Job Description Department: Provost and Dean of Faculty Pay Rate Type: Salary Employee Type: Job Summary: Candidates applying before 8/30/25 will be given priority consideration for this opportunity. As Colby College emerges as a destination for intellectual innovation, the College invites applications for the role of Director of the Halloran Lab for Entrepreneurship, a visionary leader who will guide the Lab’s strategic direction, strengthen Colby’s position as a national leader in liberal arts entrepreneurship education, and continue to build a first-of-its-kind innovation ecosystem in Maine. The Director will oversee the strategic direction of the Lab, develop innovative programming, cultivate high-level partnerships, manage Lab fundraising and alumni engagement, and steward the Lab’s Advisory Board. The Halloran Lab for Entrepreneurship was established in 2021 with generous funding from Trustee Emeritus Todd Halloran, and since that time has grown to encompass an array of opportunities for student mentorship, experiential learning, and venture support with increased funding and lab staffing. The Halloran Lab is a part of the Colby Labs ecosystem. Colby Labs are investments in multidisciplinary programs and partnerships across traditional academic boundaries that open paths to scholarship and intellectual networking to spur advances where our graduates will have the most impact. These cross-disciplinary labs focus on pressing challenges and provide students with immersive research, internships, and employment with a diverse range of strategic partners. Additionally, Colby College is home to the Davis Institute for Artificial Intelligence (DAI). The Institute is the first cross-disciplinary institute for AI at a liberal arts college. The Institute partners with the Colby Labs to prepare students for a future where AI is transforming industries and careers as well as modes of discovery and creativity. The Colby Labs and Davis AI will be housed in a newly constructed innovation center, with a planned opening in Fall 2027, to allow collaborative engagement for students to be inspired, bold and innovative in the ways their liberal arts education can help them pursue impactful projects. The new innovation center comes to Colby College at a time of remarkable and transformative investments across areas including creativity and innovation in the arts with a newly opened Gordon Center for Creative and Performing Arts, significant new investments in a campus computational center, and major new investments in the sciences and applied sciences that represent new opportunities for student engagement with entrepreneurship in science and technology. Beyond campus, the College is making significant investments in Waterville that are making it an attractive home for innovators with a growing entrepreneurship ecosystem and a new state-wide high performance computing hub located in Waterville. The Director will report to the Provost of the College and work in collaboration with The Halloran Lab deputy director and staff, other lab directors, faculty, staff, students, alumni, senior leadership, and external partners to advance the Lab’s mission and impact. The successful candidate will share our vision for the unique and innovative ways that entrepreneurship can be embedded in an undergraduate liberal arts institution. Centrally, the successful candidate will thoughtfully engage with students, staff, faculty and an active network of off campus partners and mentors to ensure that students from across the College can benefit from Halloran Lab programming to support their goals. The ideal candidate will have accumulated a set of experiences that make them effective and passionate about guiding and inspiring the next generation of entrepreneurs. ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES: Strategic Leadership & Innovation Develop and regularly update a multi-year strategic plan for the Lab, including clear objectives, milestones, and measures of success. Champion Colby’s liberal arts approach to entrepreneurship by emphasizing ethical leadership, social impact, environmental responsibility, economic development, and the cultivation of an entrepreneurial mindset. Lead efforts to secure external validation for the Lab’s programs through fundraising, media coverage and partnerships with local, regional and national entrepreneurship organizations. Entrepreneurship Opportunities in the Liberal Arts Develop and grow signature programs that distinguish Colby’s approach to entrepreneurship, such as social innovation fellowships, sustainability entrepreneurship grants, or global startup immersions. Oversee the regular assessment and improvement of entrepreneurship programming to ensure student access to opportunities to learn fundamentals of entrepreneurship, experimentation with enterprise development, and mentorship to nurture commercial or social entrepreneurship. Collaborate with academic departments and the deputy director to co-design interdisciplinary courses or course modules that integrate entrepreneurship concepts. Venture & Student Support Design and oversee seed funding grant programs for student ventures. Establish metrics and tracking systems to monitor student venture progress, alumni startup activity, and overall program impact. Facilitate connections between student startups and additional student talent, potential investors, accelerator/incubators, or early customers. Facilitate connections between students and internships and/or employment opportunities with startups or early stage companies. Institutional Collaboration Partner with offices such as Advancement, Admissions, Communications, Career Services, and Alumni Relations to integrate the Lab’s mission into institutional initiatives. Partner with academic departments, labs, and other institutions at Colby to co-develop high-impact programming that leverages diverse expertise to empower student learning. Serve as an entrepreneurial thought leader across campus, providing expertise and guidance for institutional innovation initiatives. Participate in and co-lead discussions regarding the oversight and operations of Colby’s new innovation center. Community & Economic Development Lead Colby’s efforts to engage with the local and regional business community, contributing to economic revitalization efforts (e.g., downtown Waterville development). Represent Colby in regional entrepreneurship coalitions and economic development initiatives, strengthening ties between the College and Maine’s innovation economy. Foster connections with peers in incubators Operational Management Work collaboratively with the deputy director to develop a partnership that ensures smooth operation of the lab including: Ensure compliance with College policies, financial stewardship standards, and grant requirements. Develop and oversee marketing, communications, and outreach strategies to promote the Lab’s programs, successes, and impact stories. Provide leadership in hiring, training, and professional development for the Lab team, creating a culture of collaboration, innovation, and continuous learning. Expansive student access Actively promote inclusive entrepreneurship, ensuring programs and resources are welcoming, accessible and supportive for all students regardless of their area of academic study, class year, identity and interests. Develop partnerships and programs that focus on ethically responsible entrepreneurship as a tool for social good. QUALIFICATIONS: A thorough grasp of startup ecosystems, venture development, and accelerator/incubator partnerships. Exceptional interpersonal, communication, and relationship-building skills. Strong management experience, with demonstrated ability to lead high performing teams and work collaboratively across complex organizations. Commitment to supporting and welcoming all students. The successful candidate may come to this position from many different backgrounds including one of the following: Experience in entrepreneurship, innovation leadership, or startup ecosystem development. Demonstrated success in fundraising, partnership development, and network engagement, ideally in a higher education or nonprofit context. Experience leading entrepreneurship programs or innovation centers, with a track record of advancing strategic goals. Experience in development of experiential learning opportunities and integration of entrepreneurship in a liberal arts setting. KEY RELATIONSHIPS: Reporting to the Provost, the director will collaborate closely with the Deputy Director and Assistant Director of the lab, with Lab-affiliated faculty, students, staff, mentors, entrepreneurs-in-residence, alumni, parents, the Lab’s Advisory Board, and external innovation ecosystem partners. WORKING CONDITIONS/PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: General open office and campus environment. Position involves sitting, although frequent movement is necessary. Computer usage involving repetitive hand/wrist motion is also necessary. Must be able to work additional hours during busy periods, including evenings. Ability to interact with faculty, staff, students, alumni, and external constituencies regularly is crucial. CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT: Successful and satisfactory completion of a background check (including a criminal records check). Founded in 1813, Colby is one of America’s most selective colleges. Serving only undergraduates, Colby’s rigorous academic program is rooted in deep exploration of ideas and close interaction with world-class faculty scholars. Students pursue intellectual passions, choosing among 58 majors or developing their own. Independent and collaborative research, study abroad, and internships offer robust opportunities to prepare students for postgraduate success. Colby is home to a community of more than 2,200 dedicated and diverse students from around the globe. Its Maine location provides easy access to world-class research institutions and civic engagement experiences. In a period of fast-paced progress, Colby is building on its strong foundation while remaining committed to excellence, to supporting students and faculty at the highest levels, and to the College’s deep liberal arts traditions. This new chapter includes the creation of innovative academic initiatives and partnerships, strengthening the connections between the liberal arts and the professional world, revitalizing downtown Waterville, and pursuing significant capital projects for performing arts and athletics. For more information about the College, please visit our web site: www.colby.edu.