Temporary Manager, External Ecosystem Engagement

100% - Serve as Manager of External Ecosystem Engagement by building and managing relationships with external entrepreneurship partners to connect those resources with KU students and programs. The role strengthens the university’s broader ecosystem by cultivating strategic partnerships, expanding mentor networks, and supporting key initiatives like Techstars and Venture Scholars. Specific duties may include but are not limited to:

• Build and maintain a structured network of external ecosystem partners — including angel investors, venture capital firms, corporate partners, and community entrepreneurship organizations — spanning the Kansas City metro, the state of Kansas, and key national markets with significant Jayhawk presence.
• Cultivate relationships with angel networks (e.g., Oread Angels) and venture capital partners — including KU-aligned funds such as The Hill Fund and regional firms such as Flyover Capital and KC Rise — to create durable pathways for student and program engagement.
• Develop and grow the program's high-impact mentor pool by identifying, recruiting, and onboarding external mentors aligned with student needs across program verticals, with particular attention to practitioners 10–15 years post-graduation who hold active interest in entrepreneurship.
• Serve as a key external-facing partner for the KU–Techstars partnership and the Venture Scholars programs, supporting sponsor cultivation and philanthropy, investor engagement, and ecosystem visibility efforts aligned with each program's strategic objectives.