Managing Director - Great Lakes Innovation Accelerator
gener8tor operates accelerator programs that provide startups with capital, mentorship, coaching, network connections, and community support. It also offers skills, creative, sustainability, and corporate innovation programs for startups, career seekers, artists, corporations, and investors.
About gener8tor
gener8tor is an accelerator and investment organization running investment-for-equity accelerators, free pre-accelerators, skills accelerators, creative accelerators, and sustainability-focused programs. Its investment accelerators provide high-growth startups with $100,000, mentorship, commercialization guidance, and introductions to mentors, investors, corporate partners, and other experts. The organization serves startups, entrepreneurs, career seekers, artists, corporations, mentors, and investors across a global network of communities and programs.
Skills
Candidate Availability
Required and preferred rules are kept separate and reflect the wording in the original posting.
About the Role
gener8tor seeks a Managing Director to lead its Chicago-based Great Lakes Innovation Accelerator. The role runs three annual accelerator cohorts, supports early-stage water and ocean technology startups, deploys non-dilutive grant funding, develops ecosystem partnerships, coaches founders, and manages NOAA-related reporting and compliance.
Requirements
- Experience in water, ocean, environmental, or adjacent hard-tech sectors.
- Ability to evaluate sensing, autonomy, treatment, and remote-sensing companies.
- Experience as a founder or employee in a venture-backed company.
- Operating experience in a water or ocean technology company.
- Experience with capital-intensive hardware companies, long development cycles, pilot-dependent sales, and regulatory exposure.
- Collaborative mindset and ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment.
- Ability to manage multiple projects, responsibilities, and relationships.
- Experience with federally funded programs preferred.
- Knowledge of startup and venture capital communities.
- Willingness to travel up to 25% and work some nights and weekends.
- Strong interpersonal, relationship-building, written, and verbal communication skills.
- Commitment to equity across race, place, and gender.
Responsibilities
- Recruit startup applicants and lead due diligence and selection for three cohorts annually.
- Develop relationships with mentors, investors, ecosystem partners, and federal stakeholders.
- Coach founders on financial modeling, go-to-market strategy, fundraising, and pitch decks.
- Monitor startup progress before, during, and after accelerator programs.
- Plan and execute accelerator programs and related logistics.
- Manage external partner relationships, reporting, and key metrics.
- Support award allocation and follow-on support decisions.
- Assist alumni with mentor, sponsor, and investor relations.
- Support federal reporting, quarterly startup reporting, subrecipient monitoring, and award administration.
- Represent the program with NOAA and the IOOS community.
- Contribute to broader gener8tor initiatives and strategic projects.
Hiring Process
To apply, fill out the application form.