The University of Virginia seeks an Assistant Director of Student Entrepreneurship to join The Foundry, UVA’s pan-university student entrepreneurship support center. The Foundry is part of a broader pan-university Entrepreneurship Initiative includes student entrepreneurship, faculty research commercialization and venturing, and broader engagement with the entrepreneurial ecosystems in Charlottesville and the Commonwealth of Virginia. Consistent with UVA’s Great and Good Strategic Plan, we wish to lead economic development through academic discovery and entrepreneurship. This role advances the Foundry’s mission to create a space where students and alumni can connect with each other, build their businesses, find mentorship, and start their entrepreneurial journeys. The Assistant Director supports the implementation of strategic programs to further student entrepreneurship and leads content creation initiatives.

Stakeholder Areas of Impact:

Students:

Supports students through educational and experiential programmingManages high-impact events, workshops, webinars, and speaker seriesOversees bootcamps and ecosystem “immersions”Coordinates student venturing initiatives including pitch competitions and the Entrepreneurship CupManages grant and fellowship programsCultivates relationships with student leaders and supports student club initiativesProactively partners with other centers to support student entrepreneurial development.

Faculty:

Supports thought leadership initiatives and content creationCoordinates with faculty to deliver workshops and eventsFacilitates research opportunities and academic partnershipsDevelops entrepreneurship curriculum and resources.

External Partners:

Builds relationships with alumni entrepreneurs and mentorsEstablishes partnerships with regional entrepreneurship organizationsRepresents The Foundry at conferences and external eventsEngages with peer institutions for best practice sharing.

Flexibility to Succeed

The Assistant Director has significant autonomy to:

Design and implement new entrepreneurship programs based on observed needsMaintain flexible office hours for student consultationsLead hackathons, workshops, and specialized eventsManage online resource platforms and community toolsCoordinate alumni office hours and mentorship programsOversee marketing clinic projectsDevelop partnerships with UVA’s Legal ClinicOwn and execute The Foundry’s communications strategyChoose tools and methods for program deliveryCreate and modify assessment metrics.

Primary Responsibilities:

Program Development and Execution:

Organizes and coordinates planning, implementation, and assessment of entrepreneurship programsManages The Foundry’s signature events and initiativesDevelops new programs based on student needs and feedbackCoordinates cross-department collaboration for entrepreneurship initiatives.

Strategic Communications and Community Building:

Owns and executes The Foundry’s communications strategyLeads development of blogs, articles, podcasts, and video contentManages The Foundry’s digital presence and online resource platformsCreates educational resources and program materialsCoordinates alumni office hours and mentorship programsOrganizes hackathons, specialized workshops, and community eventsOversees marketing clinic projects and legal clinic partnerships.

Student Support and Mentorship:

Provides direct mentorship to student entrepreneursFacilitates connections between students and mentorsManages office hours and consultation programsSupports student ventures through development stages.

Strategic Planning and Assessment:

Develops and tracks program metricsManages program budget and resourcesCreates annual strategic plans with measurable goalsAssesses program effectiveness and implements improvements.

Required Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree4+ years of experience in entrepreneurship, startup development, or related fieldTrack record of successful program development and executionEvidence of building and maintaining professional networksStrong communication and presentation skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

Startup founding or early-stage experienceExperience in higher education or student programmingBackground in content creation and community buildingKnowledge of entrepreneurship ecosystemsExperience with program assessment and metrics.

Success Metrics:

Assist with development of new programmingAchieve 80%+ student satisfaction in program evaluationsFacilitate 50+ mentor-student matches annuallyProduce 20+ pieces of original contentGenerate 20+ student venture success stories annuallyBuild network of 50+ active alumni mentorsExecute 10+ community events per semesterRepresent The Foundry at 2-3 conferences annually.

About the Position:

This is an exciting opportunity to shape UVA’s entrepreneurial ecosystem while building a vibrant community of innovators. If you are passionate about entrepreneurship education and student success, we encourage you to apply. The anticipated salary range is anticipated to be $110,000.00 - $125,000.00, commensurate with experience and qualifications. This is a full-time, 40 hours per week, exempt level, benefited position operating during regular business hours, with the occasional need to work outside traditional business hours to attend events, conferences, or community gatherings. Visit here for more information on the benefits of working at UVA. Employees’ benefits package highlights include:

22 days of paid time off, increasing with service; 13+ paid holidays each year, in addition to paid time offParental and Community Service LeaveHealth plan with options to meet healthcare and financial needs available immediatelyRetirement benefitsTuition and professional development benefits after the first six months of employmentEmployee wellness program featuring activities to earn up to $500/year.

This is a restricted position with three years of initial funding. This position will not sponsor applicants for work visas. The University will perform background checks on all new hires prior to employment.

To Apply:

The preferred deadline for applications is December 20, 2024, however, the position will remain open until filled. Please use “Apply Now” to access the application, search for R0067758. Internal applicants must apply through their UVA Workday profile by searching ‘Find Jobs.’ Complete an application online with the following documents: 

ResumeCover letter 

 

Upload all materials into the resume submission field. Applications that do not contain all required documents will not receive full consideration. References will be completed via UVA’s standardized process SkillSurvey. A total of five references will be requested via SkillSurvey during the final phase of the interview process. For questions about the application process, please contact Michele Jarman, Academic Recruiter.

Physical Demands

This is primarily a sedentary job involving extensive use of desktop computers. The job does occasionally require traveling some distance to attend meetings, and programs.

The University of Virginia, including the UVA Health System which represents the UVA Medical Center, Schools of Medicine and Nursing, UVA Physician’s Group and the Claude Moore Health Sciences Library, are fundamentally committed to the diversity of our faculty and staff.  We believe diversity is excellence expressing itself through every person's perspectives and lived experiences.  We are equal opportunity and affirmative action employers. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, marital status, national or ethnic origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, veteran or military status, and family medical or genetic information.