Coordinator for DKU Innovation Incubator

Coordinator for DKU Innovation Incubator Duke Kunshan University Job Description Position Overview: The Innovation and Entrepreneurship Initiative at Duke Kunshan University serves as a platform and resource center for student innovation, entrepreneurship, and applied project development. It supports students in transforming ideas into action through experiential learning, interdisciplinary collaboration, and real-world engagement. The DKU Innovation Incubator supports student-led innovation and entrepreneurship projects from early-stage ideas to tangible outcomes, including prototypes, pilot projects, startup concepts, public showcases, competitions, and external opportunities. The Coordinator for DKU Innovation Incubator plays a key role in managing the incubator’s project pipeline, supporting student teams, coordinating mentors and resources, and ensuring the smooth operation of incubator-related programs. A major responsibility of this position is to coordinate Dachuang, the National College Student Innovation and Entrepreneurship Training Program, including project recruitment, proposal review, funding coordination, progress monitoring, documentation, reporting, and final completion. Reports to: Director of the Innovation and Entrepreneurship (InE) Initiative Essential Duties: Dachuang / National Program Coordination Coordinate the implementation of Dachuang, the National College Student Innovation and Entrepreneurship Training Program, as a core responsibility of the incubator. Manage the full Dachuang project process, including student recruitment, proposal submission, review coordination, project selection, funding arrangement, mid-term review, progress monitoring, final reporting, and project completion. Ensure Dachuang projects meet university and program requirements in terms of documentation, timeline adherence, budget use, reporting accuracy, and project quality. Work with faculty advisors, reviewers, students, and relevant university offices to support the effective delivery of Dachuang projects. Track Dachuang project outcomes and support students in advancing promising projects to higher-level recognition, competitions, incubation pathways, or real-world application. Student Project Support Support student teams in developing ideas into tangible outcomes, including validated concepts, prototypes, pilot projects, business plans, research-based innovation projects, or documented project milestones. Help students access relevant resources, including mentors, faculty advisors, funding opportunities, tools, external networks, competitions, showcases, and venture-support platforms. Support students in preparing for external opportunities such as innovation competitions, entrepreneurship programs, public exhibitions, awards, investor-facing activities, and university-level showcases. Maintain regular communication with student teams to identify challenges, provide timely support, and ensure steady project progress. Mentor, Partner, and Resource Coordination Maintain a network of mentors, entrepreneurs, alumni, industry professionals, academic experts, and external partners to support student project development. Coordinate mentor matching, advising sessions, workshops, project reviews, and other resource-sharing activities. Support collaboration with companies, NGOs, government agencies, local innovation ecosystems, maker spaces, and venture-support organizations. Assist to identify opportunities to connect student projects with external expertise, real-world feedback, pilot opportunities, and potential pathways for further development. Incubator Operations and Community Building Support the day-to-day operation of DKU Innovation Incubator, including program administration, student communication, scheduling, logistics coordination, and follow-up on routine operational needs. Maintain accurate records of projects, student participation, program activities, resource use, funding documentation, and key outcomes to support internal tracking and reporting. Support budget tracking, reimbursement documentation, procurement coordination, project fund records, and other administrative procedures to ensure responsible and compliant use of incubator resources. Organize and host incubator-related events, including workshops, project review sessions, mentor meetings, showcases, information sessions, community gatherings, and other student-facing activities. Coordinate event logistics, including venue booking, participant registration, materials preparation, speaker or mentor coordination, communication with attendees, on-site support, and post-event documentation. Prepare program updates, data summaries, event records, and reports for internal review, leadership briefings, funding documentation, local government reporting, and other institutional needs. Design and implement workshops, showcases, project review sessions, community events, and other programs that strengthen the student innovation and entrepreneurship community. Support communication, visibility, and storytelling around incubator projects, student achievements, Dachuang outcomes, and broader InE impact. Support the implementation of incubator priorities defined by InE leadership, including student engagement, project visibility, community building, and cross-program coordination. Work toward achieving assigned annual objectives and KPIs, demonstrating accountability for performance and results. Perform other duties as assigned. University employees' job responsibilities will continue to expand in scope and depth as the University grows in size and complexity in its programs. Required Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree required; master’s degree preferred. 3-5 years of relevant experience in program coordination, student project support, entrepreneurship education, innovation programs, higher education administration, project management, or related fields. Excellent recent graduates may also be considered. Strong ability to manage multiple projects, timelines, stakeholders, and administrative processes simultaneously. Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to maintain accurate records and reports. Ability to support students in moving from ideas to concrete outcomes, such as prototypes, pilots, project milestones, or external opportunities. Strong communication skills in English; Chinese proficiency is strongly preferred, especially for Dachuang-related coordination and reporting. Ability to work with ambiguity, support early-stage projects, and coordinate across students, faculty, partners, and administrative offices.