Director

The Cleantech U Project is a new initiative launching in partnership with Net Impact and the Ashoka Changemaker Campuses Initiative to build hubs of cleantech and green economy entrepreneurship at leading universities across the country. This project will grow the interdisciplinary communities from which new cleantech and green economy technologies and business models will emerge. It will create resources to embed green economy innovation into existing entrepreneurship programs and build connections to help new ventures coming out of universities access the resources necessary to succeed.

About Net Impact: Net Impact is an international nonprofit organization with a mission is to inspire, educate, and equip individuals to use the power of business to create a more socially and environmentally sustainable world. Spanning 6 continents, our membership makes up one of the most influential networks of MBAs, graduate students, and professionals in existence today. Net Impact members are current and emerging leaders in CSR, social entrepreneurship, nonprofit management, international development, and environmental sustainability who are actively improving the world. The Net Impact network includes over 250 volunteer-led chapters in cities throughout the world and a central office in San Francisco, CA. For more information, please visit Net Impact.

About the Ashoka Changemaker Campus Initiative: Led by Ashoka, the world's largest network of social entrepreneurs, the Changemaker Campus Initiative aims to develop a new standard of excellence for social entrepreneurship education. Ashoka envisions a day when universities everywhere serve as an enabling environment for social entrepreneurship and everyone has access to the resources, learning opportunities, role models, and peers needed to actualize their full potential as changemakers.

The Ashoka Changemaker Campus network currently consists of 9 campuses in the U.S., and will grow to a total of 30 campuses by 2015, all with the common goal of transforming their colleges and universities into hubs of social innovation and changemaking.

Position Overview:

The Cleantech U Project Director will manage the launch, implementation, and organizational development of this initiative as it interacts with students, university faculty, entrepreneurs, cleantech investors, innovation experts, and others.

This position presents a unique opportunity for an exceptional early career achiever to assume an executive director/organizational leadership role in a sector that will play a key role in our economy and future. The Project Director will interact with cleantech sector leaders, investors, and cutting edge entrepreneurs across the country, while making a unique contribution to the growth of clean technology and the green economy.

Responsibilities: 

The responsibilities of the Cleantech U Project Director will include:

• Working with select campuses in the networks of Net Impact and Ashoka's Changemaker Campus Initiative to initiate the growth of entrepreneurial cleantech-oriented communities across engineering, business, law, and other schools.
• Building relationships with thought leaders and university programs in cleantech and sustainability entrepreneurship to create resources for these campuses.
• Managing partnerships to connect entrepreneurial communities with resources for new ventures including seed capital investors, business plan competitions, mentors, and more.
• Managing organizational development including brand launch, strategic growth, staff management, and fundraising in partnership with the project's founding team.
• Interacting with funders, advisors, and core partners.

Qualifications: 

Accordingly, the successful candidate for this position will be a dynamic self-starter with the following qualities and experience:

• 2-5 years of relevant professional experience demonstrating exceptional initiative, interpersonal skills, and organizational vision.
• Passionate about entrepreneurship and building the green economy. Experience or familiarity with cleantech and sustainability is a plus.
• Knowledgeable about the process and challenges of business entrepreneurship. Experience in a start-up environment is a plus.
• Ability to work with people from a wide range of backgrounds to build teams and community around a common goal.
• High capacity to manage multiple projects and organizational processes, including brand management and resource development.
• Highest standards and ambition for outcomes and impact.

Compensation: Competitive salary and benefits?Travel: 25%?Location: San Francisco, CA (preferred), Washington, DC.?

Deadline: Open until filled. Availability for start by March 15 is preferred.

To Apply: 

For consideration for this position, please email a thoughtful cover letter explaining your interest in the Cleantech U Project and a CV indicating the above qualifications.??