Unleash Your Potential With Us

As a next-generation public research institution, we are an inclusive community of thinkers, doers, creators, innovators, healers, and leaders striving to shape the future and solve the world’s most challenging problems. No matter what your role is, when you join Knight Nation, you become an integral part of our mission to become a university for the future. You’ll be met with opportunities to connect and collaborate with uniquely talented faculty, staff, and students across 13 colleges and multiple campuses and regional locations. That means greater challenges to tackle, more meaningful opportunities to grow, and rewarding experiences that go beyond a paycheck.

The Opportunity

UCF’s Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership (CEL) hosted by the College of Business seeks a dynamic leader and educator to join our outstanding Management faculty and serve as the partnership (program) director leading a statewide expansion of our highly regarded Blackstone LaunchPad entrepreneurship advising and startup support program. 

The Blackstone LaunchPad program provides diverse and talented students with opportunities to explore entrepreneurship, develop entrepreneurial mindsets and skillsets, improve career readiness, and launch startup ventures. The LaunchPad partnership (program) director will pursue this mission by working with several other State University System schools to implement and develop LaunchPad programs on their campuses and develop statewide events, programs, and thought-leadership projects that engage participating schools. Although this position is primarily an administrative role, the partnership director will also have limited undergraduate teaching responsibilities. 

This position is a non-tenure track opportunity funded by a four-year grant, thereafter, employment is subject to continued availability of funding.  Additional funding will be actively pursued for ongoing support for this position upon the expiration of current grant funding. 

Primary duties this role requires will include:
•    Participate in UCF’s LaunchPad entrepreneurial mentoring program.
•    Monitor mentee learning and venture development efforts.
•    Propose experiential education program innovations that leverage the LaunchPad mentoring program methods and resources.
•    Lead the development and execution of program innovations including experiential education programs, statewide student showcase events, and education thought leadership projects.
•    Communicate frequently and effectively with Blackstone LaunchPad colleagues’ leadership and supporters throughout the state.
•    Work effectively with the CEL Director and staff, UCF leadership, Blackstone Foundation staff, and other Blackstone LaunchPad Leaders throughout the state.
•    Use the Blackstone LaunchPad’s Startuptree platform to coordinate events, competitions, award programs, and other collaborative initiatives.
•    Develop reports describing the character and performance of Florida’s Blackstone LaunchPad programs and collaborative initiatives.
•    Suggest improvements and innovations to LaunchPad programs.
•    Teach occasional undergraduate classes (typically one per semester) and/or serve as instructor of record for entrepreneurship internships and directed research projects associated with the CEL and LaunchPad.

Minimum Qualifications
•    Master’s degree from an accredited institution in a relevant area of specialization.
•    Four years of appropriate experience.
•    Strong communication, interpersonal and organizational skills.
•    Proficient with Microsoft Office and other business and education software platforms.

Preferred Qualifications
•    Entrepreneurial experience as a founder or founding team member.
•    Experience working with public sector or university leaders.
•    Experience educating and supporting students in a university setting.
•    Supervisory experience.
•    Marketing and outreach experience.
•    Event planning experience.
•    Project management experience.
•    Effective networking and relationship development skills.
•    Familiarity with resources available for entrepreneurs.

Special Conditions

Occasional travel and evening/weekend availability required.

Additional Application Materials Required
UCF requires that all applications and supporting documents be submitted electronically through the Human Resources website, http://www.ucf.edu/jobs. In addition to the online application, applicants must also submit a cover letter, a current curriculum vitae, and a list with contact information for three (3) professional references.

The selected candidate will be required to submit official transcripts (and, as applicable, U.S. degree equivalency evaluations) documenting the conferral of their qualifying academic credentials.

NOTE: Please have all documents ready when applying so they can be attached at that time. Once the online submission process is finalized, the system does not allow applicants to submit additional documents.

Questions regarding this search may be directed to Cameron Ford, Committee Chair and Director of UCF’s Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership at cford@ucf.edu.

Are Benefits Important to You?

Working at UCF has its perks!  In addition to helping drive change and having a positive impact by supporting our students, staff, and faculty, UCF offers:
•    Benefit packages including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, healthcare flexible spending accounts, and an Employee Assistance Program.
•    Paid time off, including annual and sick leave and paid holidays.
•    Retirement savings options.
•    Employee discounts, including tickets to many Orlando area attractions.
•    Education assistance.
•    Flexible work environment.
And more…For more benefits information, go to ‘Prospective Employees’ on the UCF Human Resources website (https://hr.ucf.edu/) 

Who Are We?

Founded in 1963 to fuel the region’s talent pipeline and support the growing U.S. space program, UCF is built to make a better future for our students and society. It’s one of the reasons U.S. News & World Report ranks UCF among the nation’s top 20 most innovative colleges, while Forbes, Kiplinger, and The Princeton Review rank us a best-value university. UCF is one of 14 universities nationwide designated as both a Hispanic-Serving Institution and a Research 1 university. With 13 colleges, including a fully accredited College of Medicine, UCF offers more than 220-degree programs between its main campus, downtown campus, hospitality campus, academic health sciences campus, and 11 UCF Connect centers located throughout the region. In addition, UCF extends its reach to communities in and beyond Central Florida by offering complete, online programs leading to bachelor's degrees, master's degrees, Ph.D.'s., certificates, and more.

The University of Central Florida is proud to be a smoke-free campus and an E-Verify employer. Unless explicitly stated on the job posting, it is UCF’s expectation that an employee of UCF will reside in Florida as of the date the employment begins.

Additional Requirements related to Research Positions

Pursuant to Florida State Statute 1010.35, prior to offering employment to certain individuals in research-related positions, UCF is required to conduct additional screening. Applicants subject to additional screening include any citizen of a foreign country who is not a permanent resident of the U.S., or who is a citizen or permanent resident but is affiliated with or has had at least 1 year of higher education, employment, or training in China, Cuba, Iran, Russia, North Korea, Syria, or Venezuela.

The additional screening requirements only apply to employment in research-related positions, including, but not limited to faculty positions (including employed visiting positions), graduate positions, individuals compensated by research grants or contract funds, postdoctoral scholar positions, and undergraduate positions.
 

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Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:

As an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, UCF encourages all qualified applicants to apply, including women, veterans, individuals with disabilities, and members of traditionally underrepresented populations. UCF's Equal Opportunity Statement can be viewed at  http//www.oie.ucf.edu/documents/PresidentsStatement.pdf.

As a Florida public university, UCF makes all application materials and selection procedures available to the public upon request.

The University of Central Florida is proud to be a smoke-free campus and an E-Verify employer.