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Program Manager

Boyd Innovation Center
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Boyd Innovation Center Program Manager

  • Start: ASAP (June 1)
  • Hours: Full-Time
  • Location: In-Person at the Boyd Innovation Center (711 Saluda Ave, Columbia, SC 29205)
  • Reports to: Sam Herskovitz, Executive Director

About us 

The Boyd Innovation Center is Columbia's tech startup hub. We're a nonprofit in Five Points that helps founders build scalable tech companies in Columbia by offering space, programs, resources, and community. Our startup programs and events develop founders, accelerate companies, and create the environment to grow Columbia's startup community so that more of tomorrow's great companies are built, owned, and operated right here in Columbia, SC. We are THE place to build a tech startup in Columbia.

The role 

You'll be the operational core of the BIC — the person who keeps the front of house running, members supported, events executed, programs coordinated, and partnerships growing. This is a generalist role for someone who's organized, people-oriented, and comfortable owning a lot of surface area.

What you'll work on

Front of House & Member Experience

  • Be the welcoming face of the BIC — greet visitors, give tours, let people in
  • Run The Lounge: coffee, snacks, inventory, and environment
  • Onboard new members — contracts, payments, access, and making people feel at home
  • Manage day-to-day member needs, requests, and relationships
  • Keep HubSpot member records current
  • Handle mail, packages, space logistics, and signage
  • Own membership renewals and retention

Marketing & Content

  • Create and post content across LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook
  • Design graphics for social, events, print, and in-space materials
  • Shoot and edit photos and short-form video at events and around the space
  • Write and send the BIC email newsletter
  • Support website content updates
  • Track and report on campaign and post performance

Events

  • Plan and execute BIC events (Tech on Tap, Pitch Night, Startup Showcase, etc.)
  • Handle logistics: vendor coordination, supplies, catering, communications, setup and breakdown
  • Run check-in and guest experience on-site
  • Send post-event follow-up and track attendance and conversions
  • Manage intake for externally hosted events

Programs

  • Lead startup programs including day-long events and weeks-long cohort programs – applications, communications, room setup, scheduling, facilitation, graduation, etc.
  • Recruit, coordinate, and schedule mentors, advisors, speakers, and other partners.
  • Schedule, coordinate, and support member programs such as Advisor Fridays, Peer Groups, and deep dive workshop series
  • Conduct regular program check-ins with participants
  • Track participant milestones and collect impact data for grant reporting

Partnerships & Sponsorships

  • Research and pursue local and regional event and organizational sponsors
  • Draft sponsorship decks and proposals; manage fulfillment and recognition
  • Identify and apply for startup-focused perks and credits (Google Cloud, AWS, Lovable, HubSpot, etc.)
  • Find and secure nonprofit discounts and benefits for BIC operations
  • Maintain a member-facing benefits directory
  • Build and maintain relationships with USC, Columbia College, and local campus organizations
  • Represent BIC at campus events and bridge introductions to faculty and administrators

What success looks like

  • The BIC runs smoothly day-to-day without constant oversight
  • Members feel welcomed, supported, and engaged
  • Events run well and follow-up happens consistently
  • Program participants are on track and data is captured cleanly
  • Sponsorship and partnership pipeline is active and growing
  • Content goes out on a regular cadence and the brand shows up consistently

Who we're looking for 

The right person for this role gets things done. You don't wait to be told what to do next — you figure it out, make a plan, and execute. You're a strong communicator, a natural relationship builder, and someone who takes pride in doing things well. You're hungry to learn, to contribute, and to grow — and you're looking for a place where that matters.

Specific experience is less important than the right combination of drive, organization, and people skills. 

A note about working at the BIC

Any role here comes with a significant amount of:

  • Interfacing with technology-based startups and the founders, entrepreneurs, and ecosystem players building them — in Columbia and beyond.
  • Opportunities to meet, network, and explore with those companies and our partner organizations.
  • Learning. About business, tech, entrepreneurship, leadership, and about yourself.
  • "Other duties as assigned." As Executive Director, I regularly take out trash, clean dishes, move tables, work strange hours for events, and figure out creative solutions to whatever comes up. In startups, everyone wears lots of hats — I personally think that's half the fun. I'm looking for people who have learned the highly valuable career and life skills of "figure it out" and "get it done," and who are willing to do the unglamorous in addition to the exciting.

Skills & Experience

We care more about how you work than where you've been. That said, the following will set you up for success in this role:

Soft Skills

  • Strong written and verbal communication
  • Highly organized with the ability to manage multiple priorities
  • Self-directed — can take ownership of a project from start to finish
  • Comfortable in a fast-moving, resource-constrained environment
  • Warm, professional, and easy to work with

Technical Skills

  • Google Workspace / Microsoft Office
  • Proficiency with social media platforms (LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook)
  • Graphic design experience a plus (Canva or similar)
  • Basic photo/video capture and editing
  • Comfort with CRM tools (HubSpot or similar)