Site Director - Tech Accelerator

Title: Site Director - Tech Accelerator

Location: Decatur, Alabama (primary). Some travel expected (in-state).

Type: Full-time

Reports to: Executive Director

Role Summary

We’re seeking a Site Director to lead and scale an Alabama-based AI accelerator . This person will be accountable for running the accelerator day-to-day , designing and executing the cohort-based program , and driving company recruitment —including convincing high-potential out-of-state founders that Alabama is the right place to build.

In parallel, the Site Director will design and oversee an AI “toolkit” (agents, third-party services, playbooks, and resources) that enables current Alabama residents to more easily start and grow AI-powered businesses . Over time, the accelerator’s value proposition will include connections to capital, and the Site Director will help develop and operationalize that pathway.

Key Responsibilities

1) Accelerator Leadership & Operations

• Own the end-to-end execution of the accelerator: calendar, curriculum, budget, founder experience, mentorship scheduling, and program logistics.
• Design and continuously refine the program model (e.g., cohort structure, workshop sequence, office hours, founder deliverables, demo day format).
• Build operating rhythms and metrics: funnel tracking, cohort health, progress checkpoints, and post-program outcomes.
• Coordinate partners, mentors, and service providers to ensure a high-quality founder experience.

2) Founder Sourcing, Recruitment & Cohort Formation

• Identify and recruit promising early-stage AI companies both in Alabama and nationally .
• Build and manage a consistent recruitment pipeline (sourcing, outreach, screening, selection, and close).
• “Sell Alabama” to out-of-state founders, clearly articulating the advantages (talent, cost structure, market access, incentives, community, etc.).
• Develop relationships with founder communities, accelerators, universities, and AI ecosystems to drive sustained top-of-funnel.

3) AI Toolkit Strategy (for Alabama Builders)

• Design and oversee an AI toolkit that makes it easier for Alabama residents to build businesses (examples: agent templates, approved tool stack, vendor discounts, training modules, reference architectures, compliance/security guidance).
• Evaluate and manage third-party services (selection, onboarding, pricing, renewal, and usage measurement).
• Ensure the toolkit remains practical, founder-friendly, and aligned with evolving AI capabilities.

4) Ecosystem & Capital Connectivity (Evolving Scope)

• Build relationships with angels, seed funds, accelerators, and venture partners to create clear pathways to capital.
• Help founders become “fundable” through investor-ready storytelling, metrics, and pitch readiness.
• Support demo days, investor showcases, and 1:1 investor introductions (as the program matures).

Qualifications (Required)

• Demonstrated ability to run programs and operations with high attention to detail and consistent execution.
• Strong network and credibility with early-stage AI founders (or the ability to quickly build it).
• Proven experience recruiting, persuading, and closing participants into a high-commitment program.
• Working understanding of the AI product landscape (LLMs, agents, modern tooling, and how early-stage teams build and ship).
• Excellent communication skills—especially in founder-facing, partner-facing, and ecosystem-building settings.

Preferred Background (Nice to Have)

• Experience in economic development , entrepreneurship ecosystems, or startup community-building.
• Experience at an accelerator/incubator (especially as a #2 operator or program lead).
• Exposure to venture capital workflows, founder fundraising, or investor relations.
• Familiarity with Alabama’s business community, universities, incentives, and regional stakeholders.

What Success Looks Like (First 12–18 Months)

• A consistently strong pipeline of in-state and out-of-state AI startups.
• High-quality cohorts that complete the program with measurable progress (product, revenue, pilots, hires, or fundraising readiness).
• A functioning, adopted AI toolkit used by Alabama residents to build and launch.
• Early traction on capital connectivity: repeatable investor engagement and founder fundraising support.

Core Traits We’re Looking For

• Builder mindset (creates systems, not just events)
• Strong operator (details + execution)
• Founder empathy (high trust, high standards)
• Networked and proactive (doesn’t wait for inbound)
• Mission-aligned (excited to make Alabama a destination for AI builders)