Are you a natural leader with a strong network, driven to tackle your city’s biggest challenges and connect diverse groups to make things happen? If so, you belong at Venture Café!
At Venture Café, we aim to create a global community of innovators with equal access to resources and opportunities, addressing our most pressing challenges. Ready to make an impact with us?
The Venture Café Global Institute (VCGI) seeks a strategic, dynamic, and self-driven Director to lead the launch and operation of Venture Café Edinburgh. This is a unique opportunity to establish and operate a hub for innovation and connection, in close collaboration with ARIA.

• Collaborating closely with VCGI and ARIA to develop the launch strategy for Venture Café Edinburgh and leading the execution of the launch plan.
• Working closely with the Executive Director, Venture Cafe United Kingdom to ensure success and align initiatives where appropriate.
• Scoping and developing a yearly programming strategy to inspire and connect the local innovation community.
• Collaborate with the ARIA team and Programme Directors to drive value to the ARIA Opportunity Spaces.
• Scoping and securing foundational financial partners for Venture Café Edinburgh and building a pipeline for funding opportunities.
• Identifying and partnering with local ecosystem leaders as an advocate and spokesperson to build diverse and inclusive programs.
• Developing innovative program formats for delivering content and creating connection opportunities to maximize engagement.
• Leading and overseeing strategic planning, impact measurement and program budget for Venture Café programs in Edinburgh.
• Attracting funding for programs and aligning them within the Thursday Gathering framework.
• Hiring, leading, and coaching your direct reports towards success.
• Continuously reviewing and implementing improvements/changes to ensure the ongoing success and reputation of Venture Café Edinburgh.
• Collaborating with the Venture Café global network and ARIA to connect the Edinburgh community to global opportunities.
• Identifying and mitigating risks to the effective operation of the Thursday Gathering.
• Nurturing existing initiatives to support Venture Café’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging (DEIB) efforts, while bringing a visionary approach to developing and expanding DEIB-driven programming and partnership opportunities