Venture Mentorship Service Manager

Venture Mentorship Service Manager

The Venture Mentorship Service Manager serves as the operational and strategic lead for CU Innovations' venture mentorship program, which pairs university-affiliated entrepreneurs with experienced mentors from industry. This role oversees the full lifecycle of mentor and mentee engagement, ensuring that CU's innovator teams receive high-quality, consistent mentorship experiences that accelerate product development and cultivate a community of mentors.

The Manager will own program operations, mentor and mentee onboarding, and relationship management, while continuously improving systems, workflows, and community engagement. This role requires a combination of strong administrative management, relationship-building, and strategic execution skills, as well as comfort working across academia and industry.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead daily operations of the CU Innovations Venture Mentorship Service, ensuring the program runs efficiently and aligns with strategic goals.
• Develop, document, and refine processes, policies, and tools for program administration, including scheduling, communications, data tracking, and reporting.
• Oversee logistics for mentorship sessions, matching processes, events, and mentor roundtables.
• Manage program communications, outreach materials, and digital platforms supporting mentor engagement.
• Collect, analyze, and report on program metrics to demonstrate impact and guide continuous improvement.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for mentors and mentees, ensuring an exceptional experience and fostering productive, professional relationships.
• Ensure active participation by maintaining engagement goals (e.g., mentors supporting multiple ventures, regular session scheduling).
• Partner with internal and external stakeholders, including CU faculty, campus entrepreneurs, investors, and innovation ecosystem partners, to expand mentor recruitment and strengthen venture pipelines.
• Identify opportunities for program enhancement, scaling, and integration with other CU Innovations initiatives (e.g., SPARK, Venture Development, and startup acceleration programs).

Work Location: Hybrid – this role is eligible for a hybrid schedule of 3 days per week on campus and as needed for in-person meetings.

Why Join Us: CU Innovations is an integral part of The University of Colorado's Anschutz Medical Campus, a top-tier academic medical institution, collaborating with pioneering researchers, clinicians, staff, and external partners at the University of Colorado, staff at UCHealth and Children's Hospital Colorado. Together, we power innovation by imagining, discovering and commercializing advanced healthcare solutions, including treatments, medical devices, and cutting-edge technologies.

Our mission at CU Innovations is driven by the unique collaborative environment we operate in, and our guiding principle is to transform breakthrough discoveries and treatments into realities within an efficient ecosystem that accelerates their availability to patients. This approach not only empowers our partners to have an immediate and meaningful impact but also enhances the quality of life and outcomes for patients now and in the future, at both CU and beyond.

Why work for the University? We have AMAZING benefits and offer exceptional amounts of holiday, vacation and sick leave! The University of Colorado offers an excellent benefits package including:

• Medical: Multiple plan options
• Dental: Multiple plan options
• Additional Insurance: Disability, Life, Vision
• Retirement 401(a) Plan: Employer contributes 10% of your gross pay
• Paid Time Off: Accruals over the year
• Vacation Days: 22/year (maximum accrual 352 hours)
• Sick Days: 15/year (unlimited maximum accrual)
• Holiday Days: 10/year
• Tuition Benefit: Employees have access to this benefit on all CU campuses
• ECO Pass: Reduced rate RTD Bus and light rail service

There are many additional perks & programs with the CU Advantage.

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in business, communications, life sciences, or related field from an accredited institution.
• 4 - 5 years of professional and progressive experience in community building or formal mentorship programs (ex. non-profit, philanthropy, development, donor/alumni relations, higher education, or other related field).

Applicants must meet minimum qualifications at the time of hire.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree (MBA, MS).
• Prior experience working with MIT or other applicable VMS Mentorship Program. *For more information, please visit: https://vms.mit.edu/*
• Experience developing and managing processes, systems, or programs that involve multiple stakeholders.
• Experience with CRM tools, scheduling platforms, or program management software.

Competencies: Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs)

• Ability to communicate effectively, both in writing and orally.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees at all levels throughout the institution.
• Outstanding customer service skills.
• Exceptional organizational, communication, and follow-up skills.
• Ability to build trust and rapport with senior professionals and entrepreneurs.
• Strategic and operational thinker with high attention to detail.
• Comfort navigating ambiguity and evolving priorities in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment.
• Commitment to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion within mentor and venture communities.
• Strong interpersonal and relationship management skills with diverse groups of stakeholders.
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and independently.

How to Apply:

1. A letter of interest describing relevant job experiences as they relate to listed job qualifications and interest in the position
2. Curriculum vitae / Resume
3. Three to five professional references, including name, address, phone number (mobile number if appropriate), and email address

Questions should be directed to: Lindley.pagels@cuanschutz.edu

Screening of Applications Begins: Applications will be accepted until finalists are identified, but preference will be given to complete applications received by January 12. Those who do not apply by this date may or may not be considered.

Anticipated Pay Range: The starting salary range (or hiring range) for this position has been established as $72,617 - $93,369. The above salary range (or hiring range) represents the University's good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting. This position may be eligible for overtime compensation, depending on the level. Your total compensation goes beyond the number on your paycheck. The University of Colorado provides generous leave, health plans and retirement contributions that add to your bottom line.

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Equal Employment Opportunity Statement: CU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. We are committed to creating a workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

ADA Statement: The University will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities throughout the employment application process. To request an accommodation pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, please contact the Human Resources ADA Coordinator at hr.adacoordinator@cuanschutz.edu ​.

Background Check Statement: The University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus is dedicated to ensuring a safe and secure environment for our faculty, staff, students and visitors. To assist in achieving that goal, we conduct background investigations for all prospective employees.

Vaccination Statement: CU Anschutz strongly encourages vaccination against the COVID-19 virus and other vaccine preventable diseases. If you work, visit, or volunteer in healthcare facilities or clinics operated by our affiliated