Are you a master matchmaker with a deep contact book? Do you love creating programs with impact? Do you want to help connect entrepreneurs, students, researchers, creatives, corporates and investors to make things happen? Yes? Then you belong at Venture Café!
At Venture Café we believe that one day, across the world, we will all participate equally in the process of innovation - making our world a better place. To achieve this purpose we are building a global community of innovators that provides open access to capital in a multitude of ways; human, social, economic, intellectual and political, to solve our community’s most pressing challenges.
That’s exactly why we need you. Are you ready to help us make an impact?
YOUR DAY-TO-DAY WORK
This role will primarily be responsible for curating program content and coordinating program partners for the weekly Thursday Gathering. This includes building a strong pipeline of community organizations and partners to host live panel discussions, workshops, innovation initiatives (i.e. hacks), office hours mentoring and live performances based on strategic themes. This position will report directly to the Director of Venture Café Cambridge.
In consultation with the VC Cambridge Director, VCGI Program Director, and Program Experience Coordinator, you will scope and develop a yearly program of weekly gathering events, which align with the Venture Café frameworks and strategic priorities.You will help position Venture Café Cambridge as a valuable but neutral player in the local ecosystem, working to amplify existing efforts, break down silos, and foster collaboration.
Venture Café Cambridge will look, feel, and operate like a startup. There will be uncertainty and ambiguity and no work will be beneath you (on the same day you may print name tags, move furniture, and have dinner with the CEO of a global company). This environment also creates great opportunities to be creative and to envision new projects that will take Venture Café Cambridge’s mission, and particularly its impact in Cambridge, to the next level. We believe in experiments as a way of learning.
The role of the Program Manager is to manage the execution of weekly Venture Café Thursday Gatherings, including the following:
• Identify and network within the Greater Boston innovation ecosystem to source weekly gathering content and speakers that are engaging and build an inclusive innovation community.
• Oversee and manage the delivery of non-Thursday Gathering Venture Café Cambridge programming.
• Engage Venture Café Cambridge and CIC Cambridge teams to ensure the effective promotion of Venture Café weekly events.
• Track metrics (i.e. marketing, attendance, quality, value, etc.) and submit a monthly report to Venture Cafe Cambridge Director.
• Connect with the Venture Café Global Institute to share learnings to support the relationship between Venture Café Cambridge and its global counterparts.
• Identify and mitigate risks to the effective operation of the Thursday Gathering.
• Collaborate with the CIC Cambridge team to ensure weekly events are mutually beneficial.
• Program & speaker coordination before, during, and after events.
• Research and develop innovative formats for delivering content and creating connection opportunities within the weekly event forum to maximize engagement.
• Web and Social event promotion on Venture Café Cambridge communication channels.
• Inventory coordination: food & beverage supplies, printing supplies, signage, etc.
• Setup and breakdown of Thursday Gathering events, including Venture Café Kiosk set-up and signage.
• Lead and Manage the Venture Café Ambassador program.
Physical activities on the job: Frequent use of hands for fine motor work and mid to full vision. This position regularly includes hosting events in our spaces, necessitating moving around our spaces and lifting/moving AV equipment, tables, and chairs. This position also requires significant time working on a computer and navigating between different documents and platforms.
ABOUT YOU
You will have experience managing programs and events and bring a creative, flexible approach to your work. You’ll have a long-term commitment and passion for mission driven work, which will give you the drive to deliver successful events and gatherings for Venture Café Cambridge.
Your strong customer service focus and ability to problem solve will set you up for success in this position. You are comfortable with failure and committed to improvement, with a relentless, obsessive attention to detail.
More specifically, you thrive in:
• Executing events or engagement activities.
• Envisioning, developing and implementing innovative event concepts and experiences.
• Experience building and managing relationships, networks, and partnerships.
• Connecting with a broad cross-section of the community.
• Creating, cultivating and executing on programs and priorities that align with our mission and strategic vision.
• Utilizing spaces in creative and engaging ways.
• Public speaking in a formal and informal setting.
• Communicating and promoting programs through digital media channels.
YOU HAVE
• Availability to work Venture Café Thursday Gatherings, which run 49 weeks per year from mid-afternoon into the evening hours, from 4:30 pm to 7:30 pm (with breakdown afterwards).
• Willingness for domestic and international travel as needed.
• Experience coordinating multiple small-to-medium-scale events at the same time.
• Knowledge of Google Apps, Salesforce and WordPress.
• Knowledge of Cambridge’s innovation community, key influencers, networks and organizations.
• Broad understanding of innovation and innovation eco-systems, including business and social components.
• Understanding of start-up operations or entrepreneurship initiatives.
• Awareness of and sensitivity to a diverse range of stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to efficiently manage and prioritize multiple ongoing tasks and projects simultaneously, ensuring seamless coordination between short-term tasks and long-term strategic planning.
• Excellent customer service, communication, problem solving skills, and relentless-obsessive attention to detail.
OUR OFFER
• Starting compensation is $77,000 per year.
• 100% company-paid premium healthcare and dental benefits.
• 100% company paid long- and short-term disability, and life insurance.
• 401k (must be 21+).
• Three weeks of vacation (more with seniority) plus thirteen holidays from the start.
ATTRACTIONS OF THE JOB
In addition to helping our clients achieve great things, we work to ensure that our employees are healthy and supported.
Some of the benefits of being here include:
• Fun people in a dynamic environment. We pride ourselves on finding driven and bright collaborators who are eager to lend their own unique skills to the team, as well as to our inspiring clientele. The number one reason CICers say they like working here is because of their colleagues!
• Personal growth. This is a great opportunity to learn and develop skills within the epicenter of the innovation community at a growing company.
• Discounted services and memberships on tools to make your life happier/healthier such as gym memberships, tech and design support, hotel stays, and other fantastic options.
ABOUT VCGI
The Venture Café Global Institute (VCGI) supports the global network of Venture Café sites. VCGI offers key training and resources, and guides expansion for the Network. Our core functions include knowledge sharing, shared services and systems, intellectual property, staff on-boarding, and new site development. VCGI is a public benefit corporation headquartered in Cambridge, MA, and partners closely with the Cambridge Innovation Center (CIC).
ABOUT VCGI CAMBRIDGE
CIC Cambridge has partnered with the Venture Café Global Institute to activate and nurture an inclusive innovation community in Cambridge. This will be achieved through the development and delivery of its flagship weekly program, the Thursday Gathering, where innovators and entrepreneurs meet to engage and develop innovation communities.
CIC is committed to building teams that reflect the fabric of the cities we support. We welcome all candidates regardless of race, color, ancestry, gender identity or expression, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, Veteran status, or any other legally protected status. Any other human expressions and experiences not mentioned here are equally welcome. If you require an accommodation please let us know. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer.
