Program Director and Portfolio Manager, Accelerate Blue Foundry

How to Apply

A cover letter is required for consideration for this position and should be attached as the first page of your resume. The cover letter should address your specific interest in the position and outline skills and experience that directly relate to this position.

Who We Are

Innovation Partnerships is the University of Michigan's technology transfer and commercialization office, translating U-M research into startups, licenses, and industry partnerships. Its Ventures team supports company creation and manages the Accelerate Blue Fund, an evergreen pre-seed venture fund that has invested in more than 25 University of Michigan startups. The Accelerate Blue Foundry is the Ventures team's flagship company-creation program, pairing external founding talent with university technologies and committing Accelerate Blue Fund investment to the startups that emerge.

Job Summary

The University of Michigan stands as one of the world's foremost engines for groundbreaking research, driving societal impact and economic growth through transformative innovation. Innovation Partnerships, a key unit within the Office of the Vice President for Research, plays a critical role in translating this research into real-world solutions by supporting commercialization, startup company formation, and growth. Through strategic connections with industry, entrepreneurs, and investors, Innovation Partnerships ensures that U-M innovations reach society, addressing critical needs, spurring economic development, and creating lasting, positive societal impact.

Innovation Partnerships is seeking an experienced program leader to serve as the Program Director and Portfolio Manager for the Accelerate Blue Foundry. The Accelerate Blue Foundry is a startup-creation program that recruits and vets experienced entrepreneurs, matches them to promising University of Michigan technologies, and supports each pairing through a structured, mentor-guided sprint to a fundable startup. Every credible company that forms as a U-M startup receives a guaranteed seed investment from the Accelerate Blue Fund. The Foundry has grown into a year-round, full-time operation that spans many stakeholders across the University and the regional and national innovation ecosystem.

This position is the dedicated day-to-day owner of the Foundry. Reporting to the Director of Ventures, the Program Director runs the program end-to-end, keeps its many stakeholders aligned and on schedule, and manages the growing portfolio of companies the program produces. The role requires strong operational leadership, excellent communication and relationship management, sound independent judgment, and the ability to move a complex, multi-party program forward without constant escalation. This is a highly visible role central to the University's startup-creation strategy.

Responsibilities*

Program Leadership and Operations
Serve as the dedicated operational owner of the Accelerate Blue Foundry, running the full annual cycle: technology nomination and listing, entrepreneur recruitment and screening, matching, the mentor-guided sprint, Pitch Day, and post-program follow-through. This includes designing, building out, and refining the program curriculum.
Own and maintain the program calendar, milestones, and deliverables so each cohort runs on schedule; make timely day-to-day operational decisions and keep all parties informed of what is happening next and why.
Continuously improve the program using cohort feedback and outcomes data, and codify repeatable processes, checklists, and templates.
 

Stakeholder Alignment and Communications
Serve as the primary point of contact and coordinator across Licensing Managers, Mentors-in-Residence, Principal Investigators, and entrepreneurs, setting clear expectations and proactively resolving day-to-day friction so the program runs smoothly and the team stays aligned.
Own Principal Investigator and entrepreneur communications throughout the cycle (nomination, matching, onboarding, curriculum, and expectation-setting), and consistently reinforce program criteria, including venture-scale and investment-readiness standards, across the office.
Develop and maintain guides, one-pagers, FAQs, and onboarding materials for each stakeholder group to set expectations upfront and reduce repeated questions.

Portfolio Management and Reporting
Track and report on the Foundry pipeline and the portfolio of companies that emerge from the program, including status, milestones, licensing progress, and investment readiness.
Coordinate with the Ventures and Licensing teams on the path from Pitch Day to license execution and Accelerate Blue Fund investment, and help connect companies to follow-on funding and University resources.
Maintain program metrics and prepare regular reports for Ventures leadership and program funders, including inputs for Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) reporting.
 

Recruitment, Marketing, and Partnerships
Partner with the communications team to drive entrepreneur recruitment and Pitch Day attendance, and help broaden and diversify the applicant funnel through ecosystem and national channels.
Build and steward relationships with ecosystem partners, mentors, and investors relevant to the program.
Support development of a rolling, opt-in application pathway for faculty with venture-backable startup opportunities.
Identify and pursue sponsorship opportunities.
Support grant and philanthropy opportunities on behalf of the Accelerate Blue Foundry.
 

Program Administration, Budget, and Compliance

Manage program logistics and budget, coordinate Pitch Day event execution, and ensure compliance with grant terms and University policies.

Required Qualifications*

Bachelor's degree in business, science, engineering, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Minimum of five years of experience in program or operations management, startup or venture operations, technology commercialization, accelerator or incubator management, or a closely related field.

Demonstrated ability to run complex, multi-stakeholder programs end to end and to operate independently, balancing competing priorities and exercising sound judgment.

Strong organizational, project management, and communication skills, including the ability to make and communicate decisions and to keep many parties aligned.

Familiarity with startups, entrepreneurship, and the venture funding process.

Proven ability to build and manage relationships with a diverse set of stakeholders, including faculty, entrepreneurs, and external partners.

Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills.

Skills You Have

KEY COMPETENCIES
Strategic Skill: Organizational Savvy, Ambiguity Management, Conflict Management, Business Acumen and Insight
Operations Management: Planning and Alignment, Priority Setting and Time Management, Process Management and Optimization, Action Oriented
Leadership: Drives Vision and Purpose, Integrity and Trust
Personal and Interpersonal: Communicates Effectively, Collaborative, Networking and Peer Relationship Management, Customer Focused

Desired Qualifications*

Master's or advanced degree (e.g., MBA or PhD).

Experience in university technology transfer, venture capital, or as a startup founder or early operator.

Experience managing accelerator or cohort-based programs.

Familiarity with the University of Michigan or a comparable academic research environment.

Experience in marketing and communications or in portfolio management and reporting.

Modes of Work

The position is designed as a hybrid role with a blend of remote and onsite responsibilities, requiring a recurring onsite presence. On occasion, you may be required and must be available to work onsite more frequently if necessitated by your job requirements. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment.

Modes of Work

Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes.

Additional Information

Background Screening

The University of Michigan conducts background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer and may use a third party administrator to conduct background checks.  Background checks are performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

Application Deadline

Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days. The review and selection process may begin as early as the eighth day after posting. This opening may be removed from posting boards and filled any time after the minimum posting period has ended.

U-M EEO Statement

The University of Michigan is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.