Careers - We are Hiring!

What We Are Looking For: Experienced corporate innovator (client side, consultant, tech strategist, entrepreneur and/or project manager) who can manage relationships with F500 clients and deliver innovation programs (accelerators, pilot programs, research, strategy) for our corporate clients. The ideal candidate is a detail-oriented strategic thinker with strong communication skills and a passion for the startup and innovation ecosystem.  

In this Manager role you will manage multiple innovation program workstreams while cultivating strong relationships with a diverse portfolio of clients and across the startup ecosystem. This role demands a keen ability to research, synthesize, and communicate trends and insights across industries. 

Why It Matters: We are building a dynamic, results-oriented team dedicated to infusing our clients’ organizations with innovation via partnerships with startups.  Our business thrives on delivering tangible value to our clients, which includes not only facilitating groundbreaking partnerships but also providing deep industry insights and foresight into emerging trends. We seek a team member passionate about uncovering and delivering these insights and identifying and vetting cutting-edge startups to ensure our clients are always ahead of the curve. 

Who We Are: VentureFuel is an independent innovation advisory that helps the world's largest organizations commercialize innovation through startup partnerships. Industry-leading organizations like Dick’s Sporting Goods, Comcast NBCUniversal, AARP Foundation and the State of California turn to us to learn, test, build and invest with enterprise-ready startups. Custom Accelerators, Pilot Programs, Co-Development and Innovation Strategy allow us to deliver what is next, now to our clients. To learn more visit www.venturefuel.net or listen to our podcast: The VentureFuel Visionaries. 

Where: This role is remote. Work authorization for US required. 

What We Value: We are passionate about creating a diverse environment and are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, pregnancy, disability, age, veteran status, or other characteristics. VentureFuel is also committed to compliance with all fair employment practices regarding citizenship and immigration status.  

VentureFuel Core Values:

• Client-Centricity – Overdelivering on Value for Clients
• Simplicity – Making The Complex Easy To Understand
• Bias Towards Action - Getting It Done  
• Collaboration – Teamwork & Integrity
• Grit – Growth Mindset, Obstacles Are Opportunities
• Enthusiasm – Passion To Do Great Work  
• Intellectual Curiosity – Diverse Thinking, Always Be Learning 

The Role: As a Manager of Innovation & Partnerships, your job is to deliver innovation programs for our corporate clients (F500, government, large non-profit).

Key responsibilities of this role include:

• Project Management and Innovation Delivery:
  • Lead the management and delivery of innovation programs for corporate clients, including accelerators, pilot programs, and strategic partnerships.
  • Interpret Statements of Work (SOW) and develop comprehensive project plans, ensuring all milestones are met within timelines and budget.
  • Manage day-to-day communications with clients to understand their business and innovation priorities and communicate strategy and recommendations.
• Client Success:
  • Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, understanding their innovation priorities and challenges.  
  • Anticipate client needs by staying ahead of industry trends and proposing innovative solutions that align with their strategic goals.
  • Ensure every deliverable adds significant value and strengthens client satisfaction and loyalty.
• Research & Startup Ecosystem Engagement:
  • Dive deep into complex topics to uncover and understand cutting-edge innovations and technological advancements.  
  • Distill this complex information into clear, simple language to enable clients to grasp sophisticated concepts easily.
  • Research, source, and engage innovative startups for corporate innovation programs, leveraging your strong research skills to identify the best fits.  
  • Lead calls with startups, coaching them on best positioning for clients and acting as a translator between corporates and startups.
• Strategic Thinking and Continuous Improvement:
  • Monitor, evaluate, and report on emerging innovations, technologies, and startups within key industries of focus.
  • Implement new processes and innovations developed by senior management.
  • Synthesize insights from projects to enhance team knowledge and inform future strategies.
• Team Leadership and Collaboration:
  • Collaborate with team members and vendors to ensure successful project delivery.
  • Effectively delegate and oversee project components, ensuring cohesive teamwork and on-track progress.
  • Provide clear, constructive feedback to team members, fostering an environment of growth and development. 

More About You: You are intellectually curious, results driven and comfortable in a fast-paced environment. You can work independently but enjoy collaborating with a team and rolling up your sleeves to help support broader team and company strategy. You take pride in effective communication and synthesizing complex ideas or processes to drive actionable outcomes. Previous work experience may include (but is not limited to): 

• Corporate Innovation, Corporate Partnerships or Strategy Roles (in large orgs)
• Consulting, Management Consulting
• Startup Accelerators or Venture Studios
• Venture Capital
• Project Management (ideally with tech focus)
• Startup Founder or Early Employee

Qualifications: 

• Ideal candidate will have 5 - 7 years of experience working in Corporate Innovation, Consulting, Research, Startup Founder/early employee or other relevant industry verticals
• Diverse industry experience preferred
• Exceptional ability to learn about new industries and technologies swiftly, source and vet solutions, and engage critically with clients and startups
• Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Engineering, Entrepreneurship, Innovation, Data Science/Market Research, Communications, or related field
• A passion for learning and continuous improvement – seeking to build better ways of working for the future of the organization
• Proven experience in project management, particularly within an innovation or consulting context
• Highly organized, detail-oriented, and self-motivated – “all-hands-on-deck” mentality to ensure project success
• Demonstrated ability to prioritize and delegate across multiple projects
• Excellent client service skills, written and verbal communication skills
• Expertise in navigating and communicating complex technical or scientific concepts, especially to a non-specialist audience
• Proven ability in research and analysis within technical, scientific, or innovation-driven fields
• Excellent presentation and facilitation skills
• Proficient in Microsoft Suite (Word, PowerPoint, Excel), and Search Databases (Crunchbase, Pitchbook, Industry specific databases, etc.)  

Benefits: 

• Medical, Dental, Vision
• Flexible Time Off Policy
• Profit Share
• 401k Plan 

About VentureFuel: