Managing Director

over 2 years ago
Full time role
Remote · New York, NY, US... more
Remote · New York, NY, US... more

Company

Activate empowers scientists to reinvent our world and address climate change by bringing their research to market. The Activate Fellowship ...

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Job Description

About Activate Global
Activate empowers scientists to reinvent our world and address climate change by bringing their research to market. We partner with leading funders and research institutions to offer the Activate Fellowship, providing the funding, technical support, networking, community, and time that scientists need at the outset of their entrepreneurial journey.

Activate Fellows have launched 75 new companies since 2015. These companies have raised more than $330M in follow-on funding, created more than 300 U.S.-based high-tech jobs, reached scientific breakthroughs, and defined new market categories. Activate supports fellows in Berkeley, CA, and Cambridge, MA, with plans to expand to additional locations.

Activate exists to create a better future, for all. In service of this purpose, we are building a foundation of equity and inclusivity across our business, including our operations, our fellowship, our partnerships, and our brand.

Position Summary
The Managing Director will mentor a community of Activate Fellows by serving as the primary advisor. The Managing Director will also drive key fellowship programmatic elements and connect their community of fellows with resources, support, and each other. This person will represent their community to the Activate Global team and external stakeholders across academia, industry, finance, and government as we work to create the world’s leading platform to support the earliest stages of science entrepreneurship. The Managing Director will lead their programmatic team and report to the Senior Managing Director. As a rapidly growing organization, Activate is looking for applicants interested in mentoring fellows based throughout the United States.

Primary Responsibilities

  • Serve as Managing Director and primary advisor for a cross-disciplinary community of entrepreneurial fellows.

  • Drive successful outcomes for each individual fellow, providing mentorship, support, network connectivity, and resources. 

  • Oversee core elements of the fellowship, including review and selection of fellows, goal setting, advisory board formation, 1:1 mentorship, quarterly board meetings, and weekly educational programming.

  • Support ongoing design and management of the program and organization.

  • Establish and/or manage partnerships with research institutions. 

  • Build collaborative, cross-functional relationships with staff and partners to ensure the program operates effectively and efficiently.

  • Represent Activate at an executive level with public- and private-sector stakeholders from across the technology innovation ecosystem. 

  • Engage with current and potential government and philanthropic sponsors.

  • Lead and develop their program team to provide best-in-class support to the fellows.

The Ideal Candidate ...

  • Has an advanced degree in the physical or biological sciences and a minimum of 10 years experience in research, development, management, and commercialization of science-driven technologies, with entrepreneurial experience as the leader of a new company or business unit.

  • Has led high-performance technical teams and has demonstrated a commitment to nurturing talent through mentorship.

  • Has a strong network and reputation among stakeholders from across the innovation ecosystem (academia, industry, finance, and government).

  • Strongly exhibits objectivity, empathy, and inclusiveness in leadership.

  • Is an excellent communicator and collaborator.

  • Can manage a complex, dynamic portfolio of projects and stakeholders.

  • Believes in the power of science innovation to combat climate change and create a sustainable, resilient, equitable global economy.

  • Has debated the merits of venture capital as a source of funding for early-stage hard-technology companies, and is supportive of a broad range of finance and business models for advancing hard-tech to market.

  • Would be excited to wake up each day asking the question, “what can I do to make our fellows successful?”

About The Role
This is a full-time position with a competitive salary and a comprehensive suite of benefit offerings. Activate has a preference but not a requirement for applicants interested in working in Greater Boston, New York City, and San Francisco Bay Area.

Values
Activate’s culture is built around the following values:

  • We put people first through mutual support, respect, and continuous improvement

  • We live in trust, acting with authenticity, integrity, and a presumption of good intention 

  • We appreciate experimentation, using data to improve, and accepting that failure and discomfort are necessary for growth

  • We create value through connection and building community

  • We are guided by intention and are purpose-driven to improve society


Activate Global, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to age, race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, or disability status. We will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics.

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