a diverse workforce at all levels.
• Demonstrated good judgment, diplomacy, persuasive ability, and the ability to inspire confidence and cooperation to drive positive results within and across the organization’s boundaries.
• General understanding of intellectual property and/or willingness to learn.
• Personal computer and related basic Microsoft Office skills.
• Familiarity with CRM tools like Salesforce or database management systems such as Sophia.
• In person attendance for events is required.

Education/Experience

• Bachelor's degree required.
• 8+ years' relevant work experience required.
• Experience in startups and/or innovation/product discovery/ventures in industry preferred

If you are interested in applying, please click here to begin the process: https://www.applyatprf.com. 

A criminal conviction check and negative controlled substance test are required for employment in this position. 

Purdue Research Foundation is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. PRF views, evaluates, and treats all persons in all Foundation-related activities solely as individuals on the basis of their own personal abilities, qualifications, and other relevant characteristics.  All qualified applicants for employment will receive consideration without regard to race, religion, color, gender, national origin or ancestry, genetic information, marital status, parental status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disability, or status as a veteran.