Job Description for the Director of the Doherty Center for Creativity, Innovation and Entrepreneurship position. Review job description, requirements, and qualifications. Apply or register interest for the position.

Title: Director of the Doherty Center for Creativity, Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Position Type: Staff Full-Time

Days Per Week: M-F

Hours Per Week: 40

VP Area: Office of the Provost and Academic Affairs

Department: Love School of Business

Location: Elon Main Campus

Position Summary

The Martha and Spencer Love School of Business seeks a strategic leader, experienced relationship builder with strong operational expertise to serve as Director of the Doherty Center for Creativity, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, beginning June 1, 2026. The Director serves as the strategic and operational leader of the Center, advancing its mission to cultivate entrepreneurial thinking, innovation, and student-centered experiential learning across Elon University. Reporting to the Dean of the Love School of Business, the Director translates vision into action by building sustainable funding streams, strengthening signature programming, launching and managing a high-impact Entrepreneur in Residence (EIR) program, and supporting the Doherty Center Advisory Board.

The Director will elevate the Center’s profile, expand its resources, and foster a campus-wide culture of entrepreneurship aligned with the Boldly Elon Strategic Plan and the Love School’s commitment to inclusive, student-centered excellence. Travel for student programs and some evening or weekend commitments are anticipated.

Benefits of Working at Elon

As an Elon University employee, you’ll join an internationally acclaimed university with a commitment to fostering a thriving community. Ranked among the most innovative, creative and best-run universities in the nation, Elon’s personal approach to education extends to employees, whose growth, professional development and success is a hallmark of our training and advancement opportunities.

Elon University’s home is the charming town of Elon, North Carolina, a small, friendly community located a short distance from the beach and the mountains, and among the vibrant cities of Greensboro, Raleigh and Durham. In addition to the beautiful canopy of historic oak trees iconic to our campus, you’ll find boundless opportunities for family-friendly recreation, cultural events and outdoor activities. Hiking, water sports, fine dining and entertainment are just a few of the many happenings in the Elon area, making the region one of the nation’s premier travel destinations.

Employees at Elon enjoy a generous and comprehensive benefits package that includes:

28 annual days off, including holidays and vacation.

Immediate tuition remission for undergraduate courses

Tuition remission for approved graduate-level courses after 12 months of employment.

Retirement plan with an 8 percent contribution from the university.

Immediate eligibility for health, dental and vision insurance, along with free acute care and lab services at our onsite Health & Wellness Clinic.

Free use of campus fitness facilities.

Free admission to musical and theater performances, guest speakers, religious and ethnic observances, recitals, art exhibitions, entertainment and our Division I Phoenix athletics.

Eligibility for tuition remission at Elon for spouses, qualifying domestic partners and dependents begins at two years of service. After two years of employment, eligibility begins for participation in the Tuition Exchange, a national scholarship exchange program that enables dependents to enroll in nationally recognized partner colleges and universities.

Elon values and celebrates the diverse backgrounds, cultures, experiences and perspectives of our community members. As an equal opportunity employer, Elon’s principles of diversity extend to race and gender identity, age, disability status, veteran status, sexual orientation, religion, and other aspects of one’s identity. At Elon, our employees respect human differences, passion for lifelong learning, emphasis on personal integrity and an ethic of service.

Minimum Required Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree required in Business, Entrepreneurship, Higher Education Administration, Operations Management, or related field
• Proven ability to manage complex projects and multiple stakeholders while maintaining high standards of quality and timeliness. Experience supervising staff, managing budgets, and building efficient systems.
• Minimum 3 years of experience in higher education, entrepreneurship, innovation-driven organizations, or related settings.
• Experience as a founder, co-founder, or early-stage leader in a startup or high-growth venture, startup leadership, venture studio, accelerator leadership, or entrepreneurial ecosystem work.[MK1.1]
• Experience managing or leading programming initiatives in an educational or innovation setting.
• Strong communication, interpersonal, and presentation skills.
• Demonstrated ability to lead strategically, execute operationally, and pivot based on evolving opportunities.

Preferred Education and Experience

Master’s degree in Business Administration, Entrepreneurship, Higher Education, or related field.
Experience working with advisory boards or governance bodies.
Familiarity with impact dashboards or venture tracking tools.
Experience collaborating with university advancement teams.

Job Duties

• Student Programming & Experiential Learning
  • Oversee and execute signature events including the Elon Innovation Challenge, C. Ashton Newhall Lecture, Medal for Entrepreneurial Leadership, and related entrepreneurship initiatives. 
  • Partner with entrepreneurship faculty to support curricular innovation and student development. 
  • Lead innovation-focused treks to NYC and Silicon Valley with Innovation Scholars students. 
  • Support and mentor students engaged with the Doherty Center, ensuring high-quality experiential learning across all touchpoints. 
• Strategic Advancement & Fundraising 
  • Develop and execute a comprehensive fundraising strategy to secure resources and ensure the Center’s long-term sustainability. 
  • Build and steward relationships with alumni, donors, corporate partners, and community leaders. 
  • Identify major gift opportunities and collaborate with University Advancement to increase the Center’s philanthropic support. 
  • Build and strategically expand the Doherty Center Advisory Board, recruiting members who contribute expertise, influence, and resources. 
  • Elevate the Center’s visibility and philanthropic positioning within and beyond Elon University. 
• Entrepreneur in Residence (EIR) Program Leadership 
  • Design, launch, and manage a structured Entrepreneur in Residence (EIR) program that integrates accomplished entrepreneurs and business leaders with students. 
  • Recruit and support EIRs who mentor students, advise ventures, and engage in innovation initiatives. 
  • Coordinate EIR participation in competitions, classroom engagement, treks, and Center programming. 
  • Ensure meaningful student access and measurable mentorship outcomes. 
• Venture Outcomes & Impact Measurement 
  • Establish and track measurable venture outcomes including startups launched, capital raised, internships placed within startups, revenue generated, and student venture milestones. 
  • Develop and publish annual impact metrics that demonstrate the Doherty Center’s contribution to student success, venture creation, and regional economic development. 
  • Implement systems to measure program effectiveness and continuously improve entrepreneurial programming based on data and outcomes. 
• Strategic Partnerships & Campus Collaboration 
  • Build strong partnerships across campus including the Center for Design Thinking, School of Engineering, Law School, Office of Inclusive Excellence, Residence Life, and other departments and centers. 
  • Represent the Doherty Center within the broader entrepreneurship ecosystem at regional and national levels. 
  • Cultivate relationships with external organizations, accelerators, venture networks, and innovation leaders to enhance student opportunities. 
  • Align programming and partnerships with university priorities and the Boldly Elon Strategic Plan.
• Operations & Leadership 
  • Develop and administer budgets, ensuring fiscal responsibility and compliance with university policies. 
  • Create scalable systems and processes to support sustainable growth of the Center. 
  • Lead through ambiguity and adapt programming to evolving student, market, and ecosystem needs. 
  • Collaborate closely with the Dean’s Office and Entrepreneurship Faculty to advance strategic priorities. 

Special Instructions to Applicants: Travel for student programs and some evening or weekend commitments are anticipated.