Incubation Coordinator at United States International University - USIU Africa

Reporting to: Chair, Incubation and Innovation Center (I2C), School of Graduate Studies, Research, and Extension (SGSRE)

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Work with SGSRE Dean, I2C Chair, and I2C volunteers to develop strategies to recruit, attract, retain, and exit innovative entrepreneurs and startups.
2. Work with I2C Chair to design market surveys and focus groups to assess market needs.
3. Coordinate the design of incubation and acceleration programs that meet the market needs. The programs should 1) be treated as a experiential applied learning for USIU-Africa students and alumni or 2) enhance ideation, investment and scale ups for external incubatees or interested USIU-Africa students and alumni.
4. Be part of I2C team that coaches, mentors, and offers advisory services to incubate entrepreneurs, USIU-A students, alumni and staff.
5. Coordinate the coaching hours of affiliated I2C faculty (including the Chair and other interested USIU-Africa faculty and staff), alumni, and senior students for incubates.
6. Coordinate the external mentor’s initiative in a spreadsheet or website that ensure targets are agreed upon, mentor meetings occur, and targets are met for incubatees.
7. Coordinate the day-to-day activities of I2C.
8. Support incubatees in linkages towards raising funds.
9. Work with I2C Chair and SGSRE Dean to develop proposals for funding.
10. Coordinate schedule of monthly I2C team meetings led by the I2C Chair.
11. Liaise with security over the comprehensive list of those approved to access I2C’s physical space.
12. Attend trainings to improve skills in social entrepreneurship facilitation and proposal writing as appropriate.
13. Schedule I2C focus groups for incubatees with prospective customers.
14. Manage relationships with a wide array of stakeholders including entrepreneurs, faculty, students, donors, investors, mentors, and coaches amongst others.
15. Connect entrepreneurs to available resources.
16. Coordinate and enhance the existing calendar of events for I2C on a rolling semester basis.
17. Prepare semester reports on the achievements and activities of I2C.

Required Skills

1. Excellent relationship management skills with ability to influence and get buy-in from people not under direct supervision and to work with individuals in diverse geographical and cultural settings.
2. Strong strategic, analytical, problem-solving and systems thinking skills with capacity to see the big picture and ability to make sound judgments.
3. Strong written and oral communication skills
4. Strong presentation, facilitation, training, mentoring, and coaching skills.
5. Proactive, resourceful and results-oriented.
6. Demonstrated social and networking skills that enable working with diverse stakeholders.
7. Excellent written, analytical and research skills.
8. Proficient in MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications, information management systems, and knowledge-sharing networks.

Required Qualifications

1. Experience working with social enterprises.
2. At least two years’ experience in mentoring, coaching, and training entrepreneurs.
3. At least five years’ experience working with entrepreneurs and startups in a business incubation or acceleration set up.
4. Evidence of successful implementation of donor-funded programs.
5. Previous experience providing technical assistance and developing successful proposals for external donor funding is required.
6. Bachelor’s degree in business related field with courses taken in entrepreneurship.

Desirable

1. Work towards or completion of master’s degree in business related field.
2. Experience launching and managing a business startup.
3. Experience on youth-focused donor or social enterprise programs.

If you have the requisite qualifications and experience and want to work as a team member in a modern and progressive institution where you can make a difference, please apply.

Interested applicants must provide a cover letter and a current CV, certified copies of educational certificates and transcripts, names and addresses of three referees, current salary and benefits, telephone and e-mail contacts to the address below by 5.00pm, Friday, February 25, 2022

Director Administration,
United States International University – Africa,
P. O. Box 14634 – 00800, Nairobi, Kenya
Email: jobs@usiu.ac.ke
Web: https://www.usiu.ac.ke/