Chief Operating Officer (COO)(Business Accelerator and Entrepreneurship Program) at Stresert Services Limited

Job summary

Our client is seeking an innovative and motivated professional to serve as COO of the organization’s business accelerator and entrepreneurship programs. He/she will oversee the operations of the entrepreneurial school and as well as its various business acceleration initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Develop and administer the business incubation programs while also coordinating business accelerator initiatives and programs
• Work closely with the Board to provide a range of support services while seeking innovative funding mechanisms
• Promote and solicit for new start-ups business and develop a revenue model for services and sustainability
• Entrepreneurial Hub: set the direction and goals and oversee operations of the school
• Grants and Research: source and collaborate with partners to identify funding and research opportunities that support innovation and entrepreneurship
• Establish highly effective business incubation programs with robust value proposition metrics grounded on industry best practices
• Establish a Mentoring Program in collaboration with Alumni groups and business/industry partners to support early stage companies.
• Market and promote the Business Accelerator Program to community/business partners, faculty, students/entrepreneurs, etc.
• He/she will develop and implement cutting-edge programs to support new and growing businesses with co-work space, affordable office space, professional development, and a wide array of mentorship opportunities
• Coordinate with strategic stakeholders to enhance the entrepreneurial community; develop and maintain an active advisory council; create partnerships with local, regional, and state economic development organizations; attends state and national conferences and meetings to enhance knowledge and create partnerships
• Directs the work of multiple employees, including making recommendations to hire, promote, and discipline direct reports and conducting annual performance reviews of staff
• Assist with grant proposals, pursue innovative opportunities, and oversee grant project initiatives
• Adhere to and operate the incubator and accelerator within the business standard of best practices and the principle of client graduation so as to stimulate economic growth, business sustainability, and a lasting and vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem

Knowledge/Qualifications/Education required

• Knowledge of the best practices of business incubation and accelerator principles.
• Knowledge of, or willingness to acquire knowledge of, business and entrepreneurial development methodologies like business incubation, business acceleration, including best practices
• Previous experience as Head of a School of Entrepreneurship or the entrepreneurship division/department of a bank or a large corporate organization
• Bachelor\'s degree in a relevant course. Master\'s degree is an added advantage
• Experience sufficient to thoroughly understand the diverse objectives and functions of organization subunits, divisions and departments in order to direct and coordinate workflow
• Knowledge of investor access processes for seed and growth funding
• Knowledge of budget development and management principles
• Knowledge of people-management
• Skill in delegation of responsibility and authority