The Organization: MassChallenge
The Role: NATO DIANA Senior Program Manager
NOTE: This is a six-month role with a possibility for extension working directly on continued NATO work or other defense, safety & security programs.
Location: Boston, Massachusetts
Reports to: NATO DIANA Program Director
Compensation: : $85,000-$90,000 ANNUALIZED SALARY, full benefits eligibility

MassChallenge is the global network for innovators who are working to solve massive challenges. We connect startups, experts, corporations, and communities to grow and transform businesses and economies. Our mission is to equip bold entrepreneurs to disrupt the status quo and create meaningful change. Our mission is BIG, and thus we are a team that gives 100% every day. Our values ensure we stay true to our mission and our core beliefs.

MassChallenge is currently seeking a NATO DIANA Senior Program Manager to join our Acceleration Team at the Boston Headquarters.

Position Summary

The NATO Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA) Senior Program Manager shall be responsible for the successful execution of the NATO DIANA in Boston, Massachusetts. The selected candidate will report to the NATO DIANA Program Director and work alongside the NATO DIANA and MassChallenge teams to ensure the designed curriculum is successfully executed and the selected cohort of startups are well-supported. The Senior Manager will be responsible for managing deliverables to a variety of stakeholders and reporting milestones to the US Department of Defense. This individual will also support the greater MassChallenge efforts in dual-use innovation.

Location

This Senior Program Manager will be expected to work from the MassChallenge Boston Headquarters on Tuesdays and Thursdays and as otherwise required to successfully deliver the program. Occasional work after-hours will be necessary to support the execution of NATO DIANA and other dual-use focused events. Travel required is estimated at 25% both domestically and internationally.

What You'll Do

Program Execution

• Represent MassChallenge to NATO DIANA, the US Department of Defense, and the other selected accelerator sites to establish avenues of communication and ensure successful program delivery

• Execute the curriculum established by NATO DIANA including its scheduling of modules, identification of resources, and recruitment of the greater MassChallenge Team to support

• Collect key performance metrics from the program, deliverable to NATO DIANA, to measure success and implement adaptations for future iterations

Community Development

• Support the recruitment of experts, evaluators, mentors, and lecturers through strategic networking alongside the MassChallenge dual-use innovation team

• Activate the greater United States dual-use community by organizing engagement opportunities to meet and support the selected cohort of startups

• Attend, support, and represent MassChallenge at local ecosystem events in Boston and elsewhere as needed by the program

Startup Support

• Advocate for the selected cohort of startups to the NATO DIANA Boston Accelerator Site

• Identify networks, resources, opportunities to promote the growth and scale of the selected cohort of startups

• Empathize with the entrepreneur, understanding the founder journey, recognizing their needs, and championing their successes

What You Bring

Education & Experience Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree

• Five or more of experience in project/program management

• Experience in accelerator operations, recruitment, and supporting start ups

• Experience and interest in the United States defense ecosystem & acquisition practices

• Record of leadership, project execution, strategic thinking, and managing deliverables and expectations to a multitude of stakeholders

Who You Are:

• You have 5-7 years of work experience and a specific skillset in project management or operations

• You have exceptional project leadership and management skills with the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, deadline driven environment

• You excel at maximizing team productivity and are able to make decisions that take into consideration a variety of stakeholder needs, team capacity/bandwidth and organizational growth goals

• You are an engaging and motivating people manager. You are capable of setting priorities and goals for others, removing barriers to success, coaching, and providing regular and direct feedback, communicating important business information, leading by example in following policies and processes, and enabling growth and career development

• You can deal with ambiguity and changing priorities and circumstances

• Thoughtful, energetic, and diplomatic change ambassador; an experienced professional in understanding organizational dynamics, guiding individuals and teams through complex and changing environments

• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal

• Previous accelerator management experience ideal but not required

• Knowledge of the dual use innovation ecosystem ideal but not required

Who We Are

MassChallenge is the global network for innovators who are working to solve massive challenges. We connect startups, experts, corporations, and communities to grow and transform businesses and economies. At MassChallenge we:

• Help entrepreneurs build the next generation of transformational businesses by connecting them with the resources, partnerships, and communities that help them launch, grow, and scale their startups.

• Help our partners build, grow, and evolve their corporate innovation practices.

• Leverage the power of entrepreneurship to strengthen global innovation ecosystems.

Why You Should Join Us

We believe working at MassChallenge is fulfilling because of the mission, challenging because of the pace and work, and rewarding because you get to build to the next step in your career here. When you join MassChallenge you join an incredible team and network of innovators and entrepreneurs, you take ownership over significant and strategically important projects, you focus on impact and output, and you help strengthen the global innovation ecosystem.

Our Core Values:

• Founder Mindset: Optimism, Tenacity, Love the Problem
• Connect & Collaborate: Empathy & Inclusion & Fun, Build Community, Connect the Dots
• Progress over Perfection: Build on experience, Fail Fast, Demonstrate Traction

Compensation

• MassChallenge offers competitive salaries, excellent benefits, and a supportive working environment.

• Salary is based on a nonprofit scale and commensurate with skills and experience.

• For this position, the base salary range is $85,000-$90,000

• Internal equity considerations and the average salary of the peer range will be reviewed before making a final offer.

**MassChallenge is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We seek individuals from a broad variety of backgrounds with varying levels of experience who have a desire to do meaningful work. We recruit, employ, train, compensate, and promote regardless of race, color, gender, gender identity, religion, national origin, ancestry, disability, age, veteran status, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by law.