INNOVATION - Director of Innovation & Entrepreneurship
Job Classification
Position summary
Under the direction of the Provost’s Office the Director of Innovation & Entrepreneurship will oversee and manage the operations of the Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship (“inCenter”). The inCenter will focus on three main functions including:
- Ideation (Design Thinking)
- Academic Program Support
- Enterprise and Product Development
Early on this inaugural Director will help refine a vision for innovation on campus and oversee the physical establishment of the inCenter. Acquisition of the requisite equipment and furnishings will parallel the recruitment and training of campus support teams.
Qualifications summary
Must have a bachelor's degree with a minimum of 7 years of experience, a higher degree is preferred. A self-starter, detail oriented, enjoys a fast pace work environment with multiple projects going at the same time.
Must be a Seventh-day Adventist in good and regular standing.
Duties and responsibilities
Under the direction of the Provost’s Office the Director of Innovation & Entrepreneurship will oversee and manage the operations of the Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship (“inCenter”). The inCenter will focus on three main functions including:
- Ideation (Design Thinking)
- Academic Program Support
- Enterprise and Product Development
Early on this inaugural Director will help refine a vision for innovation on campus and oversee the physical establishment of the inCenter. Acquisition of the requisite equipment and furnishings will parallel the recruitment and training of campus support teams.
Ideation (Design Thinking)
- Work with campus administration to develop innovation as a core value for the University.
- Identify and facilitate opportunities for colleagues and students to be trained in design thinking and to use that training to problem solve on an ongoing basis.
- Engage in the campus strategic planning processes to ensure innovation methodologies are an integral part of planning.
- Work with the Offices of Faith Development and University Wellness to create a unified vision of mission and delivery mission.
- Create a strategy for innovation for the campus in the three areas of ideation, academic program support and enterprise and product development
Academic Program Support
- Collaborate with Academic Administration to create a model of engagement with innovation and entrepreneurship across multiple disciplines.
- Work with administration to imagine and support the development of the space(s) needed to support innovation throughout the campus and its programs.
- Identify and imagine pathways to connect student‘s academic work with the possibilities of enterprise and product development.
- Create a structure with the support of administration to engage the campus academic community in the planning processes.
- Support interested departments and faculty members to move toward a culture of innovation as part of the fabric of the Andrews University way of life.
- Promote, coordinate, teach and advise for the Innovation & Entrepreneurship Certificate
Enterprise and Product Development
- Help the Innovation & Entrepreneurship Steering Committee to develop and refine a process through which ideas (product, business, process, social) are developed, refined, de-risked, and launched
- Identify a core group of partners, consultants and specialists who will provide one-on-one, managerial, and technical assistance support to students, faculty and program clients, identify a core group of expert consultants to facilitate training seminars and workshops (both in person and remotely)
- Serve as the point person for all consultants, trainers, service providers and potential clients
- Actively promote the Center through various media outlets, resource providers, elected officials, and the corporate community
Operations
- Establish and document processes and procedures for running the inCenter efficiently
- Consistently research and develop funding opportunities to support operations of the entrepreneur center
- Provide materials and research findings to support in the development of grants
- Manage and oversee the budgeting and financial operations of the inCenter
- Performs other duties as needed or requested.
Supervisory responsibilities
Supervise student workers and future staff.
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree w/seven years or more of relevant experience.
- Higher level degree preferred
- Track record for producing tangible and durable results creating innovations, working in diverse partnerships and launching new projects
- Track record in operating programs that help adults succeed in acquiring the skills, degrees, credentials needed for entrepreneurship
- Experience developing and monitoring large and complex budgets from inception to implementation
- Experience teaching or providing in-depth technical assistance is a plus
- Grant development, writing and administration
- Conversant and passionate about the intersection between program, policy and advocacy in the area of entrepreneurship development
- An understanding of the impact of race, class, faith, culture and language on community development success and a commitment to reducing racial inequality; a thorough comfort with an appreciation for diversity and inclusion
- Ability to work at a fast pace, juggle multiple projects and thrive under pressure. Ability to engage a diverse population of clients in an open and engaging manner
- Results oriented; detail oriented and a self-starterPerform appropriate duties as assigned by management
Must be a Seventh-day Adventist in good and regular standing.
Technical competencies
The ability to manage software applications, ability to work with mechanical and electronic machines would be a plus.
Interpersonal interactions
Must be comfortable interacting with students, faculty, administration and external parties.
Physical demands
- Regularly: Sit, talk, hear and use hands to work with the computer keyboard.
- Occasionally: Walk, reach with hands and arms, and stoop and kneel for filing.
- Occasionally: Lift and/or move up to 10 pounds.
- Vision abilities required: Close vision, and ability to adjust focus.
Work environment
- Noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.