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- Tasks: Lead and launch Venture Café Manchester, connecting innovators and driving community engagement.
- Company: Venture Café is a global hub for innovation, fostering connections and opportunities for all.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive pay, an employment contract, and additional benefits in development.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by tackling city challenges and building a vibrant innovation community.
- Qualifications: Strong leadership skills, community connections, and experience in program management are essential.
- Other info: Join a diverse team committed to innovation and inclusivity; visa sponsorship not available.
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?
The Venture Café Global Institute (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, in close collaboration with ARIA .
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.
Venture Café was founded by Tim Rowe, founder and CEO of the Cambridge Innovation Center (CIC), in 2009 and helped fuel the growth of one of the world’s most powerful innovation ecosystems: Boston’s Kendall Square. What began with a modest gathering of 12 people at our inaugural Thursday Gathering has flourished into the Venture Café Global Institute (VCGI). Over the past 15 years, VCGI has united over 750,000 visionaries, developers, creatives, and civic leaders across 15 cities worldwide, building a global community of communities.
At VCGI, we believe if we’re going to solve humankind’s biggest challenges, we need as many amazing humans as possible involved in that process.
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.
More specifically, you thrive in:
• 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. 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.
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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 start-up community. Attend local events, workshops, and meet-ups to connect with key influencers and potential partners. Building these relationships will not only enhance your visibility but also demonstrate your commitment to the local innovation ecosystem.
✨Tip Number 2
Familiarise yourself with the specific challenges facing Manchester and think about how Venture Café can address them. Prepare to discuss innovative ideas that align with the mission of connecting innovators and fostering collaboration during any informal conversations or networking opportunities.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your leadership skills by volunteering for community initiatives or projects related to innovation and entrepreneurship. This hands-on experience will not only bolster your resume but also provide you with real-world examples to discuss in interviews.
✨Tip Number 4
Engage with digital media channels relevant to the Manchester innovation scene. Share insights, articles, and your thoughts on trends in entrepreneurship. This will help establish your voice in the community and could lead to valuable connections with like-minded individuals.
We think you need these skills to ace Venture Cafe Director - Manchester, UK (Manchester)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand the Role: Before you start writing your application, make sure you fully understand the responsibilities and requirements of the Venture Cafe Director position. Tailor your application to highlight how your skills and experiences align with the job description.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter should reflect 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. Make it personal and engaging to capture the reader's attention.
Highlight Relevant Experience: In your CV, focus on your experience in leading teams, managing programs, and securing funding. Include any relevant connections you have within Manchester's start-up community and how you've successfully built partnerships in the past.
Showcase Your Vision: In your application, articulate your vision for Venture Cafe Manchester. Discuss how you would approach the role, the strategies you would implement, and how you plan to foster collaboration within the local innovation ecosystem.
How to prepare for a job interview at CIC
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a candidate for the Venture Cafe Director role, 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 importance of connecting diverse groups, be ready to discuss your existing network within Manchester's start-up community. Share specific instances where you've leveraged these connections to create opportunities or solve challenges.
✨Demonstrate Your Understanding of Local Challenges
Familiarise yourself with the key challenges facing Manchester and articulate how you see these as opportunities for innovation. This will show your commitment to the community and your strategic thinking skills.
✨Prepare for Collaborative Scenarios
Expect questions about collaboration and partnership development. Think of examples where you've successfully worked with various stakeholders, such as businesses, academia, and government, to achieve common goals.
