Managing Director of Business & Entrepreneurship Center

Managing Director of Business & Entrepreneurship Center

Position Title: Managing Director of Business & Entrepreneurship Center

Location: Appleton

Department: General

Position Type: Staff

Reports to: Faculty Director of the B&E Center

Location: Fox Commons

Position Type: Full‑Time (exempt)

Primary Objective: Lawrence University of Wisconsin seeks to hire a Managing Director for its Business & Entrepreneurship Center. The B&E Center launched in October 2024 in the new Fox Commons development in the heart of downtown Appleton, Wisconsin. Its state‑of‑the‑art spaces host community events, speaker series, classes, pitch contests, board meetings and other university events, as well as social events.

The Managing Director will play a key role in creating a vibrant entrepreneurial hub that will connect the business and entrepreneurship community with campus. This is an in‑person role that begins in January 2026.

Job Responsibilities

Programming

• Working with the Faculty Director on planning a variety of events within specific themes (Entrepreneurship, including arts organizations; Business and finance; Non‑profits; Science and Tech; Environment and sustainability)
• Coordination of programming with the campus and community calendars
• Marketing and publicity for events
  • Budgeting; planning revenue‑generating events

Course Contribution

• Contribute to BUEN courses (such as Business and Society, In Pursuit of Innovation) through working with teams, arranging alumni and community mentors and guest speakers, etc.

Planning & Organization

• Plan and organize LaunchLU, our campus pitch contest, and represent Lawrence University at The Pitch, our regional pitch contest.
• Plan and implement summer programming in the B&E Center in coordination with the appropriate offices on campus.

Community Outreach and Relationship Building

• Development of community partnerships with businesses, non‑profits, schools, arts organizations, etc.
• Collaborations with community organizations (founders' groups)
• Engagement of the local alumni community where the alumni can support the Center's mission
• Work closely with the Career Center to increase the number of BUEN internship and post‑graduation opportunities for our students

Day‑to‑day operations

• Staff presence when community members use the space; access control; security

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Bachelor's Degree or equivalent
• At least 2 years of experience in the entrepreneurial ecosystem
• Experience in higher education

Working Relationships

Work collaboratively with all members of the team, staff, faculty and other members of the Lawrence community, including vendors, students, and parents.

Employment Requirements

Employment is contingent on acceptable results of criminal, MVR, and educational background checks. This role requires the university authorized driver requirements to be met.

Supplemental Questions

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• * How did you hear about this employment opportunity?
  • Public Job Posting
  • Internal Job Posting
  • Agency Referral
  • Advertisement/Publication
  • Personal Referral
  • Website
  • Other

Lawrence University
711 East Boldt Way
Appleton, WI 54911