Program Manager

Do you know Germany’s startup and small-business ecosystem? Are you passionate about impactful initiatives that help founders and small businesses grow and harness new technology? Apply now and join an international team, empowering entrepreneurs to take their businesses to the next level across Germany and Europe.
We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced Program Manager, based in Berlin, to work across our entrepreneurship training, incubation and acceleration programs, with a focus on growing INCO’s presence and impact in the German market. You will actively contribute to all program stages, from ideation to execution, and you’ll work collaboratively with a group of program managers across Europe.

As a Program Manager, you will be responsible for setting up and managing all processes related to application scouting and review, program design and implementation, stakeholder engagement, impact monitoring, reporting and administrative tasks. Community-building and cohort engagement sit at the heart of the role: you will be a key face of our programs for founders in Germany, keeping remote-first cohorts motivated, connected and progressing. You’ll also collaborate with INCO entrepreneurship programs globally, exchanging best practices and contributing your expertise.

You will help us build a network of relevant entrepreneurship ecosystem partners across Berlin and wider Germany, and be a main point of contact for the stakeholders involved in program implementation such as trainers, mentors and researchers. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in project management, incubation and acceleration programs, excellent people and facilitation skills, and a solid understanding of the entrepreneurship, social impact and small-business ecosystem in Germany.

Your responsibilities

• Work towards programmatic goals, coordinate with the team, and plan and prioritise effectively to deliver high-quality results to our founders and partners.

• Collaborate across the European and global INCO teams to exchange expertise and contribute to the synergic development of INCO’s entrepreneurship programs.

• Design and implement entrepreneurship training, incubation and acceleration programs, across outreach, onboarding, capacity building and community.

• Lead outreach and selection to recruit diverse cohorts of founders and startups, actively scouting through entrepreneurship networks and reaching beyond Berlin and underserved communities.

• Leverage existing networks and create new ones to raise awareness about our programs (nonprofits, local institutions, incubators, accelerators, investors and ecosystem actors across Germany).

• Recruit and engage key stakeholders for program implementation (trainers, mentors, sector experts)

• Review applications for compliance with selection and evaluation criteria.

• Collaborate with our communications teams to plan and monitor online recruitment campaigns and to surface founder stories for reporting and advocacy.

• Work with our finance and legal team to comply with all processes.

• Facilitate engaging live workshops and sessions throughout our programs, keeping remote-first cohorts motivated, connected and cohesive from onboarding through to the final event.

• Communicate with selected entrepreneurs, trainers and mentors, sharing program information and relevant opportunities and events.

• Create meaningful connections with entrepreneurs, alumni and mentors through dedicated community-building activities.

• Share program impact stories and milestones by identifying relevant communication materials (with support from our communications team).

• Perform analytical, monitoring and administrative tasks related to our programs.

• Lead the organisation of both virtual and in-person events, such as enterprise competitions.

• Based in Berlin, with hands-on experience in Germany’s entrepreneurship ecosystem and knowledge of relevant networks

• Fluent / native German and fluent English (working proficiency) - you will deliver, facilitate and build community primarily in German, while all team communication and internal deliverables are in English.

• Experience and networks in the entrepreneurship ecosystem.

• Experience in entrepreneurship incubation, acceleration, or training programs.

• Outstanding people and facilitation skills: you energise a room (and a video call), build trust quickly, and keep a cohort engaged and cohesive from start to finish.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in both German and English.

• Experience in managing stakeholder relations, with a demonstrated ability to develop lasting relationships with a wide array of stakeholders.

• Strong project management skills, with experience running remote or hybrid programs.

• Highly organised, precise and autonomous - able to own delivery end-to-end and prioritise confidently within complex, multi-country programs.

• Adaptable and effective in dynamic environments where coordination across different teams is essential; comfortable operating in changing conditions.

• Resourceful and able to make decisions independently, while ready to ask for help when needed.

• Open-minded, collaborative and committed to maintaining close links with your team through regular and transparent communication and feedback.

Desired skills and experience

• A strong interest in and existing connections across Germany’s startup and small-business ecosystem, with the drive to help INCO grow in this market.

• Solid command of productivity tools (e.g. Google Suite, Slack, Monday.com, Typeform, Hubspot).

• Experience building and nurturing online communities, and keeping remote cohorts engaged and connected.

• Experience with impact data collection, analysis and communication.

• Experience using qualitative and quantitative research to inform program implementation.

• Familiarity with reaching underserved entrepreneurs, and with socio-economic targeting of participants.

• Experience delivering corporate-funded / foundation-funded programs and engaging corporate volunteers is a plus.

About Us:

INCO is a leading social enterprise on a mission to shape a more inclusive and sustainable economy that creates opportunities for all. We have teams and programs in over 50 countries around the world. Our work is split across 5 complementary activities:

1. INCO Academy: skilling programs for individuals facing barriers to employment, leading to careers in fast-growing industries such as technology, sustainability, healthcare and more (400,000+ job seekers trained to date).

2. INCO Kids: education and awareness programs empowering school-age learners with future-proof knowledge in technology, sustainability, citizenship and more (350,000+ learners supported to date).

3. INCO Entrepreneurs: incubation and acceleration programs for underrepresented founders, and social entrepreneurs building and growing high-impact startups (2,000+ businesses supported every year).

4. INCO Ventures: impact investing and funding programs to support the growth of social and environmental impact startups (€500M+ assets under management).

5. INCO Spaces: co-working, co-living spaces for social and environmental innovators and entrepreneurs who make the world a better place (Paris, Berlin, Warsaw, and more).

Why INCO

At INCO, we offer a stimulating environment that fosters growth, creativity and trust. As part of our globally expanding company, you will experience a dynamic learning atmosphere reminiscent of a startup, with a high degree of trust and creative freedom. We invite applicants who are passionate about using technology to foster inclusive and sustainable growth to join our dynamic team. Together, we can make a significant impact on the world.