Job description

Position Overview:
DKU Innovation and Entrepreneurship Initiative (InE) serves as a platform and resource center to foster interdisciplinarity in practice, nurture entrepreneurship by experiential learning, and transform ideas into actions with a meaningful impact. To achieve those goals, we are developing four strategic programs under the InE: DKU Innovation Incubator (Dii); University-Corporate Collaborative Innovation Lab (U-Corp); Innovation Lab (InLab), and Future Society Lab (FSLab).
U-Corp is a dynamic co-innovation platform fostering partnerships between DKU and innovative organizations/companies. The program enables collaborative projects where students apply academic knowledge to real-world challenges for creative solutions. The Program Assistant will play a significant role in supporting the U-Corp Program’s operations, ensuring seamless coordination of partnerships, student engagements, and program logistics. Particularly the social innovation projects, such as Future 17, DKU Empower Projects, and summer program. This position requires a proactive individual passionate about social innovation, education, and bridging academia with industry.

Reports to:
Associate Director for DKU Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Essential Duties:
Program Coordination and Partnership Support
1. Assist in executing U-Corp projects by managing logistics, timelines, workflows and stakeholder for multiple concurrent projects, ensuring deadlines aligning with academic calendars and partner expectations.
2. Facilitate partnerships with industry leaders, government bodies, and academic institutions through different events, meetings, and follow-ups.
3. Support the development of program materials such as project briefs, partnership proposals, and progress reports for internal and external stakeholders.
4. Draft agreements (NDAs, project scopes) and maintain a centralized repository of partnership documents (MOUs, contact lists).
Student Engagement and Support:
1. Assist planning and implementing a variety of activities and events for students, including interviews, training sessions, meetings, kick-off, final reporting, field study and etc.
2. Coordinate and support the meetings of each team with the partner to track the progress of the students’ projects. Monitor student participation and provide feedback to improve program outcomes.
3. Provide comprehensive student services, communicate with students regularly to help solve non-academic problems.
Data Management and Reporting
1. Maintain student data, participation records, and skill profiles (e.g., expertise, project roles) and track performance metrics (attendance, evaluations) and match students to projects based on skills/interests.
2. Manage the partner contact details, agreements (MOUs, NDAs) and interaction histories; and archive partnership documents (project scopes, deliverables) for institutional reporting.
3. Manage project timelines, budgets, and deliverables in centralized databases, archive research reports, student outputs, and project outcomes for institutional knowledge and impact analysis.
Administrative Operations
1. Manage the financial planning and reimbursement affairs and be responsible for registering and maintaining the use of funds for the program.
2. Handle daily administrative tasks, including correspondence, budget tracking, and resource allocation.
3. Support the Manager in strategic planning and operational efficiency initiatives.
4. Perform other duties as assigned.
5. University employees' job responsibilities will continue to expand in scope and depth as the University grows in size and complexity in its programs.

Skills & experience

Required Qualifications:
1. Full-time bachelor’s degree is required.
2. Past work experience is preferred. Outstanding recent graduate students will also be considered.
3. Proficient English skills in reading, writing, and speaking are required.
4. Excellent organizational skills and excellent problem-solving abilities are required.
5. Be able to provide excellent student service and detail-oriented.
6. Ability to resolve complex administrative problems independently.
7. The ability to work in a team environment requires efficient communication, flexibility, and professionalism.
8. Strong interests in new technologies, innovation, and entrepreneurship. Willing to learn new things and adapt to new ideas.
9. Proficient skills in Windows, Outlook, MS Office, and other similar computer programs are required.

How to Apply:
Please be advised the salary is commensurate with experience.
Please submit your formal application by searching the position on DKU recruitment portal.