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- Tasks: Lead and launch Venture Café Manchester, connecting innovators and driving community engagement.
- Company: Venture Café connects diverse innovators to tackle challenges and foster collaboration.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive pay, an employment contract, and a vibrant work culture.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in your community while building a global network of innovators.
- Qualifications: Strong leadership skills, community connections, and experience in program management required.
- Other info: Join a mission-driven team dedicated to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Are you a natural leader with a strong network, driven to tackle your city's biggest challenges and connect diverse groups to make things happen? If so, you belong at Venture Café!
At Venture Café, we aim to create a global community of innovators with equal access to resources and opportunities, addressing our most pressing challenges. Ready to make an impact with us? VCGI seeks a strategic, dynamic, and self-driven Director to lead the launch and operation of Venture Café in Manchester. This is a unique opportunity to establish and operate a hub for innovation and connection.
ABOUT VENTURE CAFÉ
Venture Café believes that isolation is the enemy of innovation and our mission is clear: Connect innovators to make things happen. We are a neutral and trusted center of gravity that connects the entire innovation ecosystem and is available for everyone. Our flagship program, the Thursday Gathering, is a dynamic and intentionally designed experience freely accessible to all. Featuring vibrant networking sessions activated with captivating demos or immersion in the night’s theme by attending thought-provoking sessions led by inspiring speakers. Here, curiosity meets opportunity, connections flourish, and innovation thrives.
Your DAY-TO-DAY WORK
Reporting to the Executive Director, Venture Cafe United Kingdom, you will build and lead the Venture Café Manchester team, launching and directing programming for the Thursday Gathering and other ecosystem-building activities. Your goal is to ensure Venture Café programming connects local innovators to the national and international entrepreneurship community. Your role would be to launch and execute weekly Venture Café Thursday Gatherings including the following:
- Collaborating closely with VCGI and ARIA to develop the launch strategy for Venture Café Manchester and leading the execution of the launch plan.
- Working closely with the Executive Director, Venture Cafe United Kingdom to ensure success and align initiatives where appropriate.
- Scoping and developing a yearly programming strategy to inspire and connect the local innovation community.
- Collaborate with the ARIA team and Programme Directors to drive value to the ARIA Opportunity Spaces.
- Scoping and securing foundational financial partners for Venture Café Manchester and building a pipeline for funding opportunities.
- Identifying and partnering with local ecosystem leaders as an advocate and spokesperson to build diverse and inclusive programs.
- Developing innovative program formats for delivering content and creating connection opportunities to maximize engagement.
- Leading and overseeing strategic planning, impact measurement and program budget for Venture Café programs in Manchester.
- Attracting funding for programs and aligning them within the Thursday Gathering framework.
- Hiring, leading, and coaching your direct reports towards success.
- Continuously reviewing and implementing improvements/changes to ensure the ongoing success and reputation of Venture Café Manchester.
- Collaborating with the Venture Café global network and ARIA to connect the Manchester community to global opportunities.
- Identifying and mitigating risks to the effective operation of the Thursday Gathering.
- Nurturing existing initiatives to support Venture Café’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging (DEIB) efforts, while bringing a visionary approach to developing and expanding DEIB-driven programming and partnership opportunities.
ABOUT YOU
You understand your city’s challenges and see them as opportunities, combining a fascination with trends and a humanistic perspective. Passionate about mission-driven work, you'll lead Venture Café Manchester by nurturing relationships, leading teams, and thriving in ambiguity. Your skills include leading programs, matchmaking, innovating, connecting with the community, and fostering collaboration. You are comfortable with public speaking, have excellent communication skills, and excel at connecting across business, academia, government, and civil society. You bring a global outlook with local roots and a strong community commitment.
- Leading people and complex programs.
- Being a match-maker extraordinaire and seeing opportunities at the intersections of people, ideas & resources.
- Envisioning, developing and implementing innovative program experiences.
- Connecting with a broad cross-section of the community.
- Bringing people together to collaborate towards a common goal.
- Identifying and developing mutually beneficial partnerships.
Additionally, you have:
- Knowledge of Manchester's start-up community, key influencers, networks and organizations.
- Excellent organizational, project, and task management skills.
- Experience securing funding opportunities and a network of potential funders.
- Familiarity with digital media channels and an ability to leverage them as part of your work.
- Comfort in Google Suite, WordPress, Salesforce, email campaign software (e.g. MailChimp), and project management software.
- Availability to work at the weekly Venture Café Thursday Gathering from 3-9pm.
- Fluency in English.
- Ability to legally work in the UK. We are unable to sponsor visas for this role at this time.
OUR OFFER
- Employment contract.
- Competitive compensation based on experience.
- Additional benefits in development.
Venture Café welcomes all candidates regardless of race, color, ancestry, gender identity or expression, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status or disability. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer.
Venture Cafe Director - Manchester, UK (Manchester) employer: CIC
Contact Detail:
CIC Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Venture Cafe Director - Manchester, UK (Manchester)
✨Tip Number 1
Network actively within Manchester's innovation community. Attend local events, meet-ups, and workshops to connect with key influencers and potential collaborators. Building these relationships will not only enhance your visibility but also demonstrate your commitment to the local ecosystem.
✨Tip Number 2
Familiarise yourself with the current challenges and opportunities facing Manchester's start-up scene. This knowledge will help you articulate how you can contribute to Venture Café's mission and position yourself as a thought leader in discussions.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your experience in leading diverse teams and managing complex programmes. Prepare examples of past successes where you've connected different groups or stakeholders to achieve a common goal, as this aligns closely with the role's requirements.
✨Tip Number 4
Engage with Venture Café's global network online. Follow their social media channels, participate in discussions, and share relevant content. This will not only keep you informed about their initiatives but also demonstrate your enthusiasm for their mission.
We think you need these skills to ace Venture Cafe Director - Manchester, UK (Manchester)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand the Role: Before applying, make sure you fully understand the responsibilities and expectations of the Venture Café Director position. Tailor your application to highlight how your skills and experiences align with the job description.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that showcases your passion for innovation and community building. Use specific examples from your past experiences that demonstrate your leadership skills and ability to connect diverse groups.
Highlight Relevant Experience: In your CV, emphasise any previous roles where you led teams or managed complex programmes. Include details about your experience in securing funding and building partnerships within the community.
Showcase Your Network: Mention your connections within Manchester's start-up community and any relevant networks. This will demonstrate your ability to leverage relationships to benefit Venture Café and its mission.
How to prepare for a job interview at CIC
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a candidate for the Venture Cafe Director position, it's crucial to demonstrate your leadership abilities. Prepare examples of how you've successfully led teams or projects in the past, especially in community-focused or innovation-driven environments.
✨Highlight Your Networking Experience
Given the role's emphasis on connecting diverse groups, be ready to discuss your existing network and how you've leveraged it to create opportunities. Share specific instances where your connections have led to successful collaborations or initiatives.
✨Understand Manchester's Innovation Landscape
Familiarise yourself with Manchester's start-up community and key influencers. Research local challenges and opportunities, and be prepared to discuss how you would address them through Venture Café programming.
✨Demonstrate Your Passion for Community Engagement
Venture Café values mission-driven work. Convey your passion for community engagement and inclusivity. Share your vision for how you would foster collaboration and support diversity within the local innovation ecosystem.
