Executive Director, Incubator (Chicago)

Executive Director, Incubator

mHUB is seeking a strategic and entrepreneurial executive to lead the mHUB Incubator, one of mHUBs three core business units. The mHUB Incubator is a nationally recognized hardtech innovation and commercialization center and represents approximately $5.5M in annual revenue via memberships, fabrication services, grants, partnerships, and other sources.

As the nations leading hardtech incubator and Chicagos largest tech innovation hub, mHUB is home to one of the most dynamic and active entrepreneurial communities in the country. Each year, more than 60,000 members and visitors work onsite in our 80,000+ square-foot innovation center and prototyping facility, supported by a network of world-class mentors, engineers, investors, manufacturers, and corporate innovation partners. The Incubator community includes more than 325 active member companies and hosts hundreds of annual events, industry delegations, investor showcases, and community-building activities bringing in thousands of visitors. Since launching in 2017, mHUB has solidified itself at the epicenter of Chicagos robust entrepreneurial ecosystem with an impact footprint that extends beyond the Midwest to across the nation and around the world.

Reporting directly to the CEO, the Executive Director, Incubator will be responsible for setting and executing the growth strategy for this division, driving day-to-day operational excellence, expanding membership and programs, overseeing prototyping / micro-factory labs and services, building strategic external partnerships, and ensuring strong collaboration across mHUBs other business units : Hardtech Development Services and Ventures. The Executive Director will oversee an initial expanding team of 8 full-time employees across two teams (Prototyping Lab & Shop and Membership, Programs & Engagement) and a portfolio of contracted experts-in-residence and volunteer mentors and instructors.

This is both a strategic and hands-on role, ideal for a growth-minded leader who can operate and innovate. The Executive Director will be charged with doubling the incubators reach, revenue, and measurable impact over the next three years. The Executive Director will ensure that as it grows, mHUBs incubator continues to deliver best-in-class resources that accelerate commercialization, manufacturing readiness, and economic impact, enabling member companies to launch new products, scale production, and create good jobs in the Midwest and beyond.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Growth

• Drive revenue growth through partnerships, memberships, expansion, and programmatic offerings.
• Lead ongoing performance tracking, impact metrics, and financial management to ensure profitability and sustainable growth.
• Establish credibility as an innovation leader nationally, continuing to heighten mHUBs reputation and prominence as a leading organization in order to attract new members, partners, and ecosystem organizations
• Develop and implement a strategic growth plan and potential geographic expansion for the Incubator, aligning with mHUBs overall mission and organizational goals.

Member Success & Programs Excellence

• Establish and sustain a best-in-class member experience that positions mHUB as the nations premier hardtech incubator.
• Drive growth in activity within the incubator, increasing daily traffic and annual visitors and raising mHUBs prominence nationally.
• Lead development of innovative programming, mentorship networks, and partnerships that directly increase the growth, investment readiness, and commercialization success of member companies.
• Build scalable systems to measure and continuously improve member company outcomes, using data to inform resource allocation and new program development.
• Champion a culture of performance, learning, and accountability across teams that support the member community.

Operational Excellence

• Oversee incubator operations, including member experience, educational programs, community engagement, prototyping lab operations, and access initiatives, ensuring efficiency, consistency, and measurable impact. This includes overseeing incubator operations and member experience at mHUBs 80,000 sf innovation center.
• Manage the incubators P&L, staffing, and resource allocation to achieve growth targets while maintaining fiscal responsibility.
• Continuously evaluate and improve operational systems, member engagement models, and innovation infrastructure.

Ecosystem Development & Partnerships

• Build and maintain strategic relationships with manufacturers, national labs, universities, incubators, community organizations, and public sector partners.
• Position mHUB as a national model for hardtech innovation through public representation, thought leadership, and ecosystem collaboration.
• Partner with mHUBs development and marketing teams to secure visibility and funding for incubator initiatives and member success stories.

Cross-Divisional Collaboration

• Collaborate closely with mHUBs executive leadership, Hardtech Development Services and Ventures teams to ensure seamless integration of services, product development support, and investment opportunities for member companies.
• Participate in mHUBs overall organizational strategy, helping to shape a unified vision for growth and impact.

Capabilities

• A builder mindset, seeking, creating, and executing against ideas that create real outcomes
• A strategic, systems, and creative thinker comfortable debating and defending your ideas.
• An ability to provide financial and other quantitative analysis and process mapping for process improvement
• An ability to thrive in ambiguity and dynamic environments and perform best when new information, projects, and decisions come fast. Working with velocity and flexibility is a preferred approach
• A strong understanding of business profitability drivers to proactively engage in conversations between stakeholders and make recommendations to the executive managers
• A team-first professionalism with a passion for fostering a culture of efficiency and high performance while driving results, strategic outcomes, and operational accountability and improvements

Qualifications

• 15+ years of progressive leadership experience, including 7+ years with direct P&L responsibility and proven success growing a division, business unit, or large-scale program
• Demonstrated experience leading multi-disciplinary teams in entrepreneurial, innovation, or complex organizational environments
• Proven success in securing and managing multiple sources to generate revenue through sales and other funding (corporate, philanthropic, and public)
• Track record of developing high-performing programs and partnerships that yield measurable outcomes for companies or entrepreneurs
• Strong financial acumen, operational management, and communication skills
• Deep understanding of innovation ecosystems, technology commercialization, and / or manufacturing industries
• Bachelors degree required; advanced degree in Business, Policy, Engineering, or related field preferred
• Experience as an entrepreneur or in leadership role in an entrepreneurial settings is a plus

Salary and Duration

The estimated salary range for this position is $175K-$205K, commensurate with experience. Eligible for bonus incentive compensation and other employee carried interest sharing programs. Our comprehensive and competitive benefits include a generous PTO and 401(k) plan as well as medical, vision, dental plans, and participation in carried interest profit sharing.

How to Apply

To apply, please submit the following items by email to info@mhub.org.

• Cover letter
• Resume
• Salary Requirements

About Us

mHUB is the nations leading independent innovation center dedicated to accelerating hardtech developmentwhere physical products are designed, built, and launched to solve real-world challenges in energy, health, sustainability, and advanced manufacturing. At the intersection of innovation and industry, mHUB incubates high-potential startups to commercialize critical technologies faster and with intention. Based in Chicago, mHUB operates an 80,000+ square-foot prototyping and micro-factory alongside deep technical and entrepreneurial mentorship, a robust investor and pilot network, and U.S.-based suppliers and manufacturing expertise. Since launching in 2017, mHUB has supported over 1,200 entrepreneurs and 500 startups that have generated more than $1.96B in revenue, launched over 1,700 products, created nearly 7,000 jobs, and raised over $2B in capital. mHUB plays a critical role in strengthening U.S. competitiveness and building the physical future from the heart of the Midwest.