Managing Director

How to Apply

To be considered, please submit a resume and a cover letter as a single document. In your cover letter, briefly describe your interest in the role and how your experience aligns with the position.
 

Who We Are

Michigan Ross' Detroit Neighborhood Entrepreneurs Project (DNEP) is the University of Michigan's small business hub for Detroit entrepreneurs. Through this 10 year old program, supervised U-M students gain transformational experience working as professional service providers for Detroit entrepreneurs. DNEP is the only university-based business support organization in the country that provides multidisciplinary services to build the organizational spine of local businesses, deploying 130 students per year to provide high-touch financial, legal, technological, and data services to 350 entrepreneurs annually, at no cost to the businesses. In August 2027, DNEP will move into its new home in the U-M Center for Innovation in Detroit, where it will anchor the Detroit Small Business Innovation & Learning Hub (the Hub). DNEP is part of a well-connected Detroit entrepreneurial ecosystem.
 

Job Summary

The Managing Director of the Detroit Neighborhood Entrepreneurs Project (DNEP) is a trusted, entrepreneurially grounded leader who sets the strategic direction for DNEP and is responsible for its fundraising, financial and people management, communications, and program administration. The ideal candidate has operated a small business and is familiar with Detroit's entrepreneurial ecosystem, so that Detroit business owners, community partners, and funders see them as a credible peer from day one. The Managing Director works closely with faculty, staff, and students from multiple schools and with many Detroit partners to advance DNEP's mission of providing students with transformational education and building self-reliant businesses.

This hybrid position will be based in Detroit, MI, with an expectation of three days per week on-site, with weekly travel to Ann Arbor, MI. The role may require occasional domestic travel and work outside standard business hours, including early mornings, evenings, or weekends. 

The Managing Director will collaborate with UMCI staff and consultants to determine what the Hub will look like. When the Hub opens to the public in Fall 2027, the Managing Director will work on-site in Detroit four days per week, and will travel once per week to Ann Arbor to collaborate with Business+Impact, Business+Tech, and other university partners.

This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship. Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of hire and maintain that authorization throughout employment.

For additional details about the position, please review the full job description. If you have questions, contact [email protected].
 

Responsibilities*

• Lead fundraising and financial management by securing approximately $400,000 annually through grants, service contracts, corporate and individual gifts, and University partnerships; develop funding proposals, cultivate donor relationships, and oversee budget management and grant compliance.
• Set strategic direction for DNEP in collaboration with the faculty director and key stakeholders, establishing program priorities, services, partnerships, and measures of impact for Detroit entrepreneurs and student participants.
• Direct program development and operations across DNEP's services, ensuring programs effectively support Detroit microbusinesses while providing meaningful experiential learning opportunities for students.
• Build and sustain strategic partnerships across Detroit's entrepreneurial ecosystem and the University of Michigan, engaging small businesses, community organizations, funders, faculty, and other partners to advance DNEP's mission.
• Advance technology and innovation initiatives by integrating AI into program operations, identifying practical AI applications for Detroit microbusinesses, and coordinating the development of CRM software and other technology-enabled resources.
• Collaborate on research and community-based initiatives with faculty, students, and Detroit partners, including the Community Tech Consulting program, and contribute to research publications and presentations.
• Oversee communications and outreach across digital and print channels, partnering with University communications teams to promote DNEP's programs, impact, and interdisciplinary work in entrepreneurship and community investment.
• Lead staff and student workforce management by supervising DNEP staff, recruiting and developing student project teams across U-M schools, and coordinating the onboarding of executives-in-residence who mentor student accounting consultants.
   

Required Qualifications*

• Bachelor's degree and 5+ years of progressively responsible experience in program development or management, preferably within a higher education or non-profit setting; or an equivalent combination of education and experience
• Experience operating a small business, ideally a main street or brick-and-mortar business
• Familiarity with Detroit's entrepreneurial ecosystem
• Experience securing contracts, grants, or gifts, including writing proposals and managing donor relationships
• Supervisory experience
   

Why Work at Michigan?

In addition to a career filled with purpose and opportunity, the University of Michigan offers a comprehensive benefits package to help you stay well, protect yourself and your family and plan for a secure future. Benefits include:

• Generous paid time off (Vacation, Holidays, Season Days, Maternity and Parental Leave)
• A retirement plan that provides two-for-one matching contributions with immediate vesting
• Many choices for comprehensive health insurance
• Life insurance
• Long-term disability coverage
• Flexible spending accounts for healthcare and dependent care expenses
• Flexible work arrangements
• Access to the onsite Fitness Center at Ross
   

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

Salary Information:

The salary offer range for this position is $87,600 to $118,200. Salary offers are determined based on several factors, including a candidate's experience, skills, and qualifications, along with internal equity considerations. It is not common for new hires to be placed at the top of the range.
 

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.