Sr. Manager - MIC Operations & Member Experie

Howard County Economic•Columbia, MD

24d•$100,000 - $115,000

About The Position

The Sr. Manager of Operations at the Maryland Innovation Center (MIC) will drive operational excellence to further the growth and success of the MIC as a premier innovation hub in Maryland. Located in Howard County, the MIC supports entrepreneurs, startups, and established businesses by fostering innovation, collaboration, and commercialization. This role will have fiduciary and KPI responsibilities, reporting to and working closely with the Managing Director of the Maryland Innovation Center. The Howard County Economic Development Authority (HCEDA) is Howard County’s official economic development organization. The MIC, a business unit of HCEDA, supports startups, entrepreneurs, and growth-stage companies through workspace, programming, mentorship, and community connections. The MIC team includes Member Experience, Events & Programming, and Facilities functions. The Sr. Manager of Operations oversees the daily operations of these functions, ensuring operational excellence, a strong member experience, and alignment with HCEDA’s strategic goals.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in business administration, operations management, public administration, entrepreneurship, economic development, or related field
7–10+ years of progressive operational, program management, community management, or organizational leadership experience
Experience managing cross-functional operations, programs, or facilities in a fast-paced environment
Demonstrated ability to manage projects, budgets, vendors, and operational processes simultaneously
Strong organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills
Experience using Salesforce, reporting, project management, and operational software platforms
Exceptional communication and relationship management skills
Ability to work independently while collaborating across multiple teams and stakeholders

Nice To Haves

Experience working within startups, innovation hubs, incubators, accelerators, coworking environments, higher education, or economic development organizations
Familiarity with entrepreneurship support ecosystems, venture funding environments, and startup operations
Experience with event operations, community engagement, or member experience management
Experience developing operational systems and scalable internal processes
Knowledge of Howard County and Maryland’s innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystem
Master’s degree in business administration (MBA), public policy, entrepreneurship, economic development, or related discipline

Responsibilities

Oversee all operations and processes within the team and across partner departments in alignment with the mission and objectives of the Howard County Economic Development Authority (HCEDA).
Foster a culture of collaboration and consistency within the team and with MIC Members.
Oversee the member company pipeline from prospect engagement through onboarding, growth, office transitions, graduation, and retention, ensuring alignment with capacity, member needs, and HCEDA strategic growth objectives.
Develop and optimize operational systems, workflows, and internal processes to improve efficiency, consistency, and member experience.
Serve as a cross-functional operational liaison between MIC, HCEDA departments, vendors, and external stakeholders.
Oversee vendor relationships, service agreements, and operational contracts.
Ensure operational compliance with applicable county, facility, and organizational policies.
Oversee the end-to-end member experience, including onboarding, renewals, office transitions, and community engagement touchpoints.
Support the operational execution of events, mentorship programs, educational workshops, and ecosystem initiatives.
Help foster a collaborative, professional, and innovation-focused environment for entrepreneurs and stakeholders.
Track, analyze, and report operational KPIs related to occupancy, retention, programming, engagement, and financial performance.
Assist in budget forecasting, expense management, and operational planning.
Maintain operational systems and reporting tools to support data-driven decision-making.
Coordinate building operations, facilities management, safety procedures, and maintenance requests in partnership with Howard County departments and vendors.
Support the operational scalability of coworking, office, conference, and event spaces.