Dir - Roux Entrepreneurship

About the Opportunity

This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. It is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel so classified.

1.Summary

Northeastern University's Roux Institute is designed as an engine of innovation, talent-building, and economic growth for Portland, Maine, and northern New England. Partnerships set our model of graduate education and research apart. With leading companies and nonprofit organizations at the table from day one, we are creating programs that are preparing the workforce to stay agile and thrive in a competitive landscape powered by artificial intelligence. We are nurturing an environment for high-impact research and innovation in computer and data science, digital engineering, the advanced life sciences and medicine, and other tech fields. And we are helping entrepreneurs launch businesses focused on and powered by technology. Together, we envision an innovation corridor that in the coming years will stretch from Boston to Portland and beyond.
The goal of the Entrepreneurship Team is to build a portfolio of programs in service of that mission; and the Director of Venture Creation and Acceleration is responsible for designing, securing funding, and executing the new and growing portfolio of programs that support companies. Reporting to the Head of Entrepreneurship, this team member will be a thought partner and leader on developing the strategies, and then will have the autonomy and responsibility to design, build, and sustain the programs in support of the strategies. 

Over the past 3 years we have incubated over 70 businesses that have raised over $55MM in outside funding. In the next 5 years, this leader will play a key role in growing that to over 150 businesses that have raised over $150MM in outside funding.

It is critical to our success that these ideas are just the starting point – and the portfolio will evolve as we learn from experience. This commitment to learning, doing, and refining – the design mindset – is one of the most critical requirements of this role. 

The successful candidate will be passionate about engaging and supporting new ventures and be able to execute on the core mission and values of The Roux Institute while integrating and working across a global university system where appropriate. They will possess strong knowledge of what it takes to launch a company, a keen ability to build relationships across all sectors needed to support new ventures, a bias to partnership and ecosystem building, and a drive to build a team that makes this center come alive. 
At its core, the Director of Venture Creation and Acceleration role is about program design, securing funding, and execution. S/he will work collaboratively internally and externally to the University to create these programs, serving students, researchers, corporate partners, and community members interested in starting businesses in Maine as well as developing and providing an experiential entrepreneurial education offering. 
The Director will: 
Develop strategy: Develop strategic vision and plans for Venture Creation offerings including where to partner and what programs to build based on a deep understanding of entrepreneurs needs and the resources available through the Northeastern Network, Maine, and global startup ecosystems. 

Design, execute, and scale programs: Design and refine programs with a relentless curiosity about what serves entrepreneurs, an uncanny desire to sweat the details, and the ability to build a sustainable business model. Productize our offerings so they could be scaled across Maine and the Northeastern Global Network.

Fundraising & Strategic Projects: S/he will be involved in many ad-hoc strategic visits of senior leaders of partners, government, and philanthropy, in addition will be responsible for fundraising efforts.

Partnership: Work collaboratively to create partnerships that drive impact for our ventures. Drive collaborations with partners to develop and scale entrepreneurship offerings.

Measure impact: Work with the Head of Entrepreneurship to develop a framework and system to set goals to measure the impact of the center including venture creation and success metrics. 

Be an ambassador: Act as a liaison between The Roux Institute and the broader Northeastern University network related to entrepreneurship and venture creation.
The Director of Venture Creation and Acceleration will be required to have deep first-hand knowledge of starting a business, fundraising, venture accelerators, and managing a diverse set of partners. S/he must work with a high level of independence within a progressive institutional environment. S/he challenges the status quo and develops/offers new techniques to support venture creation. S/he embraces new ideas; innovates and anticipates future needs; shares knowledge and teaches others to do the same. It is an expectation that the candidate is a strong communicator and collaborative partner, able to work up, down and across the organization, and represent the Institute in a variety of diverse forums.

2.Qualifications

• 10+ years experience in entrepreneurial ecosystems or startups. Ideally a candidate who has started and raised capital for at least one company
• Strong experience and network in the Boston and Portland Startup Communities 
• Strongly demonstrates a bias towards action, rapid iteration, and hands on approach 
• Proven track record of success and expertise in building and/or mentoring businesses from concept to first customer and beyond 
• Ability and desire to secure funding through grants, philanthropy, sponsorships, and other channels
• Proven ability to work with external and internal organizations, partners, donors and agencies to produce results. This may include investors, corporations, government programs, and entrepreneurs 
• Excellent communications skills and ability to work independently and in a team environment are a must 
• Strong leadership skills that require a balance of managing day to day activities, as well as oversight of a team to interact with all levels of the organization, including University senior leaders and external executives where necessary, ability to positively represent the Institute 
• Bachelor’s degree preferred 
• Ability to work efficiently, creatively and meet deadlines 
• Demonstrated ability to make decisions and exercise sound judgment 

Travel Requirement: 

• You will be required to travel, mostly regionally, to meet potential partners and entrepreneurs 
• You will be required to travel to Boston occasionally for meetings at Northeastern’s Boston and Burlington campuses 
• There is limited travel further afield to meet companies who wish to move offices to Maine or to visit Northeastern regional campuses- Networked approach to developing leadership style is key; must be comfortable in an environment of deep collaboration, engagement and creativity from all levels of the organization 
   

3.Key Responsibilities & Accountabilities

Strategy and Planning:

• Develop the strategic vision for venture creation programming that will further the Roux Institute mission Collaborate with full Roux Institute team to integrate and maximize impact of those programs across all aspects of the organization
• Strategize with team on where and with whom to partner Develop action plans and financial plans
• Actively participate in structured and unstructured thinking, dreaming, and iteration on how to increase impact and achieve our mission
• Act as a liaison between the Roux Institute and the larger Northeastern Network 

Program Design, Implementation, and Scale:

Launch and scale all aspects of entrepreneurship programs, including the Venture Creation Lab and the Founder Residency

• Engage with entrepreneurs throughout global NU and Maine
• Manage strategic partnerships, both internal and external to the University
• Develop ways to measure progress and impact and consistently collect, share and make meaning from the data collected Lead all team members associated with the programs and ensure that team and resources are aligned

Fundraising, Grants, and Relationship Management:

• Secure Funding to support entrepreneurship and venture creation efforts.
• Lead grant writing efforts and grant management.
• Manage relationships with funding entities and philanthropists

Reflection, Communication:

• Set aside time to articulate goals, reflect on progress, and learn from experience
• Communicate in a variety of mediums (verbal, written, graphic, video) the goals, progress, and learnings actively and consistently with internal and external teams, program participants and collaborators

Position Type

General Administration

Additional Information

Northeastern University considers factors such as candidate work experience, education and skills when extending an offer.

Northeastern University is an equal opportunity employer, seeking to recruit and support a broadly diverse community of faculty and staff. Northeastern values and celebrates diversity in all its forms and strives to foster an inclusive culture built on respect that affirms inter-group relations and builds cohesion. 

All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

To learn more about Northeastern University’s commitment and support of diversity and inclusion, please see www.northeastern.edu/diversity.