Program Manager

Job Description Summary

Organization's Summary Statement:
Founded at the University of Maryland and headquartered at the E.A. Fernandez IDEA Factory, xFoundry transforms universities into solution engines that generate real ventures, develop entrepreneurial leaders, and advance meaningful societal outcomes. xFoundry empowers students to tackle humanity’s most pressing challenges through multidisciplinary collaboration, AI-powered tools, and rigorous venture-building programs.

Our flagship Xperience program is a 15 to 18 month venture-building competition in which student teams develop investment-grade MVPs that address grand societal challenges in climate, education, food and water, health, infrastructure, and society. Winning teams compete for investments of up to $2 million and receive guidance from seasoned CXOs through our Xcelerate accelerator program.

The Opportunity
We are seeking a Program Manager who will support student and university programs at the center of our competitions, as well as the events and gatherings that bring our community together. Reporting to the Director of Programs, this role carries a defined share of the day-to-day work in each area, from keeping student teams and campus partners on schedule to the logistics behind summits, dinners, and game-day gatherings.

The A. James Clark School of Engineering at the University of Maryland catalyzes high-
quality research, innovation, and learning, preparing our students to create innovations that will address the 21st century Grand Challenges (e.g., energy, environment, security, and human health) and improve the human condition. The Clark School is dedicated to leading and transforming the engineering discipline and profession, accelerating entrepreneurship, and transforming research and learning activities into innovations that benefit millions.

Minimum Qualifications
Education and Experience:
- Bachelor’s degree in a related field and five years of experience coordinating programs, events, or projects; or
- Master’s degree in a related field and three years of experience coordinating programs, events, or projects.

Skills:

1. Demonstrated experience supporting events or programs that involve logistics, vendors, and external guests
2. Strong writing, editing, and proofreading skills
3. Skilled at using AI tools for project management, writing, and content creation
4. Proven ability to communicate clearly and warmly across students, faculty, and senior administrators

Physical Demands:
This position requires extended periods of sitting, standing, or walking, as well as occasional bending, reaching, and lifting or carrying event materials weighing up to 30 pounds.

Preferences:

1. Experience supporting large, external-facing corporate events or conferences end to end
2. Experience in partnerships, relationship management, and/or customer service, including facetime with C-suite
3. Experience in an accelerator, university venture program, entrepreneurship center, or technology transfer office
4. Advising, mentoring, or other student-facing experience
5. Experience with CRM, event-management, or program-management tooling; graphic or web design familiarity
6. Start-up or entrepreneurial experience

Licenses/ Certifications:
NA

Additional Job Details

Additional Information:

1. UMD will not sponsor the successful candidate for work authorization in the United States now or in the future. This position can not support a F1 STEM OPT.

2. Hybrid schedule from College Park, MD, with onsite presence for events, including some evenings and weekends. Able to travel to partner campuses and event sites as needed.

Required Application Materials:

1. Resume

2. Two references (names and contact information)

3. One or two examples of communications or event materials you have created or coordinated

4. Brief statement (1 page max) or 60-90-second video addressing:

• An event or program you helped run: what you were responsible for, what went wrong, and what you did about it
• How you keep a student team or a partner engaged when nothing is due
• What excites you about working with university students on audacious challenges
  

Best Consideration Date:

10.12.2026

Posting Close Date:

NA

Open Until Filled:

Yes

Other

What You’ll Do

Student & University Programs

• Support student teams through the competition arc: track milestones and submissions, connect teams with resources, and flag drifting teams to the Venture Development Manager
• Be a day-to-day contact for partner-university staff and campus champions alongside the relationship leads
• Help onboard new partner universities: prepare materials, schedule sessions, and keep checklists current
• Keep program operations on schedule: timelines, judging logistics, communications calendars, outcome records

Events & Gatherings

• Coordinate event logistics, from multi-day summits and conferences to competition kickoffs, pitch days, finals, and showcases: venues, vendors, run-of-show, registration, and onsite execution with the team
• Coordinate smaller gatherings: partner and donor dinners and outings at athletic and social events
• Maintain speaker, guest, partner, and attendee trackers; gather bios, headshots, and materials; coordinate travel
• Serve as day-to-day liaison among the internal team, speakers, partners, vendors, and production teams, spotting gaps early, following them to resolution, and folding what worked into checklists the team can reuse

Communications

• Draft clear, on-brand copy for invitations, agendas, speaker materials, program updates, and partner emails
• Create and update presentations, flyers, one-pagers, and partner-facing assets from established templates, and make basic content updates to existing web pages, in coordination with the marketing team
• Help capture program and event outcomes and turn them into success stories and university-facing summaries

Financial Disclosure Required

No

For more information on Financial Disclosure, please visit Maryland's State Ethics Commission website.

Department

ENGR-Maryland Technology Enterprise Institute

Worker Sub-Type

Faculty Regular

Salary Range

$90,000 - $100,000

Benefits Summary

For more information on Regular Faculty benefits, select this link.

Background Checks

Offers of employment are contingent on completion of a background check. Information reported by the background check will not automatically disqualify anyone from employment. Before any adverse decision, the finalist will have an opportunity to provide information to the University regarding disclosable background check information. The University reserves the right to rescind the offer of employment or otherwise decline or terminate employment if the information reported by the background check is deemed incompatible with the position, regardless of when the background check is completed.

Employment Eligibility

The successful candidate must complete employment eligibility verification (on Form I-9) by presenting documents that establish identity and work authorization within the timeframe required by federal immigration law, and where applicable, to demonstrate renewed employment authorization.  Failure to complete employment eligibility verification or reverification within the timeframe set forth by law may result in suspension or termination of employment.

EEO Statement

The University of Maryland, College Park is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment. Please read the University’s Equal Employment Opportunity Statement of Policy.

Title IX Non-Discrimination Notice

Resources

• Learn how military skills translate to civilian opportunities with O*Net Online

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