Director of Operations (Accelerator & Programs)

ABOUT PLUG IN VENTURES

Plug In Ventures backs the next generation of visionary founders building in the sectors that will define the next decade. We're an AI-first company giving underrepresented founders real access to capital, mentorship, and the tools to scale. Headquartered in Los Angeles, with a growing footprint in Kansas City, Atlanta, and New York, our core programs — the Enterprise Growth Residency (our flagship accelerator), the Pre-Accelerator Program, and LABs — are how we put that mission into practice.

​

ABOUT THE ROLE

The Director of Operations will drive execution of Plug In's accelerator and founder programs, ensuring operational excellence across teams and geographies. This is a hands-on role for a strategic operator with deep experience building, running, or scaling equity-based accelerator or cohort-based programs — someone who knows how to integrate systems, people, and performance to hit measurable outcomes. You'll report directly to the CEO and serve as a key partner in designing and delivering Plug In's Pre-Seed Track, Accelerator Program, and Labs 2026, while also shaping the infrastructure that sustains them.

​

Location: Kansas City, New York, Los Angeles, or Atlanta  

Employment Type: Full-time  

Salary Range: $100,000–$140,000, commensurate with experience and location  

Reports to: CEO

​

Compensation & Benefits

• Base Salary: $100,000–$140,000, commensurate with experience and location  
• Health & Wellness: Medical, dental, and vision coverage  
• Retirement: 401(k) plan  
• Time Off: Flexible/unlimited PTO, plus paid company holidays  
• Parental Leave: Paid parental leave for new parents  
• Remote Work: Flexible remote work environment with occasional travel to program markets (LA, Atlanta, Kansas City, NYC)
• Professional Development: Support for relevant conferences, courses, or certifications
• Mission-Driven Culture: The opportunity to directly shape access to capital and opportunity for underrepresented founders

​

FOCUS AREAS FOR 2026

1. Accelerator & Pre-Seed Execution: Deliver high-quality cohorts with measurable founder outcomes.  
2. Program Infrastructure: Build operational systems to scale the Labs model nationally.  
3. Funding & Partnerships: Collaborate on a sustainable funding model for programs.  
4. Team Development: Recruit and manage operational talent to support program delivery.  
5. Special Projects: Board & strategic initiatives, partnership opportunities, portfolio development/company support.

​

WEEKLY & RECURRING RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead and mentor team members supporting programs and operations, building a culture of continuous improvement.  
• Establish strong communication rhythms and accountability systems across the operations and program team.  
• Track and report on program KPIs and performance scorecards.

​

CORE RESPONSIBILITIES  

ACCELERATOR & PROGRAM LEADERSHIP

Lead strategy and execution for Plug In's Accelerator, Pre-Seed Track, and Labs programs — from curriculum and cohort design to delivery and measurement.  

• Collaborate with CEO and program leads to refine founder selection, onboarding, and experience.  
• Ensure seamless operations across key markets LA, Atlanta, Kansas City, and NYC — aligning calendars, deliverables, and staffing. Help shape and guide new programs in strategic markets.  
• Serve as the direct manager for the Program Manager/Coordinator, providing day-to-day guidance, delegation, and mentorship to ensure smooth logistics and program delivery; lead recruitment and onboarding if the role needs to be filled.  
• Drive improvements in founder experience, mentor engagement, and capital access pathways.

​

OPERATIONAL SYSTEMS & PROCESS

• Design and implement systems for program execution, tracking, and reporting.  
• Develop KPIs and performance scorecards to evaluate program investment and team outcomes.  
• Partner with CEO to build out organizational capacity and structure needed to meet 2026 goals.  
• Support rollout of financial planning and budgeting processes tied to program delivery.  
• Inform and guide the investment pipeline of companies Plug In Ventures pursues, applying working knowledge of sourcing, diligence, and capital partner workflows across targeted sectors in relevant markets

​

TEAM DEVELOPMENT & CULTURE

• Lead and mentor team members supporting programs and operations.  
• Establish strong communication rhythms, accountability systems, and culture of continuous improvement.  
• Collaborate with leadership on hiring, onboarding, and performance management.

​

PARTNERSHIPS & STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT

• Collaborate with the CEO and advancement team to secure funding and strategic partnerships for programs.  
• Represent Plug In Ventures in relevant ecosystem meetings, partner events, and investor roundtables.

​

REQUIREMENTS

1. 8+ years in operations, accelerator management, or program leadership, preferably in tech, venture, or innovation ecosystems.  
2. Proven success in launching or scaling accelerator programs or founder support initiatives.  
3. Strong project management and systems-building expertise.  
4. Strategic thinker with hands-on execution skills.  
5. Excellent communication and relationship-building abilities.  
6. Tech-fluent: proficient in project management and collaboration tools such as Asana, Airtable, Slack, and Google Workspace; strong fluency with AI and automation tools (e.g., Claude, ChatGPT, Zapier/Make) to streamline systems, reporting, and workflows; comfortable with CRM or deal-tracking tools (e.g., Affinity, HubSpot) to support investment pipeline visibility; familiarity with basic finance/budgeting tools (e.g.,QuickBooks, Bill.com) a plus; familiarity with Mailchimp, Canva, or social campaigns (LinkedIn, Meta, Twitter/X) a plus.  
7. Passionate about advancing equity and inclusion in tech and supporting Black and Brown founders.

​

HOW TO APPLY  

Send the following to awhitney@pluginventures.co with the subject line "Director of Operations Application — [Your Name]":  

1. Resume  
2. Brief cover letter  
3. Salary expectations (within the $100,000–$140,000 range)  
4. Availability for interviews and potential start date  
5. 2–3 professional reference