Startup Talent Manager
The Startup Talent Manager builds and owns Cintrifuse’s relationships with target universities to identify and channel high-caliber, early-career talent to our portfolio companies. This role serves as the single point of contact for each partner school and is the face of Cintrifuse on campus, representing Startup Fellows, Builder Fellows, Emerging Founder Residency, hackathons, etc. Maintaining relationships with a high-caliber talent pool of University students will support various Cintrifuse activities. A primary deliverable for this position will be leading the Startup Fellows program, which places top college students as interns with startups; over time, this role also builds the relationships and pipeline that will feed our Emerging Founder Residency (EFR) program. Reports to the Director of Venture Growth.
Day-to-Day responsibilities:
- Own the relationship with each target university, serving as the single, dedicated point of contact so all communication is routed through one consistent relationship
- Build and deepen relationships across target schools — Cincinnati-area institutions, Purdue, IU, Ohio State, University of Michigan, University of Kentucky, University of Louisville, and other schools within roughly a six-hour drive
- Drive the annual Startup Fellows program end-to-end from a relationship and talent standpoint:
- Work with startup teams to identify needs
- Recruit high-caliber students for quality and fit
- Match selected students to startup internship opportunities within the portfolio
- Manage relationships with university career centers and faculty to keep a strong applicant pipeline flowing
- Represent the full slate of Cintrifuse campus programming: Startup Fellows, Builder Fellows, EFR, hackathons, etc.
- Partner with the program delivery team who support day-to-day execution and logistics, so this role can stay focused on relationship building and talent identification rather than program execution
- Maintain an active bench of recent graduates to refer to portfolio companies for junior roles (e.g. SDR, junior engineer)
- Maintain full talent pipeline for startup portfolios, which will include building a routing process for mid-career and senior level inquiries
- Partner with the CEO to grow the pool of funding available to support the Startup Fellows program
- Travel regularly to partner campuses to build and maintain relationships, attend career fairs, and host on-campus events, particularly during fall and spring recruiting seasons
Additional responsibilities:
- Develop the alumni network component of Startup Fellows
- Lay the groundwork with university contacts that will feed the EFR campus pipeline
- Assist in identifying additional sources of sponsor funds for Startup Fellows
Required:
- 5+ years of professional experience
- Bachelor’s Degree
- Experience hiring and/or managing people directly
- A strong eye for talent and sound judgment in evaluating candidates
- Proven relationship building and relationship management skills with external stakeholders (university career centers, faculty, students, sponsors)
- Comfort presenting and pitching to external audiences, including prospective program sponsors
- Willingness and ability to travel regularly to partner campuses within approximately a 6-hour drive radius
Preferred:
- Background in campus recruiting at a large professional services firm (e.g. Big Four), with existing university and career-office relationships
- Career services experience at a top university
- A background blending education and entrepreneurship
- Familiarity with the startup or venture capital ecosystem
Working Conditions (if applicable, any physical demand requirements that relate directly to essential job duties):
- Based in Cincinnati, with regular regional travel to partner campuses (Purdue, IU, Ohio State, University of Michigan, Chicago-area schools, and others within ~6 hours), including peak travel during fall and spring career fair season
This is a full-time, Cincinnati-based position with a hybrid work schedule, including travel. Salary is based on experience, along with performance bonus potential. Competitive benefits include full Health benefits, HSA/FSA, Wellness program, 401(k) match, Parental leave, and PTO in a collaborative, dog friendly, casual dress co-working space at Union Hall. You’ll also have access to all Cintrifuse and Union Hall events.
The Startup Talent Manager will be considered an access person for Cintrifuse Capital. As an SEC registered investment adviser, all access persons of Cintrifuse Capital are required to comply with the rules and regulations of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and report on the firm’s code of ethics.
Cintrifuse is a nonprofit organization dedicated to making Cincinnati the best place in the Midwest to launch and scale a high-growth startup. Through founder-focused programming, strategic connections, venture capital investment, and ecosystem-building initiatives, we help entrepreneurs access the resources they need to grow.
As the convener of the StartupCincy ecosystem, Cintrifuse works alongside founders, investors, corporations, universities, and community partners to foster a thriving innovation economy. Our vision is a region where more startups are built, more companies scale, more capital is invested, and more successful founders create the next generation of high-growth businesses.
Cintrifuse is committed to diversity, equity and inclusion and is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace that seeks to recruit, develop and retain the most talented people from a variety of backgrounds, perspectives and skills. We encourage applicants from all genders, races, religions, ages and sexual orientations, as well as veterans, people living with disabilities, and any other groups who could bring diverse perspectives to our mission.