Student Innovation and Entrepreneur Program Coordinator - Landuyt Center for Entrepreneurship

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign•Urbana, IL

8d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Landuyt Center for Entrepreneurship at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is seeking a dynamic Student Innovation and Entrepreneur Program Coordinator to help advance one of the nation's leading university entrepreneurship ecosystems. This role offers the opportunity to lead high-impact entrepreneurship programs, competitions, and events while collaborating with ambitious students, faculty, alumni, investors, and industry partners. The coordinator will manage projects from concept to execution, build meaningful cross-campus relationships, leverage AI and technology to improve operations, and create exceptional experiences that inspire innovation and startup creation. More than a traditional program coordination role, this position is ideal for someone who enjoys solving complex challenges, bringing people together, and seeing the direct impact of their work. Every program delivered, every partnership cultivated, and every student supported contributes to helping innovators transform bold ideas into successful ventures. This is an exceptional opportunity for a professional who is passionate about entrepreneurship, project management, relationship-building, and making a lasting impact at one of the world's premier public research universities.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree
A total of one (1) year (12 months) in education, training and/or work experience in event planning, program coordination, project management, operations, or a related field.
Strong project management, organization, and event execution skills.
Exceptional attention to detail and commitment to accuracy.
Proactive problem-solver with strong critical thinking abilities.
Excellent relationship-building skills with internal and external stakeholders.
Demonstrated customer service orientation.
Proven ability to manage simultaneous priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Nice To Haves

A builder's mindset.
A passion for making things happen.
An innovative spirit.
Curiosity about entrepreneurship, emerging technologies, and AI tools, with a desire to continuously improve programs and processes.
A flexible, team-first attitude.
A total of two (2) years (24 months) in education, training and/or work experience in event planning, program coordination, project management, operations, or a related field.
Demonstrated experience planning and executing complex events, programs, or initiatives.
Experience working with entrepreneurs and/or innovation programs.
Experience coordinating large-scale events, experiential learning programs, entrepreneurship initiatives, or multi-faceted projects involving diverse stakeholder groups.
Experience utilizing CRM, project management, event management, survey, collaboration, reporting, or AI-enabled productivity platforms.
Demonstrated proficiency leveraging AI tools to improve productivity, communication, reporting, and operational efficiency.

Responsibilities

Coordinate customer-service-oriented programs and events for the Landuyt Center by assisting with logistics, communications, timelines, vendors, and operational details to support seamless, high-impact experiences from concept through completion for some of the top student innovators and entrepreneurs in the world.
Develop and maintain the efficient processes, systems, budgets, and documentation that support operational excellence, accountability, and continuous improvement across the Center’s initiatives.
Coordinate multiple projects and deadlines in a dynamic, fast-paced environment while consistently delivering high-quality work and exceptional service.
Support strategic partnerships with stakeholders who share the Landuyt Center's vision, advance strong, lasting relationships with participants, partners, and vendors to support our student and faculty innovators.
Represent the Landuyt Center in professional settings, and assist with outreach activities that support program goals.
Coordinate communications, outreach, and engagement across internal and external audiences to support program delivery and stakeholder satisfaction.
Utilize technology and AI-powered tools to support administrative processes, streamline workflows, generate reports, assist with communications and program operations, elevating both operational efficiency and the participant experience.
Track and evaluate program and event outcomes, using data and participant feedback to surface actionable insights and drive continuous improvement.
Maintain accurate records, documentation, and operational systems while supporting special projects and strategic initiatives, assisting with events and programs as needed, including occasional travel and evening or weekend work.
Perform additional, appropriate related innovation and entrepreneurship duties to further the mission of the Landuyt Center.