Summary:
The da Vinci Center for Innovation at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), part of University College, is seeking a Program Manager to lead the Shelfie Program at Shift Retail Lab. This flagship initiative empowers VCU students to bring their products and ideas to life through curated retail exposure, mentorship, and entrepreneurial support. The Program Manager will oversee the full lifecycle of the Shelfie experience, including recruitment, onboarding, programming, and storytelling, ensuring students gain meaningful, real-world learning in innovation, product development, and entrepreneurship.
Key Responsibilities
The responsibilities of the Program Manager include, but are not limited to, the following:
Program Leadership and Student Experience
- Lead all aspects of the Shelfie program lifecycle, including application management, cohort selection, onboarding, and participant support.
- Coach and mentor students on product strategy, pricing, branding, customer feedback, and retail readiness.
- Coordinate workshops, mentorship sessions, and community-building events to enhance student learning and entrepreneurial growth.
- Foster a culture of follow-through by developing and managing engagement strategies that keep participants informed and involved in future opportunities within the entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Curriculum and Resource Development
- Collaborate with the da Vinci Center team and external partners to develop and deliver engaging educational content aligned with entrepreneurial milestones.
- Build tools, templates, and guides to support student success within the Shelfie experience.
- Integrate feedback and performance data to continually refine and evolve the program.
Stakeholder Engagement and Storytelling
- Cultivate relationships with faculty, alumni, community partners, and mentors to support Shelfie participants.
- Collaborate with the communications team to highlight student stories and successes across digital channels and events.
- Represent Shelfie and Shift Retail Lab at campus-wide and community innovation events.
Program Evaluation and Operations
- Monitor program participation, retention, and outcomes; develop reports and recommendations for growth.
- Oversee the program budget, track inventory and product performance, and maintain records of participant progress.
- Ensure all Shelfie program components align with the mission and values of the VCU da Vinci Center.
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