General Manager, Programming and Ecosystem Development - Berlin, DE

Are you a visionary leader with a passion for transforming cities through innovation and community? CIC is seeking a leader for CIC Berlin to work with us to establish our campus as a global innovation hub. In this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, you will help shape German’s largest startup and innovation support facility. At CIC Berlin you will impact Berlin and Germany’s entrepreneurial and innovation landscape, harnessing the full potential of our first campus in Germany to create lasting change. If you thrive on purpose-driven challenges, want to lead the charge in empowering innovators, and are eager to create a profound, long-term impact, we want to meet you.

ABOUT CIC & CIC BERLIN

CIC builds and operates a global network of innovation campuses where startups, corporations, and public entities come together to house their offices, connect with each other, and grow. Founded in 1999, CIC runs the largest facility dedicated to housing startups and innovators in each of the US, Japan, the Netherlands, Poland, and now Germany! Our unique approach fosters industry clusters, boosts innovation capabilities, and provides innovators with unparalleled access to a global network that can help them expand their companies.

We held our Grand Opening for our CIC Berlin Campus in October, 2024, attended by over 600 people active in the Berlin innovation ecosystem. Our growth in Berlin represents a strategic addition to our European presence alongside our campuses in Warsaw and Rotterdam. With 13,500 square meters of cutting-edge workspace, CIC Berlin is not just a place for work; it’s a platform for innovation, collaboration, and societal impact. We aim to make Berlin the next global innovation hub, and we are looking for a dynamic leader to guide this mission.

Learn more about us here.

YOUR MISSION

Your role will be to lead, inspire, and activate Berlin’s innovation ecosystem. You will be more than a leader; you will be a community builder, a public figure in the innovation space and an ecosystem architect. We expect to find you on stage at major innovation gatherings throughout Germany and Europe. Your responsibility will be to expand our community of startups, investors, corporates, and innovators, while nurturing partnerships that drive real, lasting change.

From hosting large and small influential events and fostering strategic partnerships to representing CIC Innovation Campus and Venture Café publicly and overseeing the team operating Venture Café Berlin, our signature weekly innovation gathering, you will have a platform to lead initiatives that will impact not just Berlin, but the global innovation landscape. 

YOUR FIRST 12-18 MONTHS: A TRANSFORMATIONAL JOURNEY

• Build the strategy: develop and execute a powerful strategy to attract Berlin’s leading startups, investors, innovators, and partners, anchoring CIC Berlin as the heart of the city’s innovation community.

• Lead from the front: represent CIC at public events, host our innovation campus tours, and establish yourself as a key figure in Berlin’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

• Foster community growth: lead and oversee Venture Café Berlin, an essential community for innovators (which attracts several hundred individuals per week to its events in each CIC city), while expanding partnerships with local and global stakeholders.

• Shape our events and gatherings strategy: establish CIC Berlin as a go-to destination for events that spark innovation and catalyze collaboration across industries.

• Partner engagement: Build and nurture relationships with existing and prospective strategic partners, ensuring CIC Berlin’s offerings meet their needs and support their growth.

• Lead efforts to drive interest in the offerings of the CIC Berlin Innovation Campus. Oversee and support the Sales Team in the commercialization of the building, ensuring strategic alignment and successful outcomes.

ONGOING RESPONSIBILITIES

• Strategic leadership & community building: oversee the strategy and execution of CIC’s innovation-focused initiatives, including partnerships and events that strengthen our ties with Berlin’s community leaders, innovators, and organizations.

• Partnership development: expand CIC’s impact by developing and nurturing partnerships with key ecosystem players, both locally and globally.

• Cross-functional leadership: collaborate closely with CIC’s Global Leadership, ensuring strategic alignment across functions like sales, operations, marketing, and community engagement. Serve as the representative for Venture Café Berlin within the global Venture Café Network Leadership Team, sharing knowledge, fostering strategic partnerships, contributing to network-wide strategy development, and collaborating with leaders from other Venture Café locations on multi-site initiatives and programs.

• Team leadership & development: build, mentor, and lead the programming team, providing guidance, setting goals, and supporting their professional development.

• Manage campus operations: including facility management, to ensure seamless day-to-day functionality and alignment with client and business needs. Coordinate with teams to address operational challenges and maintain a high standard of service across all aspects of the campus.

 • Developing relationships with CIC clients: making sure they are happy with CIC and connected to the innovation ecosystem both locally and globally.

• Being the champion of CIC policies and philosophies, as well as the primary advocate for CIC Berlin’s staff and clients alike.

• Creating a culture of inclusivity and equity as well as a sense of shared belonging amongst all staff, in a way that is clearly evidenced through company actions and communication.

ABOUT YOU

CIC seeks an entrepreneurial, mission-driven leader with a deep understanding of Berlin’s innovation landscape and a passion for fostering community and driving positive change. You are not just a manager; you are a visionary who sees the potential in Berlin and is committed to building something that transcends traditional business goals.

YOU HAVE

• A proven track record of building or expanding a business, with experience in the leadership roles within the innovation, startup, or community-building sectors in German market and a passion for fostering collaboration and innovation.

• Strong networks within Berlin’s innovation ecosystem, with the ability to leverage these relationships to drive growth and impact.

• Experience in strategic sales, partnerships, or ecosystem-building.

• A collaborative leadership style and the humility to share the spotlight with others while leading with purpose.

• Fluency in both German and English (C1 level).

• The ability to legally work in Germany (CIC is unable to sponsor visas for this role at this time).

OUR OFFER

• Employment contract.

• Commuting / Transportation allowance.

• Gym card.

• Allocated budget for training (customized to specific requirements of the role and organization's objectives).

WHY THIS ROLE?

This is more than just a job; it’s a chance to lead a movement. You will have the opportunity to work with a team that is passionate about creating change and making Berlin a beacon for global innovation. CIC Berlin is at the start of its journey, and we need a leader who is ready to build something extraordinary from the ground up.

Please submit your application in English and add a GDPR clause given below. Thank you!

I​​ hereby give my consent for the processing of my personal data included in this resume for the purpose of the recruitment process, in line with GDPR requirements. I understand that my information will be used exclusively for recruitment and kept secure. I also acknowledge my right to access, correct, or delete my data by contacting the designated data protection officer, and that my data will be retained as necessary for the recruitment process.

CIC welcomes all candidates regardless of race, color, ancestry, gender identity or expression, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status or disability. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer.