Venture and Founder Development Specialist

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University of Auckland is seeking a Venture and Founder Development Specialist to design, deliver and continually improve founder and venture programmes for students, researchers and staff, managing cohorts and coordinating mentors to accelerate early-stage ventures within the Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. The role demands practical startup development knowledge, strong programme management, excellent stakeholder engagement and the ability to adapt programmes based on feedback, data and emerging practices. When applying, tailor your CV and cover letter to prove experience in entrepreneurship programme design, working with founders or researchers, coordinating mentors and linking ventures to commercialisation pathways, quantify outcomes and show collaboration with ecosystem partners. Salary NZD 87,000 to 107,500, full-time 37.5 hours, hybrid, closing 6 September 2026.

Company Description

Waipapa Taumata Rau | The University of Auckland 

The University of Auckland is New Zealand’s pre-eminent University, with a turnover of $1.6bn, including research revenue of over $300m generated across eight diverse faculties and two research institutes. With over 9,000 staff and 50,000 students, the University of Auckland is one of New Zealand’s most significant and complex entities. 

Job Description

Te Whiwhinga mahi | The opportunity 

This role is ideal for someone who enjoys working directly with founders and early-stage ventures. As Venture & Founder Development Specialist, you'll design and deliver founder programmes that help students, researchers and staff explore opportunities, test ideas and progress towards venture creation. 

Working closely with the Venture & Founder Development Lead, this is a highly hands-on role focused on managing and delivering high-quality programmes, managing founder cohorts and creating practical learning experiences that help early-stage ventures progress. 

• Manage the design, delivery and continuous improvement of designated founder and venture development programmes.  

• Design and facilitate practical founder-development experiences that support customer discovery, experimentation, validation and early-stage venture development.  

• Manage founder cohorts and create engaging learning experiences that support venture progression.  

• Coordinate mentors, facilitators and ecosystem contributors to give founders access to relevant expertise and support.  

• Build strong relationships with researchers, students, founders, academics and external startup ecosystem partners.  

• Support researchers and research-derived opportunities to navigate early-stage venture development and connect with appropriate commercialisation pathways.  

• Use programme data, participant feedback and emerging venture practices to improve programme quality and outcomes.  

• Connect founders with appropriate next-stage pathways, including commercialisation, investment opportunities, accelerators and other venture support. 

This is a full-time (37.5 hours per week), permanent role.  This is a band G role with a salary range from $87,000 pa to $107,500 depending on skills and experience.
 
For more detailed information, please refer to the Position Description  
  

Mō tō mātou rōpū | About the team 

The Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) is Waipapa Taumata Rau’s platform for developing the innovators, entrepreneurs and changemakers of the future. We work across the University to help students, researchers and staff build innovation and entrepreneurial capability, turn ideas into action, develop ventures, and create social, cultural, environmental and economic impact for Aotearoa and the world.  

CIE is entering an exciting new chapter. With an ambitious new strategy, we are significantly increasing the reach and impact of innovation and entrepreneurship across the University, helping realise Waipapa Taumata Rau’s ambition to be a global powerhouse of innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship, and strengthening the University’s contribution to a more innovative and prosperous Aotearoa.  

We are building a team of people who are curious, collaborative, ambitious for impact and committed to turning ambition into action. If you want to help shape how a world-class research-led university develops innovative and entrepreneurial people, we would love to hear from you. . 

He kōrero mōu | About you 

You are passionate about entrepreneurship and enjoy working directly with founders as they navigate uncertainty, test ideas and develop early-stage ventures. Combining strong programme management and delivery skills with practical startup and venture development knowledge, you’re comfortable working with diverse founder cohorts and managing complex programmes involving multiple contributors and stakeholders. 

• Experience designing and delivering entrepreneurship, founder development, venture support or innovation programmes.  

• Strong understanding of startup ecosystems, customer discovery, experimentation, venture validation and early-stage venture development.  

• Experience working directly with founders, researchers or innovators through early-stage venture development.  

• Strong programme management and organisational capability, with the ability to manage multiple programmes, cohorts, priorities and relationships simultaneously.  

• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to work effectively with founders, researchers, academics and external contributors.  

• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to adapt programmes based on participant needs, feedback and insights.  

• Experience coordinating mentors, facilitators, industry experts and ecosystem partners to provide founders with access to relevant expertise.  

• Relevant qualification or equivalent professional experience in entrepreneurship, innovation, commercialisation or a related field.  

Experience in startup or venture development, research commercialisation or a university environment would be advantageous. An understanding of research-derived opportunities and the different pathways they may take towards commercialisation and venture creation would be particularly valuable. 

Additional Information

What we offer | Ngā āhuatanga kei a mātou 

The University of Auckland is New Zealand’s leading university and maintains significant computational, laboratory and analytic facilities. 

The University is committed to providing an excellent working environment through: 

• Flexible employment practices (including working from home, flexible hours) 

• Up to 6.75% company superannuation scheme 

• A competitive salary ($87,000 pa to $107,500 pa) reflecting experience with five weeks’ annual leave 

In addition, we also offer career development programmes, discounted car parking, a generous parental leave allowance, childcare, and a number of other discounts on internal and external services.  

For more information, please visit Staff Benefits 

 
Me pēhea te tuku tono | How to apply 

Applications must be submitted online, by the closing date of Sunday 6th September, 2026 to be considered. Please include your CV and a cover letter highlighting how you meet the skills and experience outlined above, what attracts you to this opportunity, and how your experience has prepared you to manage complex founder and venture development programmes and work effectively with early-stage founders within a University context. 

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Equity

The University is committed to meeting its obligations under the Treaty of Waitangi and achieving equity outcomes for staff and students in a safe, inclusive, and equitable environment.  For further information on services for Māori, Pacific, women, LGBTQIATakatāpuiMVPFAFF+, people with disabilities, parenting support, flexible work and other personal circumstances go to www.equity.auckland.ac.nz