Program Officer, Strategic Partnerships

About The Role:

The Program Officer (PO), Strategic Partnerships plays a critical role in enhancing the ARPA-H Investor Catalyst Hub (ICH) network, fostering spoke collaboration, and increasing the overall value for all members of the network. This position requires a strategic and dynamic individual with a passion for relationship-building and a commitment to achieving VentureWell’s goals as the consortium management firm of the ICH.

This PO plays a pivotal role in implementing strategic outreach initiatives while simultaneously fostering and managing relationships within the ICH network. This position requires a multifaceted individual who can fit into a team focused on ICH network engagement efforts and ICH strategic objectives.

We seek to hire this PO to help manage national network relationships in academia, industry (finance or biotechnology), and community-based organizations. This position is fully remote but will require travel approximately 25-40% of the time to execute role responsibilities.

Responsibilities:

Network Engagement 

• Design, manage, and develop materials for monthly webinars
• Design, manage, and develop materials for network engagement meetings and events 
• Meet regularly with prospective and current organizations via 1:1 virtual office hours
• Manage prospective and active network relationships

Network Operations

• Manage end-to-end process for network application, due diligence, and onboarding
• Manage process and database for network data requests 
• Maintain network contact and capabilities information to create engaging network member portal
• Contribute to monthly webinar, newsletter, and report content development 

Partnership Building 

• Regularly travel to meetings and conferences to develop relationships with prospective spokes
• Represent the ICH at meetings and public events
• Develop partnerships with institutions including Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs), Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs), Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCUs), and Tribal Colleges & Universities (TCUs)

Stakeholder Management 

• Partner with strategic partnerships team on work plan and activity development
• Manage cross-functional projects for network recruitment, onboarding, and engagement
• Collaborate with team members to implement innovative approaches to the recruitment of institutions and organizations to the ICH

What You Bring:

• At least 3 years of related experience in fields related to developing and maintaining large network partnerships, stakeholder engagement, and community outreach
• Professional or academic experience in life science and/or healthcare innovation is required
• Ability to travel to either the Northeast, Midwest, or Southern regions of the U.S. approximately 25-40% of the time to events and/or institutions and organizations in the aforementioned regions
• Experience in collaborating with government agency funding staff and/or delivering on federal contracts is preferred
• Depth of knowledge in commercialization, entrepreneurship, engineering, business, IP, or related field is preferred
• Excellent communication, presentation, and public speaking skills 
• Exceptional organization and time management abilities

Across the Board, VentureWell Staff:

• Are able to succeed and thrive in an environment with competing and changing priorities and tight deadlines
• Have track records of and ability to build solid collaborative working relationships, and are proven team players who enjoy a “customer service” orientation to collaboration
• Are committed to embedding equity in our internal practices and culture and in our programs in order to live and achieve our mission
• Bring openness and engagement to personal, professional, and organization-wide learning on race, class, gender, justice, and equity
• Are curious and committed to issues of environmental sustainability
• Are self-starters with excellent attention to detail and a commitment to delivering high-quality work 
• Are active learners who independently learn new tools and work processes quickly
• Have excellent written and oral communication skills

Our Benefits:

• An attractive and equitable compensation package, including: 
• Salary range of $70,000-$80,000 commensurate with experience and internal equity
• 403(b) plan with 200% match up to a maximum contribution from VentureWell of 10% when the employee puts it 5% (eligible after one year of service for the match)
• Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance
• $1,000 home office stipend upon hire

• A true focus on work-life balance with work weeks that reflect that
• It’s our aim for our employees in this position to work on average a 40-hour work week with some flex up and down
• 20 paid vacation days PLUS the week off between Christmas and New Years
• 12 paid wellness days 

What We Offer:

• A culture where people work intentionally and collaboratively in pursuit of our mission  
• Values we believe in
• A commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion 

About VentureWell: 

VentureWell supports the cultivation of an emerging generation of science and technology inventors and the innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystems that are critical to their success. Since its founding in 1995, VentureWell has funded or trained over 16,000 science and technology inventors and innovators, resulting in the emergence of over 3,000 ventures with groundbreaking technological advancements in fields like biomedicine and healthcare, sustainable energy and materials, and solutions for low-resource settings. The startups they have supported have raised subsequent funds totaling close to 5.3 billion and are reaching millions of people in nearly 50 countries.

Visit venturewell.org to learn more.