Program & Experience Design Lead - Venture Café

Are you ready to be at the heart of Cambridge's innovation scene? Venture Café Cambridge is on the lookout for a passionate Program and Experience Design Lead to carry out our flagship Thursday Gathering and other groundbreaking initiatives. Join us in creating a dynamic and inclusive community where innovators connect, collaborate, and drive change. If you're excited about making a real impact and fostering a vibrant ecosystem, you belong at Venture Café Cambridge! ABOUT VENTURE CAFÉ GLOBAL INSTITUTE (VCGI) & VENTURE CAFÉ Cambridge Venture Café Global Institute (VCGI) began in 2009 within the Cambridge Innovation Center (CIC) in Massachusetts, aiming to connect people, ideas, and resources globally. Today, it has grown into a worldwide movement, convening over 900,000 innovators, creatives, and leaders across cities like London, Berlin, Monterrey, and Tokyo. VCGI's mission is to drive global change by building a community of communities focused on solving humankind’s biggest challenges. Our flagship Thursday Gathering convenes hundreds of creative, resourceful people who are just as invested in improving life on this planet as you are. YOUR DAY-TO-DAY WORK The primary vehicle to engage the region’s innovation community is the weekly program, the Thursday Gathering, which attracts 300-500 people per week. You will be responsible for curating and leading this event that regularly convenes members of the innovation community in an inclusive and open way. This event strives to complement and amplify, not substitute or compete, with other existing innovation community gatherings in Massachusetts. Venture Café includes an informal social gathering to create opportunities for serendipitous encounters as well as structured conversations and educational sessions (live presentations, panels, info sessions, demotables, etc.). You will grow a pipeline of community organizations and partners to offer high-quality content based on monthly themes. Your primary role is to be the “chief curator” in order to design thoughtful, high-quality experiences for attendees. Your work may also include working with members of the broader community to organize regular and special events. A cornerstone of Venture Café Cambridge is the Thursday Gathering. Beyond executing on the Thursday Gathering, you will contribute to other programs that will help build a more inclusive innovation economy - inclusive of all types of industries and people. You will be responsible for the creation and implementation of programming that reaches into the area’s underserved communities. As you work to operate these programs in Cambridge you will be expected to: Build the Venture Café Cambridge brand in partnership with the Director, positioning it as a trusted, neutral connector within the local innovation ecosystem. Advance an inclusive innovation community by making gatherings more diverse, accessible, and connected. Build and strengthen partnerships with key individuals and organizations, connecting stakeholders and leveraging existing initiatives to develop a strong weekly program. Design engaging programming by developing creative event formats that encourage participation, collaboration, and meaningful connections. Lead communications and marketing across the website, social media (particularly LinkedIn and Instagram), and mailing lists, collaborating with the Program Experience Coordinator on content and newsletters. Oversee event delivery and logistics, including staff & volunteer coordination and the day-to-day operations of the Thursday Gathering. Track and report program performance, monitoring marketing, attendance, quality, and impact metrics. Represent Venture Café Cambridge in the community by attending events, building relationships, and staying connected to the local innovation ecosystem. Support additional programs and projects as needed and share insights with the broader Venture Café global network. Venture Café Cambridge operates like a startup. This role entails uncertainty and ambiguity. Additionally, on the same day you may print name tags, move furniture, and have dinner with the CEO of a global company. No work will be beneath team members. This environment also creates great opportunities to be creative and to envision new projects that will take Venture Café Cambridge’s mission, and particularly its impact in Cambridge, to the next level. We believe in experiments as a way of learning. ABOUT YOU You bring experience in innovation, the arts, and/or entrepreneurship, ideally in programming, leadership, or advocacy, and understand the innovation process. You believe innovation and entrepreneurship can improve lives and recognize that innovation takes many forms beyond technology startups and venture capital. You understand Cambridge’s innovation ecosystem, its key stakeholders, and its potential for growth. You bring strong networking skills and the ability to build meaningful local partnerships. You understand Cambridge’s key challenges and see them as opportunities for collaboration, innovation, and positive change. YOU HAVE Experience in event conceptualization, curation, planning, and execution. Availability to work onsite in Kendall Square, Monday through Friday, and at the weekly Venture Café Thursday Gathering from 4:30–8:00 PM. Knowledge of Cambridge’s innovation ecosystem, including key stakeholders, networks, and organizations. Strong organizational, project management, and task management skills. Excellent hospitality and problem-solving skills, with the ability to create a welcoming community experience while upholding Venture Café’s guidelines with confidence and tact. Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, active listening abilities, and confidence in public speaking. Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to collaborate across sectors, build consensus, and navigate differing perspectives diplomatically. An appreciation for design, aesthetics, and attention to detail in crea