Program Manager, Venture Internships & Regional Talent Development

University of Arkansas System • Fayetteville, AR

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The Program Manager, Venture Internships & Talent Development, leads the Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation’s Venture Intern Program (VIP) and supports Startup Intern Match, a regional workforce development initiative developed in collaboration with the Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center and Northwest Arkansas Community College (NWACC).

This position manages the recruitment, placement, training, coaching, and support of student interns while building relationships with startup hosts, university partners, and community stakeholders. The Program Manager delivers a cohort-based experiential learning model that combines paid internships, professional development, entrepreneurial training, and career readiness programming to prepare students for success in entrepreneurial and innovation-driven careers.

Serving as the primary coordinator for student-facing activities within both programs, the Program Manager works closely with students, employers, higher education partners, and the regional entrepreneurial ecosystem to expand access to meaningful startup experiences and strengthen the innovation talent pipeline.

Regular, reliable, and non-disruptive attendance is an essential job duty, as is the ability to create and maintain collegial, harmonious working relationships with others.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution of higher education
• At least two years of professional experience in program management, workforce development, experiential learning, entrepreneurship or a related field
• Experience working collaboratively with external stakeholders
• Demonstrated experience leading and coordinating programs, projects, internships, events, or student-focused initiatives
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic work environment
• Knowledge of experiential learning and student development best practices
• Understanding of entrepreneurship, startups, and innovation ecosystems
• Strong project management, organizational, and problem-solving skills
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills
• Ability to build partnerships and engage internal and external stakeholders
• Must have proof of legal authority to work in the United States on the first day of employment.

Nice To Haves

• Master's degree in Higher Education, Business, Entrepreneurship, Student Affairs, Workforce Development, Organizational Leadership, or a related field from an accredited institution of higher education
• Experience managing internship, fellowship, workforce development, or experiential learning programs
• Experience coaching, advising, mentoring, or supporting college students
• Experience working with startups, entrepreneurial ecosystems, innovation programs, or small businesses
• Experience with program assessment, data tracking, grant reporting, and continuous improvement initiatives

Responsibilities

• Manages the recruitment, placement, training, coaching, and support of student interns.
• Builds relationships with startup hosts, university partners, and community stakeholders.
• Delivers a cohort-based experiential learning model that combines paid internships, professional development, entrepreneurial training, and career readiness programming.
• Serves as the primary coordinator for student-facing activities within both programs.
• Works closely with students, employers, higher education partners, and the regional entrepreneurial ecosystem to expand access to meaningful startup experiences and strengthen the innovation talent pipeline.

Benefits

• University contributions to health, dental, life and disability insurance
• Tuition waivers for employees and their families
• 12 official holidays
• Immediate leave accrual
• Choice of retirement programs with university contributions ranging from 5 to 10% of employee salary

What This Job Offers

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