Incubator & AI Programs Manager in Wilmington

Manager, Incubator & AI Programs

The New Castle County Chamber of Commerce seeks an Incubator & AI Programs Manager to join our team. This position serves as the operational backbone of the Chamber's Emerging Enterprise Center (EEC) while leading a new strategic initiative to help small businesses navigate, adopt, and leverage Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Reporting directly to the Senior Executive Assistant & Office Operations Director, this role serves as the primary point of contact for incubator operations, physical facility logistics, cohort management, client mentorship, and EEC programming-while positioning the Chamber's EEC as a leader in small business AI education and technical grounding.

Responsibilities include:

• Primary Client Point of Contact. Serve as the day-to-day liaison for virtual, co-working, and dedicated/resident incubator clients across all operations, space needs, and mentorship requests.
• Client Mentorship & Business Reviews. Lead regular client check-in meetings, track business progress, facilitate mentorship connections, and collect semi-annual financial reporting metrics.
• Billing & Administrative Oversight. Manage monthly client service fees and initial payment communications in coordination with the Senior Executive Assistant & Office Operations Director.
• Facility Tours & Recruitment. Conduct facility tours for prospective incubator clients, partners, and community members to drive occupancy and program intake.
• EEC Cohort Program. Direct and execute the annual 10-week EEC Cohort Program, managing curriculum delivery, mentor scheduling, and participant tracking.
• Swim with the Sharks Pitch Competition. Oversee and lead the programmatic planning, applicant funnel, judging panels, sponsorship fulfillment, and execution of the annual pitch competition (supported logistically by the Events team).
• Resource Cafe. Oversee and support event logistics, stakeholder coordination, and execution of the monthly cafe.
• Open House + Open for Business. Coordinate closely with the Events team to co-manage operational execution and on-site setup for all quarterly Open House + Open for Business events.
• Workshops & Partnered Events. Plan and execute business growth workshops, and technical sessions. Collaborate with incubator clients to support partnered in-person and virtual events as needed in coordination with the Senior Executive Assistant & Director of Office Operations and the Events team.
• 1-on-1 AI Consultations. Conduct technical and operational needs assessments with small businesses and EEC clients to recommend tailored AI tools and workflows appropriate for their budget.
• Education & Curriculum. Lead interactive group sessions and workshops on practical AI adoption (marketing automation, admin efficiency, customer service, data management).
• Resource Curation. Develop and maintain a vetted catalog of AI platforms, simple "how-to" templates, and an "AI Do's & Don'ts" Guide for small businesses.
• Policy & Technical Grounding. Track state/federal AI policy developments (data privacy, disclosures, compliance) and translate complex guidelines into plain-language guidance.
• Community Spokesperson. Represent the EEC and Chamber as an AI point-person at ecosystem partner convenings.
• Social Media & Content Creation. Conceptualize, schedule, and post dedicated content for EEC social media channels in alignment with overall Chamber brand standards in coordination with the Marketing & Communications team.
• Digital Management. Maintain updated client directories, press lists, and resource partner contacts; assist with website updates and event setup in coordination with the Marketing & Communications and Events teams.

Qualifications include:

• 2-3 years of experience in incubator/accelerator management, small business consulting, program coordination, or tech policy.
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience.
• Strong organization skills with a track record of managing physical spaces, client onboarding, and event logistics concurrently.
• Practical understanding of generative AI tools, business automation platforms, and baseline tech policy concepts.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills; comfortable presenting to groups, facilitating cohort sessions, and conducting facility tours.
• Proficiency with CRM platforms (Chamber Master/Growth Zone or similar), Microsoft Office 365, and Word Press (Canva and Constant Contact are a plus).

Work Requirements include:

• Valid driver's license and reliable personal transportation for local travel.
• Ability to occasionally lift and carry up to 30 lbs for event and meeting setup.
• Flexibility to attend early morning, evening, or weekend events outside standard business hours.

The Chamber is committed to internal and market equity. In addition to a competitive salary range of $50,000 - $55,000, we offer a robust perks package:

• Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• Disability Insurance
• 401(k) Retirement Plan
• Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) and Paid Holidays
• Flexible Schedule Perks (including a…