Location: Arkansas or Mississippi
Reports To: Program Director, EpicenterU
Position Type: Part-Time, approximately 10 hours per week

Summary

Epicenter delivers high-impact resources to entrepreneurs using innovation to solve challenges across Memphis and the Delta Region. Through EpicenterU, we connect higher education, entrepreneurship, and regional industry to help students develop the skills, relationships, and opportunities needed to build venture-scalable companies and contribute to the Delta's innovation economy.

The EpicenterU Regional Lead & Adjunct Lecturer will serve as the primary local representative, ecosystem builder, and classroom instructor for EpicenterU's Students to Startups initiative in Arkansas or Mississippi. This role will deliver Epicenter's entrepreneurship curriculum while building strong relationships across universities, corporations, philanthropy, local leadership, investors, and the broader entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Key Responsibilities

Academic Instruction & Student Development

• Serve as the formally appointed University Adjunct Lecturer responsible for delivering the designated EpicenterU course.
• Deliver EpicenterU's entrepreneurship curriculum with consistency and a focus on venture-scalable business development.
• Teach students design thinking, customer discovery, capital readiness, and other frameworks designed to support high-growth entrepreneurship.
• Guide students in understanding the differences between traditional small business models and venture-scalable opportunities.
• Manage syllabus progression, grading, student engagement, and mentorship throughout the course.
• Provide office hours and individualized guidance to support students as they develop and validate their ideas.

Regional Ecosystem Development

• Serve as EpicenterU's primary local presence and relationship builder within the assigned state.
• Build and maintain relationships with university leaders, Chambers of Commerce, municipal leaders, corporate partners, philanthropic organizations, entrepreneurs, and investors.
• Strengthen Epicenter's visibility and credibility within the local entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystem.
• Identify opportunities for EpicenterU to connect students with regional resources, mentors, investors, customers, and industry leaders.
• Participate in weekly EpicenterU ecosystem meetings and provide updates on local relationships, opportunities, challenges, and developments.
• Maintain consistent engagement with regional partners to ensure momentum continues throughout the year.

Talent, Capital & Customer Development

• Develop a strong regional pipeline of relationships and opportunities across EpicenterU's Talent, Capital, and Customers framework.
• Talent: Identify high-potential student founders, experienced mentors, and prospective Entrepreneurs-in-Residence who can support the EpicenterU community.
• Capital: Cultivate relationships with angel investors, family offices, corporate sponsors, philanthropic partners, and public funding sources.
• Customers: Identify opportunities for student founders to access potential customers, pilot opportunities, enterprise feedback, and supply chain partnerships.
• Build relationships with leaders across key Delta industries, including healthcare, logistics, agriculture, and advanced manufacturing.
• Track and communicate high-priority relationships and opportunities to the Program Director during weekly ecosystem meetings.

Student Recruitment & Program Operations

• Partner with university departments, faculty, and campus leaders to recruit ambitious undergraduate students for the EpicenterU course.
• Help identify high-potential students for subsequent competitive fellowship opportunities.
• Coordinate local workshops, classroom activities, and other on-campus EpicenterU programming.
• Recruit and coordinate guest speakers, mentors, entrepreneurs, investors, and business leaders from the local community.
• Support the planning and execution of local capstone showcases and other student-facing events.
• Coordinate with the Memphis-based Epicenter team to ensure local programming is delivered effectively and consistently.

Qualifications

• Master's degree or higher in entrepreneurship, business, or a related field, such as an MBA, required to meet university accreditation guidelines for adjunct instruction.
• Direct experience operating within a venture-backed startup or equivalent experience evaluating venture-scalable businesses through angel investing, venture capital, or a related field.
• Demonstrated understanding of venture-scalable entrepreneurship, customer discovery, design thinking, and capital readiness.
• Established and respected professional experience in entrepreneurship, consulting, corporate leadership, nonprofit development, economic development, or a related field within Arkansas or Mississippi.
• Strong relationship-building skills and the ability to engage effectively with university leaders, students, entrepreneurs, corporate executives, investors, donors, and community stakeholders.
• Strong written, verbal, presentation, and classroom communication skills.
• Ability to work independently while maintaining consistent communication and coordination with the broader EpicenterU team.
• Strong organization and follow-through across academic, relationship-building, and program responsibilities.
• Commitment to strengthening the Delta Region's entrepreneurial ecosystem and creating opportunities for local talent to build and grow within the region.

Compensation

This is a part-time position at approximately 0.25 FTE, or 10 hours per week, with $25,000 in contract compensation, plus a nominal university adjunct stipend.

The position includes approximately eight hours per week of academic instruction and student engagement during active semesters, with additional time dedicated to regional ecosystem development, relationship management, recruitment, and program operations.

To Apply

Interested candidates should submit a resume, cover letter, and references to Nicole@epicentermemphis.org. Epicenter is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from candidates of all backgrounds. It is our preference that your cover letter reflects your own voice and not be generated by AI tools like ChatGPT.

Join us in connecting students, universities, industry, and entrepreneurship to strengthen innovation and economic opportunity across the Delta Region.

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