Accelerator Programs Manager

We’re seeking a dependable, culturally-responsive program manager with entrepreneurship experience to lead and coordinate Collab’s core programs that support a diverse, talented community of entrepreneurs.

ABOUT COLLAB

Collab is a growing non-profit organization that equips entrepreneurs with the confidence, resources, and skills to build new ventures that contribute to economic vibrancy in our community. We envision a Greater New Haven where civically activated businesses help create community wealth, livelihoods for families, and structural change. We prioritize partnering with people of color — particularly black and brown entrepreneurs — in order to help combat the structural racism, economic and otherwise, that has created and maintained the racial and gender wealth inequalities in our communities.

Collab was founded in 2017. In addition to hosting regular public events and 1-on-1 Office Hours, our core program is the Collab Accelerator. This is a 12-session, cohort-based program supporting early-stage ventures. As a part of all of our programming, we provide childcare, transportation, and interpretation services to ensure all ventures can be successful while working with us. The 111 ventures that have graduated from our Accelerator have collectively raised over $2,294,982 in follow-on funding through investment, loans, and grants, generated over $5,058,760 in revenue, and added or continued to support 240 full-time or part-time jobs.

THE POSITION

Reports to:
Executive Director

The Collab Accelerator Program Manager role is a full-time position and is responsible for the success of each of Collab’s accelerator programs from the application process through the showcase or pitch day. This role will lead and coordinate Collab’s core programs, including the Collab Accelerator, Pre-Accelerator, and Food Business Accelerator.

As the Program Manager, you will be responsible for running Collab Accelerator Programs — including facilitating the weekly curriculum, metrics, evaluation, and coordinating all logistics. This is a public-facing role that entails speaking to groups during workshops, info sessions, and large community Pitch Days. A background in operations, event planning and facilitation is required and is a large part of this role, and experience with business, entrepreneurship, and early-stage ventures is preferred but not required.

We are a small team that works closely together. The ideal candidate will be creative, entrepreneurial, and willing to be involved in higher-level strategy and planning for the organization. We believe every voice in the organization matters.

MAJOR FUNCTIONS & RESPONSIBILITIES

Facilitation

  • Deliver content and workshops during each accelerator program

Program Coordination

  • Work with the program team to develop the program plan and own the overall responsibility for the successful execution of both accelerator programs, including end-of-program celebrations and Showcase

  • Own the overall logistics and programming of the program calendar, mentor schedules, mentor meet-ups, speakers, and end-of-program celebrations — ensure the entrepreneurs, mentors, speakers, and partners, are fully informed about all program-facing activities.

  • Coordinate the logistics of the application, screening, and onboarding process

  • Identify any potential issues or challenges in program engagement and work with the team on appropriate support and resolutions

  • Oversee metrics and evaluation of programs, through surveys, in-person interviews, data collection, and develop funder reports as needed or requested

  • Recruit, hire, and manage program interns

Outreach

  • Develop relationships with entrepreneurial support organizations and partner organizations and neighborhood hubs to deepen and expand Collab’s reach

  • Represent Collab in the local community and entrepreneurial ecosystem

  • Support the development of a strong pipeline of startups with diverse and underrepresented founders — attend networking events, conduct pop-up office hours and info sessions events

  • Conduct free office hours sessions

  • Conducting pop-up coaching sessions throughout Collab’s service area

  • Organize quarterly information sessions and other business events in Collab’s service area

Additional duties may be directed or asked by leadership at any time.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

We recognize that experience and expertise come in a variety of forms. Below are the qualifications that we are looking for, but if you have different experiences and passions that you think make you a good fit for the role, please apply.

  • Dedication and enthusiasm around helping to create an inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem for the region, commitment to Collab’s mission, and a strong lens for diversity, equity, and inclusion

  • Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to communicate effectively and compassionately with entrepreneurs in the program, co-workers, executive director, board members, and other stakeholders and to build productive relationships

  • Knowledge of early-stage entrepreneurship and ability to help consult, direct, and work with a diversity of ventures, including for-profits, non-profits, and community projects, around issues like customer research, marketing, finance, strategic development, and more (often, but not always, this means 3-5 years of relevant experience in entrepreneurship, entrepreneurship support, or economic development, or equivalent)

  • Keen attention to detail, organization, and project management ability (including budgeting and deadlines) and comfort working with a many stakeholders and moving parts — experience in event planning and event logistics

  • Skilled written and oral communicator and comfortable with public speaking

  • Strong interest in the discourse around startups, entrepreneurship, and capital

  • Have experience working with individuals from a diversity of backgrounds

  • Comfortable with minimal directions but high expectations

  • Capacity to work both independently and collaboratively

  • Proficiency in Google Suite

  • Ability to work in or relocate to New Haven, Connecticut

Our Values

In addition, the successful candidate will demonstrate our organization’s values, defined in collaboration with our entire team:

  • Worthiness: We believe all humans are fundamentally deserving of the love, belonging, and connection they desire, and we seek to create spaces where there is no need for striving. 

  • Radical Care: We center the physical and emotional health and welfare of those we serve and seek to meet their felt needs before, during, and after their involvement with us.

  • Authenticity & Growth: We believe that creating the relational conditions for entrepreneurs to show up as their authentic, full selves begets both their personal and venture's growth. 

  • Justice & Solidarity: We acknowledge the past and current systemic issues causing wealth inequality, bolstered by racism and sexism, and support the efforts of frontline activists who are building power in our communities. In building toward the future, we are led by values of solidarity, mutualism, democracy, sustainability, and pluralism.

  • Abundance: We hold the value of abundance — a deeply held knowing of abounding fullness — and believe that there is much more than enough as an act of opposition and resistance to the culture of scarcity in our economic system.

More Details

Start date: Immediate

Location: New Haven, CT 
This position is expected to be full-time, in-person in New Haven, CT. Currently, we are hybrid in-person and remote, and have a flexible and adaptable work culture that creates space for individual needs, especially due to COVID-19. 

Salary will be commensurate with experience, starting at $57,500. Collab offers a comprehensive benefits package including health, dental, and vision.

To be considered for this position:

Apply for this position through Indeed.

Candidates can expect phone, Zoom, and/or in-person interviews, contingent on COVID-19. 

Collab Careers 

Collab is committed to being an equal opportunity employer. Collab does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, age, disability, parental status, veteran status, or any other protected status under applicable laws. We encourage individuals of all backgrounds to apply. If you are a qualified candidate with a disability, please email us at team@collabnewhaven.org if you require an accommodation to apply.