Connect expertise with ambition. Help the next generation of founders turn ideas into thriving ventures.
The University of Manchester is seeking a Mentoring Network Manager to lead the design, development and delivery of our startup mentoring network, supporting students, staff and recent graduates to develop entrepreneurial ideas, startups, social ventures and scalable businesses.
Based within the Masood Entrepreneurship Centre, part of Unit M, you will help make entrepreneurship accessible to people across the University. You will bring together experienced mentors, specialist advisers and ecosystem partners to give founders the guidance, connections and confidence they need to move forward.
The role
This is an opportunity to shape and lead a University-wide mentoring network, with the autonomy to develop its operating model and take responsibility for its quality, inclusivity and impact.
You will recruit and develop a diverse community of mentors, establish effective matching and support arrangements, and ensure founders can access expertise appropriate to their venture’s stage, sector and ambitions. Working with colleagues across enterprise programmes, competitions and accelerators, you will embed mentoring throughout the founder journey.
Building trusted relationships will be central to your success. You will engage with entrepreneurs, alumni, investors, professional advisers and corporate partners, representing the University and developing partnerships that strengthen our startup support. You will also work closely with the University of Manchester Innovation Factory and colleagues across the wider innovation ecosystem.
Alongside this relationship-focused work, you will establish clear governance, use data to demonstrate outcomes and continually improve the experience for founders and mentors.
About you
You will bring substantial experience of supporting entrepreneurs, founders, startups, social enterprises or innovation-led projects, including providing credible one-to-one advice. You will have a track record of designing, launching and leading mentoring frameworks, adviser networks or similar initiatives, alongside a strong understanding of what makes mentoring relationships effective.
An accomplished relationship builder, you will be confident engaging senior external stakeholders and exercising independent judgement. You will combine excellent communication and project management skills with experience of delivering engaging events or programmes and using evidence to improve their impact.
Above all, you will share our commitment to entrepreneurship for all, with experience of making opportunities accessible to people from different backgrounds, disciplines and levels of experience.
Why join us?
Unit M is the University’s dedicated innovation arm, bringing together expertise, partnerships and new approaches to unlock Manchester’s innovation potential. Within it, the Masood Entrepreneurship Centre combines enterprise education, practical venture creation and community building.
Joining this team offers the opportunity to shape a network with lasting value: helping founders develop their capabilities, strengthening connections across Manchester’s entrepreneurial community, and supporting ventures that benefit society and the economy.
Occasional evening or weekend work will be required for events and ecosystem activity, with arrangements to support an appropriate balance between working and non-working time.
Find out more
Please see the job description, attached below, for further information about the role and selection criteria.
For informal enquiries, please contact Andrew Dixon at talent.attraction@manchester.ac.uk.
We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences. If you require reasonable adjustments at any stage of the recruitment process, please contact talent.attraction@manchester.ac.uk so that we can discuss how best to support you.
For technical support please call 0161 850 2004 or visit https://jobseekersupport.jobtrain.co.uk/support/home
This vacancy will close for applications at midnight on the closing date.
