Manger, Design Thinking Programs, AUC Venture Lab, Grant Position

Purpose: AUC Venture Lab (V-Lab) is the leading university-based startup accelerator/incubator in Africa and the MENA region, with the aim of commercializing innovations that contribute to Egypt’s competitiveness and economic growth. The AUC Venture Lab Design Thinking programs manager is responsible for managing the operations and delivery of a portfolio of design thinking programs, including the Launchpad program, the National Incubator Capacity Building program, Ideation and Hackathon programs. Working with V-Lab team and external content providers, the manager is responsible for outreach activities, program design, content development, delivery, coordination with corporate and government partners for all the above programs.

Principal Accountabilities:

• Execute program activities for each program
• Execute international and local partnerships and sponsors mandates
• Setting up the different processes for startups to use program services
• Ensure timely delivery of services to idea stage startups
• Oversee team learning progress and ensure proper entrepreneurial business coaching is properly conducted with startups
• Manage and execute the selection process that involves
• Setting up the online application
• Plan and Conduct outreach events as needed to enhance startup pipeline
• Interviewing all potential candidates meeting program criteria
• Managing the facilitation of services for all programs
• Selecting program trainers and mentors
• Manage training schedule for startups
• Schedule for and implement additional trainings required for startups development
• Acquire and engage highly specialized mentors
• Work with Startups towards meeting their milestones and launching their businesses
• Report startup progress over cycle phases
• Analyze session feedback and recommend amendments
• Perform any other related duties as assigned

Requirements:

Minimum Education Requirement   

 Experience

• Minimum of eight to ten years of experience, including four years of relevant work experience
• Qualification in and/or significant experience using human centered design (design research and design thinking) research methodologies preferred

Skills :

• Excellent Arabic and English, both oral and written
• Knowledge of emerging research approaches, tools, and ways to present findings
• Excellent facilitation skills
• Technologically savvy
• High emotional intelligence, empathy and patience
• Strong communication skills
• Excellent creative, analytical and ideation skills
• Strong critical thinking and creative skills with a passion for ambiguity and complex problem solving and translating vague information into tangible results
• A passion for innovation, design and technology
• Strong mentoring and training skills
• Pitching
• Public speaking
• Team management
• Multi-tasking

This position is open until September 12, 2021

Placement is based on the candidate’s experience and skills. Only candidates who make it to the short list will be contacted.

“We thank all individuals who have expressed interest in working at The American University in Cairo.”