Temporary Community Experience Manager, Third Coast Foundry

Temporary Community Experience Manager, Third Coast Foundry The University of Chicago, United States about 4 hours ago

Location:

California City, CALIFORNIA

Job Type:

PartTime Department SING Polsky Administration - Biweekly 2 About the Department Third Coast Foundry is a new physical space in San Francisco for partner university-founded startups and teams traveling to the Bay Area. Designed to improve access to venture capital and networks on the West Coast without requiring startups to relocate, it provides opportunities for investors, alumni, and other partners to engage through meetings, events, and programming. At its core, Third Coast Foundry is a bridge between Midwest innovation and coastal capital. Originally established at Chicago Booth in 1998, the Polsky Center has provided over two decades of venture support for students interested in entrepreneurship and robust training for students interested in pursuing a career in venture capital and private equity. In 2016, with a generous gift from University trustee and Chicago Booth alum Michael Polsky, MBA '87, the Polsky Center's mission expanded to include an additional focus on supporting all University of Chicago faculty inventors in commercializing their discoveries. This effort was further accelerated in 2022 with the launch of Deep Tech Ventures, a new initiative offering a suite of sector-specific accelerators and investment opportunities dedicated to translating deep tech innovations into startups that bring lifesaving, world-changing science and technology to market. The Polsky Center also supports local South and West Side community entrepreneurs and small business owners as well as University of Chicago alumni around the globe. Today, the Polsky Center is a 60-person professional staff responsible for advancing all University of Chicago entrepreneurship and research commercialization innovation activities through the creation of new ventures and partnerships. By igniting a spirit of innovation and fostering connections that extend across the University, city, region and world, the Polsky Center enables more ideas to have a meaningful impact on society. Job Summary The Community Experience Manager helps make the Third Coast Foundry a vibrant, well-connected hub for Midwest innovation in the Bay Area. This role combines in-space operations and user management with programming coordination and relationship building. The Community Experience Manager ensures that daily use of the space, along with its programming and events, supports Third Coast Foundry's mission, oversees the user experience, and helps connect Third Coast Foundry users to each other and to the broader Bay Area ecosystem. This position manages a broad range of business operations and academic activities. Develops and implements office procedures and policies and ensures compliance. Prepares and monitors the budget for a unit. Responsibilities Serves as a welcoming and high touch point of contact for key visitors, partners, and university stakeholders. Shapes and maintains the overall in-space experience and culture. Oversees user management across the space including prioritization of rooms, guiding event hosts on usage, and resolving conflicts. Provides input on and helps refine policies, guidelines, and communications to users. Supports management of any interns working at the Third Coast Foundry. Oversees day-to-day operational readiness of the space including signage, calendars, and upcoming partner visits. Serves as a point of contact with building management and security for facilities needs. Translates strategic guidance from University leadership and the Third Coast Foundry team into practical operations and user-facing processes. Coordinates with building staff on upcoming weekly and long-term event calendars. Coordinates event logistics and planning with hosts to ensure smooth execution of events, meetings, receptions, partner gatherings, and other programming in the office suite or shared building amenity spaces. Provides oversight and guidance for set-up and takedown of furniture and equipment for gatherings and events, with occasional hands-on support as needed. Assists with additional event needs such as room set-up, basic A/V checks, signage, and directing event flow. Supports design and logistics of recurring programming aligned with Third Coast Foundry goals. Builds relationships with Third Coast Foundry users, such as (startups, faculty, students, partners) and understands their needs in the space. Serves as a connector between Midwest university stakeholders and Bay Area entrepreneurs, investors, and thought leaders in coordination with the Third Coast Foundry team. Helps maintain and update contact lists, partner profiles, and basic CRM tracking for ongoing engagement. Provides University leadership and Third Coast Foundry partners with updates on space usage, user feedback, and emerging opportunities or issues. Collaborates on reporting regarding metrics and use of Third Coast Foundry. Develops strategies to advance communications to users and ecosystem partners. Uses best practices to develop and execute organization's operational and overall strategic plan. Develops and implements relevant policies and procedures and ensures compliance. Plans, develops, analyzes and manages budget, including developing multi-year budget forecasts. May oversee the preparation and management of grant and contract proposals, ensuring compliance with all University, federal and private foundation guidelines and regulations. Develops financial reports and assists with seeking funding for grants. Performs other related work as needed. Minimum Qualifications

Education:

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.

Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 5-7 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Certifications:

--- Preferred Qualifications

Experience:

1 to 3 years of relevant work experience. ground in community-building, program coordination, event management, or a similar professional field. Preferred Competencies Strong interest in university innovation, entrepreneurship, or Midwest/Bay Area ecosystems. Demonstrated ability to operate independently, problem-solve, and exercise judgment while representing institutional interests professionally. Exceptional interpersonal skills and comfort engaging with a wide range of stakeholders, including founders, investors, faculty, and alumni. Strong organizational skills and manage multiple threads simultaneously. Working Conditions Part-time position, up to 18 hours per week, typically two days per week. Temporary appointment, approximately 7-8 months. Occasional manual labor, including overseeing and guiding event set-up and takedown of furniture and equipment, and providing hands-on support when necessary to ensure successful event operations. Application Documents Resume/CV (required) When ing, the document(s) MUST be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application. Job Family Administration & Management Role Impact Individual Contributor Scheduled Weekly Hours 18 Drug Test Required No Health Screen Required No Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required No Pay Rate Type Hourly ​ FLSA Status Non-Exempt ​ Pay Range $0.00 The included pay rate or range represents the University's good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting. Benefits Eligible This position is not eligible for benefits. The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook . Posting Statement The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination. Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form. All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history. A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment. Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position. The University of Chicago's Annual Security & Fire Safety Report (Report) provides information about University offices and programs that provide safety support, crime and fire statistics, emergency response and communications plans, and other policies and information. The Report can be accessed online at: securityreport.uchicago . Paper copies of the Report are available, upon request, from the University of Chicago Police Department, 850 E. 61st Street, Chicago, IL 60637.