Program Manager

About NIC:

• The National Incubation Center provides incubation to further the growth of startups across Pakistan, enabling them to Dream. Build and Rise.
• The NIC is a successful example of a public private partnership.
• Funded by Ignite -National Technology Fund and managed by Jazz through Teamup.

Why join NIC:

• If you are driven by passion and committed to furthering the Pakistani startups ecosystem, then the NIC is the place for you.
• The NIC aims to create a well-connected community of change-makers and disruptors who can work together to build a better tomorrow for Pakistan and the world.  
• NIC is one of the most active spaces in Islamabad when it comes to startup, entrepreneurship, technology & learning new things.
• If you are looking to share your creativity, resourcefulness and professional network to build and influence an ecosystem by empowering individuals and institutions to generate a positive economic and social impact, then NIC is looking for you.
• NIC has a culture like none-other, driven by values & passion, always full of energy & color.

The experience we’re looking for

• 10 years of professional experience, with at-least 3 years in leading teams at a senior role.
• Must have experience of managing large projects, budgets, teams, different stakeholders and must be comfortable with using latest technology tools for productivity & collaboration.
• Our ideal candidate will have a strong network of investors, enablers, influences & experienced professionals across Corporate, Development & Public sectors that can facilitate our startups in scaling, including, but not limited to media relations & academic linkages.
• Experience and knowledge of startups & founders challenges and deeper understanding of Pakistan’s startup ecosystem is preferred. Any prior entrepreneurial experience shall also be preferred.
• Any experience of working outside Pakistan in a relevant field will also be preferred.

Education required

Minimum bachelor’s degree in business administration / Entrepreneurship / Project Management or relevant field from an accredited & reputable institution.

Master’s in project management or relevant field, an international qualification and PMP or relevant certification shall be a plus.

What the role requires

• Manage a cross-functional team, lead operations, execute the project deliverables and keep the team motivated & driven while doing so
• Delivering against short notices and timelines; executing with limited resources and thinking out of the box while ensuring high standards of quality service
• Maintain professional relationship with both; internal and external stakeholders, ensuring implementation of program goals, objectives and startup activities as outlined.
• Manage and initiate partnerships with existing and potential partners to support program quality, along with 1-1 mentoring sessions with startups and induction, onboarding and graduation of new startups
• Develop strategy to execute the vision of building a strong & successful ecosystem in Pakistan & with an eye for detail
• Expertise in program design, development, implementation along with a regular monitoring & evaluation of KPIs of startups.
• Develop and maintain relationships with investors, government bodies, donors and other relevant stakeholders in order to define a working relationship and explore potential funding and investment opportunities for the startups
• Identify, cultivate and solicit support of local incentive agreements which would benefit the startups for achieving their KPIs
• Program budgeting specific to domain of activity and its review for implementation/resource allocation.
• Research, plan and coordinate for developing and expanding entrepreneurial businesses and undertake data driven and evidence-based decisions
• Reporting and documentation development related to program and as required by the IGNITE/ICT R&D Fund with relevance to the RFP of NIC Project.

The skills you’ll have to demonstrate

• Strong leadership, decision-making and problem-solving skills. You should be persuasive and have strong negotiation skills, have the ability to work in multi-cultural learning environment and have a knack for innovation & continuous development to deliver quality results.
• Excellent verbal, non-verbal & written communication skills since selected candidate shall represent NIC at various national and international events / seminars.
• Empower, inspire & motivate the team to achieve while building their skills.
• Other skills you must be able to demonstrate include, but are not limited to: adaptability, intrinsic motivation, collaborative mindset, positive attitude, empathy, strong team-building skills and the ability to lead by example.