Program Manager I - Schulze School of Entrepreneurship

University of St Thomas•Minneapolis, MN

3d•$55,000 - $66,150

About The Position

The Schulze School of Entrepreneurship is a highly-ranked hub of innovative thinking where students, entrepreneurs, business owners, and community leaders collaborate to solve problems and create value. The Program Manager role is central to bringing the school's mission to life by managing a comprehensive portfolio of co- and extra-curricular programs. These programs aim to shape student experience, engage stakeholders, and enhance the school's national reputation. The position is responsible for managing high-impact programs for internal audiences (students, faculty) and external stakeholders (high school students, alumni, business leaders, entrepreneurial ecosystem). Key programs include venture competitions (St. Thomas Business Plan Competition, Fowler Business Concept Challenge, Fowler Global Social Innovation Challenge), immersive student experiences (Freshman Innovation Immersion), and institutional programs like the Schulze Summer Internship Grant. These programs are crucial for the school's reach and reputation and are assessed based on participation, quality, stakeholder engagement, and contribution to institutional priorities. The Program Manager is also the primary steward of program data, leading assessment, tracking, and reporting for the co-curricular portfolio. This includes administering the Princeton Review survey and Tommie Owned Business Directory, which impact national rankings, and managing data systems for decision-making and stakeholder engagement. The role operates with significant autonomy, responsible for decision-making, program outcomes, and stakeholder engagement within assigned areas.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree
Three years of professional experience in program management, event management, or related fields
Demonstrated experience managing complex programs or initiatives with multiple stakeholders.
An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.

Nice To Haves

Professional experience within higher education, entrepreneurship, or nonprofit environments.

Responsibilities

Lead the full lifecycle (design, planning, execution, and evaluation) of entrepreneurship programs and events including the St. Thomas Business Plan Competition, Freshman Innovation Immersion, Entrepreneurship Welcome and Graduation events, and the Schulze Summer Internship Grant program.
Lead planning, execution, and continuous improvement of the Fowler competitions portfolio (Fowler Business Concept Challenge, Fowler Global Social Innovation Challenge), focusing on participant experience, operational management, and program delivery.
Develop and manage comprehensive project plans, timelines, operational workflows, and performance benchmarks for high-quality program delivery and continuous improvement.
Drive recruitment and engagement of students, mentors, judges, internship providers, alumni, and external partners.
Oversee competition platforms and systems, including submission setup, application management, reviewer recruitment, troubleshooting, participant support, and evaluation processes.
Manage scoring, advancement decisions, and assessment processes in collaboration with program leadership.
Administer the Schulze Summer Internship Grant program, including employer partnership development, student selection, and program oversight.
Direct all operational and logistical aspects of events, including scheduling, space and technology planning, vendor coordination, communications, and day-of execution.
Serve as the primary relationship manager for program stakeholders, maintaining strong communication and engagement with internal and external audiences.
Evaluate program outcomes through surveys, data analysis, benchmarking, and stakeholder feedback, implementing improvements based on findings.
Maintain accurate records and reporting related to participation, engagement, and program performance metrics.
Provide leadership and support to the program management team during high-volume periods and major events; serve as interim program lead as needed.
Partner with the Program Coordinator to recruit, train, and oversee student workers, interns, and ambassadors.
Lead and administer the Princeton Review survey process, including survey preparation, cross-campus data collection, stakeholder coordination, alumni outreach, benchmarking analysis, and final submission.
Analyze Princeton Review and peer benchmarking data to identify trends, assess institutional performance, and provide strategic recommendations.
Lead development and ongoing management of dashboards tracking key program and institutional performance indicators across various centers within the Schulze School.
Maintain and enhance stakeholder databases, including participation, engagement, and demographic data, to support recruitment efforts.
Manage and continuously improve the Tommie Owned Business Directory, including approval processes, annual audits, and collaboration with ITS and Marketing for functionality enhancements.
Oversee event registration, communications, and data tracking through Salesforce, Marketing Cloud, Qualtrics, and TommieLink, ensuring data integrity across systems.
Lead development and distribution of the quarterly Schulze School newsletter, including content creation, coordination, and delivery.
Serve as primary liaison with Marketing, Insights & Communications on website strategy, updates, and digital initiatives.
Manage and update program webpages in Cascade, ensuring content is current, accurate, and aligned with program goals.
Serve as staff advisor to the Collegiate Entrepreneurs Organization (CEO), providing guidance and oversight to student leadership.
Attend meetings and events, including large-scale campus programming, and support organizational planning and execution for CEO.
Ensure CEO organizational compliance with university policies and procedures, including financial and purchasing guidelines.
Approve financial transactions and serve as budget approver for CEO.
Act as liaison between CEO and university departments to support effective operations and program success.