Director of Programs

Position: Director of Programs

Status: Full Time, Exempt

Location: Nashville, TN

Reports To: Chief Program Officer

Updated: October 2025

Application Deadline: November 28, 2025

The Nashville Entrepreneur Center (NEC) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization founded in 2010 to support people and businesses through every stage of their entrepreneurial journey. We exist to help make Nashville the best place to start and grow a business by increasing the likelihood of success for entrepreneurs.

ABOUT THE ROLE

As the Director of Programs, you are a key member of NEC’s program team and are responsible for the execution and quality of NEC’s accelerator and community offerings. This includes oversight of NEC’s stage-based accelerators (TakeOff and InFlight), the Project Healthcare accelerator, and the Community Manager who drives membership and workshops.

You are charged with ensuring seamless delivery across programs, driving recruitment and graduation outcomes, and coordinating cross-program events such as Nashville Entrepreneur Day and kickoff mixers. By managing Program Managers and the Community Manager, you ensure that NEC’s accelerators and membership offerings operate with consistency, quality, and alignment to NEC’s three-year vision of serving 1,000 founders annually.

This is a highly operational role that blends people management, program oversight, event coordination, and data reporting to deliver exceptional founder experiences at scale.

Success measures for this role include:

Achieve NEC’s 1,000-founder served goal by 2027 across accelerators, members, alumni, and workshop participants
Accelerator milestones and timelines delivered on schedule
≥90% graduation rate across all programs
Cross-program events (kickoffs, Nashville Entrepreneur Day, mixers) executed successfully
Positive NPS scores across accelerators (≥60)
Effective collaboration with the program team to build and maintain a continuum of care for founders across accelerators and membership.

Primary responsibilities include:

Provide strategic oversight for accelerator and membership programs, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and community needs
Lead, coach, and inspire direct reports, cultivating a culture of alignment with organizational values
Collaborate with program staff, EiRs, and advisors to identify participant needs and ensure the program design addresses those needs
Engage with program participants and members to understand their needs and develop paths/relationships to drive them toward success
Coordinate cross-program events and initiatives in partnership with the Chief Program Officer
Collaborate with the Chief Program Officer and leadership team to revamp, refresh, redesign, and pilot programs as needed to achieve efficiency, NEC goals, and to meet the needs of the NEC community
Coordinate team communication and resource allocation to maximize program efficiency and participant experience
Establish clear performance metrics and lead program evaluation efforts to measure impact and guide continuous improvement
Manage program budgets, monitor expenses, and contribute to grant reporting and compliance requirements
Perform other duties as assigned

Position Requirements

ABOUT YOU

The ideal candidate for this position thrives in an agile and innovative environment with demonstrated experience working with a cross-functional team. Qualifications include:

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor’s degree or above in a related field
Proven success and a solid background in managing staff, budgets, and programs
Strong understanding of entrepreneur ecosystems, small business growth, and/or accelerator models
Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to build and maintain relationships with diverse stakeholders.
Strong problem-solving skills
Excellent verbal and written communication skills
Public speaking and group facilitation experience
Ability to communicate clearly and consistently with internal and external partners
Detail-oriented with the ability to balance big-picture insights and daily operations
Highly organized, with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and adapt to changing priorities
Proficiency in Microsoft and Google Workspace applications
Proficiency in data analysis, reporting, and familiarity with online platforms
Ability to work independently and as part of a team
Commitment to the mission of the NEC

ADDITIONAL JOB INFORMATION

This is a full-time exempt position based in Nashville, TN.
Salary range is $80,000-$90,000, dependent on experience
Comprehensive benefits package, including medical insurance (an employee-only coverage, high-deductible medical plan option available at no cost to employee), company-paid life insurance, an employee assistance program with dental, vision, and disability options, and a 401(k) matching option
Paid time off, plus 15 annual holidays, including time off between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Day
Regular onsite presence is critical to ensure smooth operations and regular interaction with those we serve. A hybrid work schedule can be arranged with approval from the Chief Program Officer

ABOUT THE EC

Our Mission Grounded by our values, we’re on a mission to help make Nashville the best place to start and grow a business by increasing the likelihood of success for entrepreneurs. We’re proud to be a steward of Nashville’s entrepreneurial legacy by lifting the entrepreneur’s voices and telling stories that celebrate how they make our world better and teach others as they give back – keeping the cycle of entrepreneurship alive.

Our Culture

We strive to be as innovative as the founders we support. Our team is highly collaborative and flexible. We take initiative to help each other and our community outside the bounds of department or expertise. Most importantly, we are driven to serve Nashville entrepreneurs, make entrepreneurship accessible to all, and continue our legacy of positive impact.

Our Values

Better Together
Growth Mindset
Purposeful Risk-Taking
Entrepreneur at the Center
Own the Mission

Application Instructions

At the Nashville Entrepreneur Center, we value a diverse workplace and strongly encourage all genders, people of color, LGBTQ individuals, people with disabilities, members of ethnic minorities, foreign-born residents, and veterans to apply. The NEC is an equal-opportunity employer. Applicants will not be discriminated against because of race, color, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, religion, national origin, citizenship status, disability, ancestry, marital status, veteran status, medical condition, or any protected category prohibited by local, state or federal laws. Those applicants requiring reasonable accommodation to the application or interview process should notify an organization representative at hr@ec.co.

https://ec.co/director-of-programs-2025/

Position Description / Responsibilities

Position Requirements

Application Instructions