Venture Development Program Manager

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Closing Date:

10/10/2025

Type of Position:

Project ManagementNo

Job Type:

Fixed Duration of Project/Grant (Fixed Term)No

Institution Name:

University of Arkansas, Fayetteville

Founded in 1871, the University of Arkansas is a land grant institution, classified by the Carnegie Foundation among the nation’s top 2 percent of universities with the highest level of research activity. The University of Arkansas works to advance the state and build a better world through education, research, and outreach by providing transformational opportunities and skills, fostering a welcoming climate, and nurturing creativity, discovery, and the spread of new ideas and innovations.

The University of Arkansas campus is located in Fayetteville, a welcoming community ranked as one of the best places to live in the U.S. The growing region surrounding Fayetteville is home to numerous Fortune 500 companies and one of the nation’s strongest economies. Northwest Arkansas is also quickly gaining a national reputation for its focus on the arts and overall quality of life.

As an employer, the University of Arkansas offers a vibrant work environment and a workplace culture that promotes a healthy work-life balance. The benefits package includes university contributions to health, dental, life and disability insurance, tuition waivers for employees and their families, 12 official holidays, immediate leave accrual, and a choice of retirement programs with university contributions ranging from 5 to 10% of employee salary.

Below you will find the details for the position including any supplementary documentation and questions, you should review before applying for the opening.

If you have a disability and need assistance with the hiring process, please submit a request via the Disability Accommodations | OEOC | University of Arkansas (uark.edu) : Request an Accommodation. Appli­cants are required to submit a request for each position of which they have applied.

For general application assistance or if you have questions about a job posting, please contact Human Resources at 479.575.5351.

Department:

Technology Ventures

Summary of Job Duties:

Reporting to the Executive Director for Technology Ventures, the Venture Development Program Manager leads efforts to support startup companies and entrepreneurial teams based on technologies owned by the University of Arkansas and promotes and assists in licensing innovations to the new entity. This role works directly with innovations that represent potential startup opportunities referred to them by innovators and contributors.

The Venture Development Program Manager evaluates startup opportunities; confirms that they should be pursued as startups rather than traditional licenses; and works with the inventor to prepare summaries of the opportunity, up to and including the initial business plan or business canvas model. The Venture Development Program Manager assists in recruiting the startup CEO and business mentors and may assist in obtaining financing through interactions with the innovation ecosystem. This will be in part accomplished by implementing lean startup methodology as deployed through the Innovation Corps (I-Corps™) hub and national programs. The Venture Development Program Manager is responsible for running the I-Corps™ program at the University of Arkansas and managing day to day communications with entrepreneurial teams and I-Corps™ instructors and others involved in the program. This position is also responsible for recruiting for and instructing at regional and national commercialization programs, and providing logistics as needed to deploy programs. The Venture Development Program Manager is responsible for managing a CRM of entrepreneurial teams and potential entrepreneurial teams and collect, organize, and analyze data and outcomes of the program.

The Venture Development Program Manager may work with a Licensing Associate or Assistant/Associate Director to promote and assist licensing innovation to the startup company and may represent the institution as an observer on the startup’s board of directors. The Venture Development Program Manager is a full-time employee of the institution. This position may supervise subordinate staff, student employees and/or volunteers as the needs of Technology Ventures evolve.

· Implement and lead I-Corps™ and similar programs for students, faculty, community members, and staff and manage logistics of the program.

· Recruit NSF, NIH and other agency and community I-Corps™ teams and assist in team development and creation.

· Lead I-Corps™ program as instructor and responsible for training local program instructors and mentors.

· Help transition teams from the I-Corps™ regional or similar programs to the National I-Corps™ program(s).

· Assist I-Corps™ teams to integrate programs within the ecosystem, such as accelerator programs and other technical assistance providers.

· Support institutional partners and serve as a representative within the I-Corps™ hub.

· Actively market technologies and the technology transfer office to startups and small companies and maintaining these relationships.

· Provide venture development support for I-Corps™ post awardees including SBIR/STTR mentorship interacting with SBTDC, and various private capital investment vehicles.

· Develop program summary reports and assists in gathering data for annual reports.

· Assemble and provide grant reports and supplemental budget information as requested by funding organizations.

· Assist in managing NSF I-Corps™ program budget, expenses, and all associated processes consistent with university procedures and demonstrates fiscal responsibility.

· Manage program and event budgets, revenues/expenses, sponsorship specifications, gifts-in-kind and income statement reconciliations.

Regular, reliable, and non-disruptive attendance is an essential job duty, as is the ability to create and maintain collegial, harmonious working relationships with others

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education

• At least two years of relevant experience

• Prior experience with NSF I-Corps™ programs as Certified National I-Corps™ instructor, adjunct I-Corps™ instructor, participated in a National I-Corps™ as either IM’s, PI’s, or EL’s previously

Preferred Qualifications:

• MBA, PhD, or JD degree from an accredited institution of higher education

• Experience training and execution of NSF I-Corps™ programs and completed “Train the Trainer” workshop

• Successful recipient and execution of SBIR/STTR award(s)

• Experience in a University spinout

Additional Information:

This position is renewable annually based on continued need for the position, availability of funding, and satisfactory job performance.

A minimum salary of $67,909, commensurate with education and experienceCover Letter/Letter of Application, List of three Professional References (name, email, business title), ResumeProof of Veteran StatusJulia Menke, [email protected], Sr. HR Partner
Crystal Ellis, Strategic Talent Acquisition Specialist, [email protected]

All application materials must be uploaded to the University of Arkansas System Career Site https://uasys.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/UASYS  

Please do not send to listed recruitment contact.

Special Instructions to Applicants:

Pre-employment Screening Requirements:

Criminal Background Check, Sex Offender Registry

The University of Arkansas is committed to providing a safe campus community. We conduct background checks for applicants being considered for employment. Background checks include a criminal background check and a sex offender registry check. For certain positions, there may also be a financial (credit) background check, a Motor Vehicle Registry (MVR) check, and/or drug screening. Required checks are identified in the position listing. A criminal conviction or arrest pending adjudication or adverse financial history information alone shall not disqualify an applicant in the absence of a relationship to the requirements of the position. Background check information will be used in a confidential, non-discriminatory manner consistent with state and federal law.

The University of Arkansas seeks to attract, develop and retain high quality faculty, staff and administrators that consistently display practices and behaviors to advance a culture that embeds equal opportunity, educational excellence and unparalleled access for all.

The University of Arkansas is an equal opportunity institution. The University does not discriminate in its education programs or activities (including in admission and employment) on the basis of any category or status protected by law, including age, race, color, national origin, disability, religion, protected veteran status, military service, genetic information, sex, sexual orientation, or pregnancy. Questions or concerns about the application of Title IX, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex, may be sent to the University’s Title IX Coordinator and to the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights.

Persons must have proof of legal authority to work in the United States on the first day of employment.

All Application information is subject to public disclosure under the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act.

Constant Physical Activity:

N/A

Frequent Physical Activity:

N/A

Occasional Physical Activity:

N/A

Benefits Eligible:

Yes