Senior Program Officer

Summary

Join VentureWell as a Senior Program Officer (SPO) and play a key leadership role in our suite of accelerator programs for science and technology startup founders. This position focuses heavily on our Ocean Enterprise Accelerator and other climate-related programs, requiring approximately 25% travel. The ideal candidate possesses at least seven years of relevant experience in project management, relationship building, and working with entrepreneurial communities. Domain expertise in climate tech, blue economy, energy, entrepreneurship, or startup acceleration is crucial. Responsibilities include program management and delivery, relationship management, and thought leadership. The SPO will oversee program planning, execution, and participant management, while also building and maintaining relationships with stakeholders. This role demands strong communication, leadership, and project management skills.

Requirements

• Experience and subject matter expertise in entrepreneurship and innovation methods
• Minimum 7 years related experience, including program design and administration, with domain experience in fields related to VentureWell program areas (climate tech, blue economy, ocean-related sectors, entrepreneurship), science and technology startups, equity investment ecosystems (angels/VC), and alternate financing pathways
• Comfort and experience delivering trainings or content related to domain experience online and in person
• Significant experience in collaborating with higher education, foundation, and/or government agency funding staff and their related working environments
• Outstanding written and oral communication skills with an ability to articulate and synthesize information in a compelling and organized manner; effective and skilled presenter
• Strong and effective leadership skills with experience in managing teams, resources, and staff professional development
• Ability to extract key information and data to solve problems and inform decision-making
• Demonstrated history of success utilizing project management skills, including the ability to meet deadlines and coordinate multiple tasks with a wide range of stakeholders
• Ability to succeed and thrive in an environment with vying and changing priorities and tight deadlines
• Track record of and ability to build solid, collaborative working relationships; exceptional team player who enjoys a “customer service” orientation to collaboration internally and externally
• Self-starter with proven attention to detail and a commitment to delivering high-quality work
• Highly adaptable and comfortable working with a degree of ambiguity
• Ability to understand and apply appropriate tools and technologies used in the workplace; ease with adapting new technologies as needed
• High degree of digital fluency using cloud-based office tools such as GSuite, CRMs, team collaboration tools, and other web-based applications; ability to incorporate these tools into day to day work

Responsibilities

• Oversee the planning, development, and execution of VentureWell’s climatetech partner- and investment-readiness accelerator programs, including the Ocean Enterprise Accelerator and portfolio management opportunities
• Manage cohorts, acting as point-person with all participants and internal and external stakeholders
• Leverage subject matter expertise in innovation and entrepreneurship to help early-stage entrepreneurs grow their ventures and become investment- and partner-ready
• Lead internal team on recruitment, review, and selection of entrepreneurs and serve as the primary point of contact for program participants through the program offerings
• Effectively participate in internal collaboration and communication to ensure program success through the use of project management tools and practices, including project kick-off and ongoing project management
• Work across programs to align training and opportunities with the organization’s venture pipeline development strategy and provide support to other programs as needed
• Source and manage instructors, mentors, partners, technical experts, and consultants assigned to the program
• Provide guidance to cross-organizational colleagues partnering on programs to collaborate for excellent program delivery and tracking
• Work closely with the Data Intelligence team to ensure relevant assessment metrics are used for evaluating workshops and documenting learning, knowledge, and impact
• Set and oversee program budgets and delivery programs within budget constraints. Manage activities, contracts, and sub-contracts to ensure compliance with award deliverables, rules, and obligations
• Support ecosystem strengthening and value-added activities that further goals related to developing ventures, such as making connections and referrals and sourcing new relationships that could be valuable to our community
• Ensure logistics required for successful program implementation, including materials, vendors, and contractors, are planned and executed in a manner that delivers excellence and compliance with budget and finance policies
• Ensure seamless meeting setup on-the-fly during an event, whether in person or virtual, and provide on-the-ground support of activities and events during in-person program execution
• Lead documentation and tracking efforts for supporting ventures and innovators post-program, including fundraising needs and connections required
• Act as a connector among program stakeholders including innovators, entrepreneurs, mentors, and investors related to resources, capital, connections, and ecosystem support and maintain a database of stakeholders and documentation
• Develop lasting relationships with the entrepreneurs from the VentureWell programs, connect them to resources, help them navigate venture development, and keep tabs on their success
• Develop and cultivate relationships to support organizational venture development goals, including maintaining a network of high-quality and aligned mentors and instructors for the Ventures Portfolio
• Source, manage, and grow VentureWell’s pool of technical experts integrated into the programming
• Translate high-level proposals and awards into tangible and practical workplans
• Seek new funding opportunities, develop new programming for VentureWell, and contribute leadership to global strategy development, working closely with the Growth Strategy and Development Team and Program staff
• Play a leadership role in the fundraising, branding, promotion, and marketing of programs as well as the reporting of program outcomes. Prepare and synthesize written material for proposals and reports to funders
• Develop and cultivate relationships and strategic partnerships to support organizational venture development goals. Effectively build and maintain a network of high-quality and aligned mentors and instructors for the ESI Portfolio
• Use domain experience to deliver programming across venture accelerator programs – including group conversation facilitation, presenting and teaching directly in a “front of classroom” role, and one-on-one engagements with participants (e.g., students, investors, entrepreneurs, professionals, etc.)
• Provide commercialization support to science and technology startup founders including but not limited to providing guidance on customer economic use cases, financial projections and milestone planning, product readiness, customer discovery coaching, fundraising strategy development, etc
• Contribute expertise to the program area and leverage domain knowledge to develop content and case studies for content marketing or lessons. Synthesize lessons learned into program design evolution and provide thought leadership across the Program team
• Work towards energetically advancing equity in the scope of team-member performance goals, and broader contributions to VentureWell’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion

Preferred Qualifications

• A degree in relevant disciplines is preferred but not required
• While not a requirement, we prefer candidates with a technical background in climate-related fields (this can include specific degrees, professional experience, and relevant professional certifications)

Benefits

• Salary range of $90-$110k commensurate with experience and internal equity
• 403(b) plan with 200% match up to a maximum contribution from VentureWell of 10% when the employee puts in 5% (eligible after one year of service for the match)
• Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance
• $1,000 home office stipend upon hire
• A true focus on work-life balance with work weeks that reflect that
• It’s our aim for our employees in this position to not work more than a 40-hour workweek
• 20 paid vacation days
• 12 paid holidays
• 12 paid wellness days