Role typePermanent • Full-time • Mid-level Senior

Description

Join Stone & Chalk’s brand new program management team! With the success of flagship initiatives such as the Buy Australian AI Partnership and the AI Solopreneur Accelerator, we’re expanding growth programs for startups and scaleups across our community and ecosystem.

We’re looking for an experienced Program Manager to build and deliver high-profile accelerator and innovation programs that help founders go further faster, build startups and scaleup capability, connect innovation with enterprise and government, and create measurable value for our partners.

Function: Program Management

Reports to: Head of Programs

Employment: Full time ongoing

Location: Sydney or Melbourne

Travel: Minimal interstate travel and occasional evening events as required

Direct reports: No direct reports, with responsibility for coordinating contractors, experts, mentors and internal delivery teams

Applications close: 28th October 2026

Role purpose

Own the end-to-end delivery of a select number of Stone & Chalk’s strategic accelerator and innovation programs. You will turn a program promise into a transparent plan, execute a high-quality participant experience, and deliver measurable outcomes for founders, partners and Stone & Chalk.

This is a hands-on delivery role. You will manage the full program lifecycle, from program design, to planning and implementation. As an example, this could include driving participant applications and selection,participant onboarding, curriculum design, mentoring alignment, partner engagement, events, reporting and post-program pathways. You will build the systems and reusable playbooks that allow Stone & Chalk to deliver more programs with consistent quality.

This is a new role within the Programs team. You will work with the Head of Programs and wider team to establish Stone & Chalk’s program development and delivery capability, including the systems, processes, governance and delivery standards needed for success. You will deliver current programs while building a repeatable operating model for future accelerators and programs.

About Stone & Chalk

Stone & Chalk is Australia’s largest innovation community and a national launchpad for founders and the industries of the future. We help founders go further faster.

Across our hubs in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide, we connect startups and scaleups with the customers, capital, expertise and networks they need to grow.

Our partnerships with enterprise, government and the wider ecosystem create practical pathways for founders. Our programs surface emerging capability, prepare companies for enterprise engagement and help partners move from interest to action.

Key accountabilities

1. Program planning, delivery and management

- Own integrated delivery plans, milestones, dependencies, budgets, risks and decision points across each program.
- Work with the internal stakeholders, partners and advisers to shape program designs, delivery models,



participant journeys and success measures.
- Translate agreements and program designs into clear workstreams, responsibilities and deadlines.
- Manage priorities, resources and dependencies across concurrent programs, identifying capacity constraints and recommending trade-offs early.
- Run delivery cadences, maintain accurate program records and surface risks early with a practical recommendation.
- Coordinate internal teams, external advisers, facilitators, suppliers and delivery partners.

2. Core Program Activities and Facilitation

- Act as the primary day-to-day contact for founders, collaborators and participating companies.
- Undertake relevant program activities such as application processes and selection decisions, platform configuration, cohort onboarding, community monitoring.
- Coordinate or facilitate workshops, masterclasses, office hours, mentoring, expert sessions and peer learning.
- Brief facilitators and experts, prepare materials and ensure each session has a clear purpose and useful output.

3. Governance, Reporting and Improvement

- Define and track program measures covering delivery, engagement, founder progress, partner outcomes and commercial pathways.
- Deliver clear reporting for leadership, partners and funders, including acquittal requirements where relevant.
- Maintain accurate participant records, attendance, milestones and engagement data.
- Track progress against company goals and connect participants with relevant mentors, customers, experts and opportunities.
- Gather feedback throughout delivery and resolve issues before they affect the cohort experience.
- Use data and feedback to improve program design, delivery quality and resource use.

4. Enterprise, government and ecosystem partners

- Help to translate partner objectives into program design through co-design processes
- Track contractual deliverables, partner commitments and reporting requirements throughout delivery.
- Prepare concise partner updates, meeting materials, reports and actions.
- Along with the partnerships team, ensure partners recognise practical value and impact from programs.
- Identify opportunities to deepen partner engagement, demonstrate return on investment and support renewal conversations.

Measures of success First 90 days – Selected programs owned and delivery active. Program management and delivery cadences established internally and externally. Programs are active in market and gaining momentum.

Six months – Programs meet agreed milestones and quality standards. Founder and partner feedback is strong. Reporting is current and decisions are supported by reliable data.





Twelve months – Programs deliver measurable value for founders and partners, including relevant market insight, quality connections, commercial pathways and evidence that supports partner renewal and future investment.

Program outcomes support founder growth, partner value, renewals and new commercial pathways.

Stone & Chalk has reusable program systems, templates and delivery playbooks.

Experience and capability

Essential

- Three to five years of program or project management experience, with direct accountability for planning, delivery and program management.
- Demonstrated experience managing multi-stakeholder programs with concurrent workstreams and senior stakeholders.
- Experience working directly with stakeholders such as: founders, executives, government, enterprise partners, subject matter experts or other external collaborators.
- Clear written and verbal communication, including concise executive updates, participant engagement, and workshop facilitation.
- Confidence using technologies such as project management tools, CRM, community platforms, and AI to configure practical workflows.

Highly regarded

- Experience delivering accelerators, incubators, founder programs, innovation challenges or venture-building programs.
- Knowledge of Australia’s startup and scaleup ecosystem and how emerging technology companies engage with large enterprises.
- Experience in AI, fintech, cyber, deep tech or another emerging technology sector.
- Experience delivering government-funded or enterprise-sponsored programs, including reporting and acquittals.
- A recognised program or project management qualification.

Core skills from the Stone & Chalk Way This role is expected to demonstrate the Stone & Chalk core skills, with particular strength in outcome ownership, operational excellence, teamwork and impact, founder-centric thinking.

- Commercial judgement. Consider value, cost, risk, return and partner expectations in everyday decisions.
- Decision making. Make clear and timely decisions, own them and escalate material issues with a recommendation.
- Technology-enabled working. Use AI and digital tools to improve speed, quality and repeatability.
- Growth mindset and adaptability. Seek feedback, respond constructively to change and improve the way programs are delivered.
- Founder-centric thinking. Understand the people behind the milestones and design delivery around what helps them progress.
- People and community experience. Create strong experiences and connect founders, partners, experts and teams with purpose.
- Outcome ownership. Take responsibility for results, close loops, anticipate risks and keep commitments visible.
- Teamwork and impact. Communicate directly and respectfully, bring the right people in early and make ownership clear.
- Operational excellence. Produce complete, well-documented work and build systems that others can use and improve.

Apply now

Visit: https://employmenthero.com/jobs/position/stone-and-chalk-program-manager-strategic-programs-fncjg/

📌 Program Manager – Strategic Programs (Sydney)
🏢 Stone u0026 Chalk
📍 Sydney