Program Consultant, Robotics Factory Accelerate

Innovation Works, Inc. • Pittsburgh, PA

48d

About The Position

The Program Consultant, Robotics Factory Accelerate, supports the execution of the region’s leading early-stage accelerator investment track for robotics startups. This role helps manage program operations while working closely with founders, navigating the earliest stages of building and scaling robotics companies.
The Program Consultant serves as a primary point of contact for participating startups within Robotics Factory Accelerate, the robotics investment track within AlphaLab. The role works closely with founders, mentors, and the broader robotics ecosystem while supporting day-to-day program operations, contributing to the application and selection process, and helping companies address operational and early market-entry challenges.
This is a full-time, six-month contract role, ideal for someone with experience working inside early-stage startups who is passionate about supporting entrepreneurs through the ambiguity, constraints, and opportunities of building a company from scratch. The role benefits from a strong product and operations mindset, as managing an accelerator shares many similarities with managing a product: understanding customer needs, prioritizing initiatives, and delivering outcomes.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required; an advanced degree in business, engineering, or a related technical field is a plus.
• 5–10+ years of professional experience, including time working in startup operations at an early-stage company
• Strong project management, organizational, and communication skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and a direct, transparent, and empathetic communication style.
• Proficiency with tools such as Google Workspace, Slack, Calendly, Salesforce, and virtual communication platforms.

Nice To Haves

• Experience working in robotic startups.
• Experience working in an accelerator, venture fund, or innovation program.
• Passion for supporting entrepreneurs and building a strong hardware and robotics community.
• Prior experience in a Product Management role or demonstrated ability to guide early-stage teams through the process of translating engineering milestones into viable products.

Responsibilities

• Support the Robotics Factory Accelerate application and selection process, including recruitment, application review, interviews, and final selection.
• Help run a compelling, founder-focused program and serve as a key point of contact for participating companies, conducting bi-weekly 1:1 meetings and providing hands-on support across a range of operational and commercialization challenges.
• Drive execution of program milestones and ensure the completion of key deliverables such as founder surveys, site visits, and state or stakeholder reporting.
• Represent Robotics Factory Accelerate at relevant events, panels, and community activities to build visibility and support for the program and its founders.
• Coordinate with the broader AlphaLab and Innovation Works teams to ensure alignment across accelerator tracks.
• Partner with marketing, platform, and operations teams to help deliver a seamless founder experience.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level