Program Manager, TRI Propel

At Toyota Research Institute (TRI), we're on a mission to improve the quality of human life. We're developing new tools and capabilities to amplify the human experience via high-risk, high-reward, use-inspired research. To lead a transformative shift in mobility for Toyota, we've built a world-class team in human-centered AI, human interactive driving, energy and materials, machine learning, and robotics.
We are seeking a highly motivated and versatile individual to join our team as the Program Manager of TRI’s new Propel Incubator. The mission of TRI Propel is to be a startup incubator within TRI for the purpose of launching new companies together with TRI employees, creating new business value for Toyota in adjacent markets where Toyota does not have a presence today, and transferring TRI research out to society. TRI Propel provides funding, support, training, and mentoring for TRI founders. 
The Program Manager is the operational backbone of the Incubator Program Team, focusing on program operations and execution to deliver the best possible program experience for founders, mentors, partners, investors and other collaborators within TRI as well as across the larger Toyota ecosystem. The Program Manager will be working both internally and externally on behalf of our founders to the broader community of alumni, investors, and mentors.
This is a great opportunity to contribute to a new corporate incubator! The team works closely with the Opportunity Discovery and Technology Adoption team, research teams within TRI, as well as innovation teams across the Toyota family of companies. You will network with entrepreneurs, investors, and mentors. You will be part of the team that helps build the next amazing startup, as it grows from idea to venture-backed company.

Responsibilities

• Work with the team to develop the program plan and own the overall responsibility for the successful execution of the incubator program from idea sourcing through launch decision.
• Manage the logistics for the program calendar including execution of milestone reviews with the Investment Committee.
• Ensure the founders, mentors, speakers, partners, and collaborators are fully informed about all program facing activities.
• Sourcing and management of vendors.
• Implement network events/programs to support founders.
• Support relationship management with the global Toyota Motors Corp. collaborators.
• Develop relationships with entrepreneurial support organizations that can support our founders.
• Represent TRI Propel in the local community and ecosystem.
• As time permits, and as experience grows, source and evaluate potential ideas, including market research, competitive analysis, investment memo development.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university.
• A genuine passion for technology and startups, an entrepreneurial mentality, and an insatiable desire to always be learning.
• 5+ years of experience in fast-paced environments with a focus on startup ecosystem relationships, business operations, and project management.
• Good verbal and written communication skills in English.
• Extraordinary ability for self-learning and learning by doing, with a demonstrated ability of learning from available documentation and quickly applying it with little direction.
• Proven attention to detail through prior work or life experience.
• Comfortable working in ambiguity but with high expectations.
• Can anticipate the needs and requests of multiple collaborators.
• Experience working in/with early stage companies or other roles that demonstrate experience in above responsibilities including understanding and support of business strategy definition and fundraising.
• Strong interest in the discourse around technology, startups, entrepreneurship, and venture capital.
• Strong emotional intelligence, active listening skills, and high level of empathy.

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