Job Details
Job Description Summary
The Bentley Next Gen Social Innovation Incubator is a brand new venture set to launch in September 2024. This Incubator has been created to promote the economic development of the Greater Waltham area by supporting social entrepreneurs as they develop new social enterprises. The first year of this initiative is funded by a Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) grant, and is supported in partnership with the City of Waltham. The Incubator will be run through the Bentley Service-Learning and Civic Engagement Center (BSLCE), which boasts a team of 8 professional staff, 120+ student staff, over 125 faculty partners, and nearly 100 community partners.
The Assistant Director will report to the Associate Director of the Incubator and the Director of the Bentley Service-Learning and Civic Engagement Center (BSLCE). This person will be responsible for overseeing the Incubator s physical space, managing student interns, helping to create strong relationships with the community, and overseeing planning for workshops, book clubs, and other events that will regularly take place in the Incubator. This position will also be responsible for developing relationships with the Greater Waltham Chamber of Commerce and small business community and in helping to develop relationships with local banks, social impact investors, and other stakeholders.
PLEASE NOTE:
This is an exciting position to begin on or before September 3, 2024. This is currently a one-year grant funded position but with strong likelihood for renewal in future years.
Essential Duties
- Help to create and nurture an innovative and productive community-based space.
- Oversee the Incubator s physical space, including ensuring the building is well cared for and properly supplied, including liaising with the BSLCE staff to accomplish these goals.
- Oversee event planning, under the guidance of the Associate Director, to bring faculty-led and community expert-led workshops to the Incubator space.
- Coordinate Bentley events being held in the Incubator including book clubs, workshops, community and community partner events; and help coordinate social enterprise events being hosted at Bentley.
- Manage student interns, student Program Managers, and Graduate Assistants assigned to the Social Innovation Incubator, including ensuring professional development and growth opportunities.
- Assist, where appropriate, in helping the chosen social entrepreneurs to gain access to resources and opportunities as needed.
- Help to develop and nurture relationships with the Greater Waltham business community.
- Help to develop and move forward relationships and opportunities with local banks and social impact investors toward the goal of their providing potential funding for some of the burgeoning social enterprises.
- Liaise with the BSLCE team, key stakeholders in the City of Waltham and at Bentley, and others to help create the Next Gen Social Innovation Incubator through a community-based, multi-stakeholder model.
- Be a contributing and integrated member of the BSLCE team, including participating in regular staff meetings and Center events, and working with the Center s Director in liaising with the other innovation and entrepreneurship initiatives at Bentley.
Minimum Qualifications
- BA or BS and minimum of 3 years of related experience.
- Experience in event planning.
- Experience working with community agencies and/or students, including working with diverse populations.
- Managerial experience or equivalent.
- Ability to work across multiple stakeholder constituencies and to bring these together in managing a project.
- Strong attention to detail, excellent communication skills, ability to navigate relationships in both a campus setting and in the City of Waltham.
- A deep spirit of innovation, social entrepreneurship, and a passion to help in the creation process of businesses for the greater good.
- Positive attitude, great energy for the work, willingness to work longer hours during peak times of the semester and incubation process.
Minimum Qualifications
- Experience engaging with the local businesses, banks, grantmaking organizations, and/or the social investment sector to identify and work to secure funds.
- Demonstrated skill in presenting outcomes to larger audiences, including excellent oral and written skills.
- Strong structural analysis, social issue knowledge, and diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice (DEIJ) background.
- Strong ability or fluency in Spanish.
- Courses or experience in assisting with business plan development.
- Experience leveraging technology to drive social impact and organizational success.
- Experience, networks, and/or civic and business community connections in the Greater Waltham area.
- Proficient in use of PC-based computer programs, including Microsoft Office, Canva, and Adobe.
Work Environment
- This is an in-person position and the BSLCE is a fast-paced, energetic, innovative, fun office environment.
- Balancing focused, productive work with regular engagement of multiple stakeholder constituencies.
- Personal vehicle is required for trips between Bentley and the Incubator.
- Position requires some minimal physical labor, such as moving chairs for events.
- Position requires some work during evenings and weekends.
- Physical skills required of this position include ability to use various technology, ability to help move furniture in the Incubator s flex space, and occasional longer hours.
- Ability to drive and access to a vehicle are necessary.
Bentley University requires references checks and may conduct other pre-employment screening.
DIVERSITY STATEMENT
Bentley University strives to create a campus community that welcomes the exchange of ideas, and fosters a culture that values differences and views them as a strength in our community.
Bentley University is an Equal Opportunity Employer, building strength through diversity. The University is committed to building a community of talented students, faculty and staff who reflect the diversity of global business. We strongly encourage applications from persons from underrepresented groups, individuals with disabilities, covered veterans and those with diverse experiences and backgrounds.
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