Manager, Third Coast Foundry

Responsibilities

• Serves as an on-the-ground ambassador for Third Coast Foundry in San Francisco, representing the University of Chicago and partner institutions to founders, investors, alumni, and other stakeholders.
• Translates strategic guidance from University leadership and the Third Coast Foundry team into practical operating plans, user-facing processes, and communications.
• Manages daily operations ensuring the space is welcoming, professional, and ready for use by startups, faculty, students, alumni, investors, and other visitors.
• Oversees day-to-day operations and facilities, including coordination with building management and security on maintenance, cleaning, safety, and access control.
• Develops, implements, and refines operational procedures, including opening/closing routines, visitor protocols, safety basics, and user guides.
• Designs and oversees the overall in-space experience, culture, and user journey, ensuring the Third Coast Foundry is welcoming, inclusive, and aligned with institutional values.
• Leads user management across the space, including prioritization of rooms, scheduling of users and events, development and enforcement of policies and guidelines, and resolution of conflicts over shared resources.
• Orients and checks-in users/visitors, ensures adherence to guidelines and policies, collects and relays feedback.
• Leads the design, coordination, and execution of events and programming, including meetings, receptions, workshops, partner gatherings, and recurring series hosted in the office suite and building amenity spaces.
• Oversees event logistics such as room configurations, furniture set-up and takedown, basic A/V readiness and troubleshooting, signage, check-in, wayfinding, and event flow; provides hands-on support for events as needed.
• Builds and manages relationships with Third Coast Foundry users (startups, faculty, students, corporate partners, investors, alumni) and understand their needs in the space.
• Serves as a connector between Midwest university stakeholders and the Bay Area startup, venture capital, and innovation ecosystems, including identifying and cultivating new partners, mentors, and sponsors.
• Contributes to and communicates the development/refinement of policies, guidelines, and user communications.
• Develops and oversees communications strategies to users and ecosystem partners, including in-space signage, digital communications, calendars, and announcements.
• Develops and communicates program priorities and performance standards and assesses operations using these criteria.
• Plans and conducts quality assurance reviews and recommends changes as appropriate.
• Maintains basic CRM and contact records for ongoing engagement with startups, partners, and investors, in coordination with Polsky Center staff.
• Oversees tracking and reporting on usage metrics, including user counts, events, partner categories, and other indicators of impact; prepare regular updates for University leadership and key stakeholders.
• Assists in building and maintaining preferred vendor lists, such as caterers, furniture and A/V vendors, event services, and managing relationships with these vendors.
• Manages or supports the supervision of staff and interns associated with Third Coast Foundry.
• In the absence of supporting staff, directly performs or oversees core operational and event functions.
• Identifies operational, programmatic, or strategic issues as they arise; troubleshoots, escalates, and proposes solutions as appropriate.
• Recommends practical improvements to enhance efficiency and user experience.
• Helps execute the strategic vision set by University leadership by translating priorities into day-to-day operations and programming.
• Ensures compliance with relevant University policies, building regulations, and applicable laws.
• Manages program budgets and recommends or makes budgetary recommendations.
• Has a deep understanding when interacting with faculty, researchers and staff for committee work or information.
• 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.

Preferred Qualifications

• Education: Advanced degree in relevant field.
• Experience: Event coordination, facility operations, higher education, university customer service, startup/venture capital stakeholder engagement or other relevant experience.
• Background in entrepreneurship/innovation centers, startup/venture capital ecosystems, university programs, shared space operations, event/program management strongly preferred.

Preferred Competencies

• Strong interest and familiarity with university innovation, entrepreneurship, and Midwest/Bay Area startup ecosystems.
• Demonstrated ability to execute strategic vision while engaging in hands-on operations/event work.
• Proven experience managing communities, programs, or shared spaces, with focus on user experience and culture.
• Outstanding interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills; professional and welcoming engagement with varied stakeholders.
• Strong knowledge of operations, facility management, and event coordination.
• Operate independently, exercise sound judgment, and creatively solve problems/conflicts.
• Robust organizational, time management, and project management skills.
• Manage staff/interns as needed and coordinate with multiple stakeholders.
• Manage multiple priorities concurrently.

Working Conditions

• Full-time in-person position, based in San Francisco.
• This position is currently expected to work five days per week in the office.
• May require occasional evening/weekend work and in-person staffing for events or delegations.
• Requires regular manual labor, including supporting event set-up and takedown of furniture/equipment.
• Comfortable with manual labor, such as room/furniture configuration, A/V set-up, supply moves.