Startup Entrepreneurship Specialist (Fixed Term Contract) at Puerto Rico Science Technology & Research Trust – San Juan, Puerto Rico

Job Title: Startup Entrepreneurship Specialist

Reports to: Operations Manager (Fase1)

Location / Hours: San Juan, Puerto Rico / Full-Time

Type of Contract: Fixed Term Contract (through June 2026)

Overview of the Organization

The Puerto Rico Science, Technology and Research Trust (“PRSTRT” or “Trust”) is a private non-profit organization created in 2004 to encourage and promote innovation, transfer, and commercialization of technology and creation of jobs in the technology sector. We contribute to Puerto Rico’s public policy for science, technology, research, and development. The Trust’s mission is to invest, facilitate and build capacity to continually advance Puerto Rico's economy and its citizens’ well-being through innovation-driven enterprises, science, technology, research, and public health. Our vision is that Puerto Rico is a globally recognized innovation hub.

Fase1 is an incubation program operated with CDBG-DR funding. It has the objective of making innovative entrepreneurship accessible to potential entrepreneurs in Puerto Rico by catalyzing idea-stage ventures into successful startups. Fase1, as one of the Trust’s entrepreneurship pillar programs, will be executed in collaboration with Parallel18, a top-level, performance-driven international startup program with a social mission and with Colmena66, a referral network that links Puerto Rico’s entrepreneurs to local and regional business building organizations, or resource partners, that can help them start and grow their businesses.

Purpose

This role plays a critical part in the development and growth of the participants that join Fase1 programs. This individual will work closely with entrepreneurs, mentors, and other stakeholders to help participants take their ideas into an innovative product. Also, this person will assist with marketing tasks and strategies and provide advice on how best to reach the target audience. A big part of the job is to build and nurture meaningful relationships within the Fase1 community to further develop our programs’ reach and impact.

We expect from this role to awesomely facilitate the development and progress of the participants during their time in the programs. The most important characteristic for this job will be the passion to give back to the entrepreneurship and innovation community in Puerto Rico. The program is made to collaborate and facilitate the path of entrepreneurs, and we need people to be there for them.

Key Responsibilities and Duties

• Track Fase1 registrants, onboard them to the educational platform by working closely to encourage and motivate them to complete the basic modules.
• Manage program participants, meeting with them on a regular basis to validate their progress and challenges while providing feedback and constant support throughout their journey on Fase1’s incubator stages.
• Execute the incubation effectively and creatively which includes helping with the recruitment and retention of new applicants, engaging mentors, and resources to support the program, actively participating in the incubator sessions planning and execution, supporting the program marketing and outreach efforts, among other related tasks. Complete participants’ profiles and communication interactions, including data entries of the required information and documentation, into the program established platforms, including PRDOH system of record and any other CRM platform.
• Actively participate in the planning, development, and execution of Fase1 Lab training modules.
• Help with the planning and execution of the events/workshops/conferences that the program organizes. Also, bring new perspectives and insights for building new engagements.
• Manage the different networks of stakeholders involved in the Fase1 program (participants, startups, mentors, and resource partners).
• Connect participants with mentors/companies/universities.
• Participate and represent Fase1 in local entrepreneurship events, entrepreneurial give back engagements, and in university outreach efforts.
• Work alongside the Colmena66 and parallel18 teams to manage all referrals and support all joint outreach efforts.
• Manage outreach efforts to engage service providers and tech companies that provide resources for startups, typically used to secure pro bono or discounted benefits for our participants.
• Facilitate help for technical issues the participants may be facing.
• Provide technical support to participants in Fase1 lab and Fase1 Intensive.
• Create and deliver program and educational presentations for outreach activities or incubation sessions.
• Manage specific projects in support of our startups independently.
• Brainstorm and develop ideas for creative marketing campaigns, including content development and optimization, advertising, events planning, etc. to attain program goals.
• Collaborate with the Trust, external marketing teams, and other professionals to coordinate brand awareness and marketing efforts.
• Assist in the execution of initiatives to reach the target audience through appropriate channels (social media, e-mail, traditional media).

Since our organization is going to change to meet the needs of new designations, you can expect, anticipate, and assume that your job description may change to meet these challenges.

Qualifications & Technical Job Requirements

• Do things with passion and always bring a positive can-do attitude. Execution is one of the most important attributes, as you need to think big but start small and constantly challenge the status quo.
• Be a fast learner, resourceful, and have keen attention to detail. Have the willingness to learn and master new skill sets.
• Work independently and within teams effectively.
• Be able to work under pressure and in multiple projects across various verticals.
• Have outstanding time management and organization skills.
• Have a high motivation to make a positive impact in Puerto Rico.
• Fully bilingual (English and Spanish)
• Skills for Data Visualization and Spreadsheets use. (Ex. Google Sheets and Data Studio).
• Ability to effectively support social media accounts, including monitoring performance and basic Business Account management.
• Experience developing and delivering creative content in the means of images, text, and video clips.
• Impeccable oral and written communications skills in Spanish & English including excellent writing, proofreading, and editing abilities and command of grammar/punctuation, style, and format; ability to communicate, translate, simplify, and articulate complex ideas into easily understood and relatable concepts.
• Proficient in the use of Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.

Experience & Educational Requirements

• Bachelor's degree, preferably in marketing, business, communications, or a related field.
• 2 years of experience in the startup/innovation/entrepreneurship field, even as an employee, intern, monitor or supporter or
• 2 years of direct experience managing social media and supporting webpage development.

This position is subject to Section 3 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968. Under Section 3 public housing residents (including section 8 residents), or low- income citizens who live in the vicinity of a HUD-assisted project, can receive recruitment or contracting priority. It is important to comply with all the requirements of the contractor’s opportunity or position.

“The Trust is an equal opportunity employer; we strive to maintain a workplace atmosphere that is free from discrimination. To those ends, the Trust provides equal employment opportunities without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital status, national origin, social status, political affiliation, religion, physical or mental disability, veteran status, perceived or real domestic violence victim status, sexual harassment victim status, stalking victim status, and/or any other basis protected by law.”