Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center Manager - Riyadh

Job Summary:

The Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center Manager will lead the design, delivery, and management of a comprehensive suite of innovation and entrepreneurship programs within a university campus environment. The role will focus on fostering a culture of innovation among students and professors, serving as a catalyst for startup creation, technology commercialization, and entrepreneurial mindset development. Key initiatives include bootcamps, hackathons, meetups, venture builder programs, incubators, accelerators, and investment demo days.

Key Responsibilities:

Program Development & Delivery

• Design and implement dynamic, experiential learning programs tailored to university students and faculty, including startup bootcamps, hackathons, idea labs, and meetups.

• Deliver venture builder initiatives and commercialization tracks that help academic research and student ideas become market-ready ventures.

• Launch and manage incubation and acceleration programs that provide mentorship, workspace, technical support, and access to funding.

Strategic Leadership

• Develop the Center’s strategic roadmap in alignment with the university’s innovation and entrepreneurship vision.

• Drive a university-wide innovation agenda by integrating programs with academic departments and student affairs.

• Stay informed on global innovation trends and embed best practices into program offerings.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Build collaborative relationships with faculty members to co-create academic-industry innovation pipelines.

• Engage students, researchers, and staff through targeted outreach and inclusive program design.

• Develop partnerships with government entities, corporates, investors, and entrepreneurial support organizations.

Campus Integration

• Position the Center as a core hub within the university, aligning with the academic calendar, student clubs, research labs, and technology transfer offices.

• Coordinate with campus departments to ensure programs complement curricular and extracurricular initiatives.

Operations & Team Management

• Manage the Center’s team, operations, and physical space within the university campus.

• Oversee budgeting, procurement, vendor management, and reporting for all Center activities.

• Monitor impact metrics related to student/faculty engagement, startup creation, investment readiness, and employment outcomes.

Startup & Innovation Support

• Provide mentorship and advisory to student- and faculty-led startups.

• Organize investment demo days and pitch competitions connecting university ventures with local and regional investors.

• Develop alumni networks and offer ongoing support for graduates of the Center’s programs.

Key Skills & Competencies:

• Strategic thinking and leadership in a university context

• Passion for education, youth empowerment, and innovation

• Program design and management

• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and facilitation skills

• Relationship-building with academic, public, and private sector stakeholders

• Data-driven decision making and reporting

Work Environment:

• Based full-time on a university campus.

• Requires flexibility to engage in evening/weekend activities to accommodate student schedules.

• Includes interaction with a diverse academic community and external innovation ecosystem partners.

Qualifications & Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Innovation, Engineering, Education, or related fields (Master’s preferred).

• 5–7 years of experience in managing innovation hubs, entrepreneurship programs, or startup ecosystems, ideally within an educational setting.

• Demonstrated experience working with youth or academic communities is highly preferred.

• Deep knowledge of innovation tools (Design Thinking, Lean Startup, Agile), startup development, and funding landscapes.

• Proven track record in managing accelerator programs, incubators, or startup support initiatives.

Others:

• Flexibility to accommodate after-hours commitments as needed.
• Willingness to work on weekends when necessary.
• Flexibility to travel as needed.

• PASSION FOR VENTURE CREATION
• Fluency in Languages: Fluency in both written and spoken Arabic and English is essential.
• Leadership and Team Management: Proven ability to lead a small team and manage programs, including end-to-end project and program management.
• Operational Expertise: Skilled at overseeing and leading operations in a fast-paced environment with limited resources.
• Problem-Solving and Creativity: A creative problem-solver with a proven ability to deliver exceptional results.
• Detail-Oriented: Highly organized with exceptional attention to detail.
• Adaptability and Feedback: Open to feedback, willing to learn, and highly adaptable in dynamic environments.
• Work Ethic and Resilience: Efficient, resilient, and flexible, with a strong commitment to results-driven work.
• Cultural Fit: Enjoys working in an environment that is transparent, curious, collaborative, and fun.