Interim Head of KLU SPARK (gn*) Greater Hamburg, Germany Area

We are seeking for

We are looking for an entrepreneurial and hands-on Interim Head of KLU SPARK to lead the platform during a parental leave period of approximately one year and drive its ongoing development and strengthen its impact.

This is not a caretaker role. You will strengthen existing programmes, develop new initiatives, build strategic partnerships and create a connected community for students, founders, alumni, researchers and corporate partners. You will have the opportunity to make visible progress within one year and create structures, relationships and programmes with lasting value for KLU.

Connect ideas. Build ventures. Create impact.

KLU SPARK is the entrepreneurship, innovation and impact platform of Kühne Logistics University. We connect students, founders, researchers, companies and changemakers to turn ideas into ventures, innovation initiatives and meaningful impact.

At the intersection of entrepreneurship, logistics, supply chain innovation, digitalisation and responsible leadership, KLU SPARK creates opportunities for people and organisations to explore new possibilities and turn them into action. Our work connects the university with Hamburg’s entrepreneurship ecosystem and with partners nationally and internationally.

Your Responsibilities

The Interim Head of KLU SPARK reports directly to the Director of Executive Education & Business Solutions. You will work closely with the other heads and teams within the unit and collaborate across KLU with faculty, university leadership, programme teams, central services, students, alumni and external partners.

You will lead KLU SPARK's activities and coordinate the people, programmes and partnerships needed to deliver its priorities.

You will:

Lead and further develop KLU SPARK’s programme portfolio across student entrepreneurship, founder support, incubation, corporate innovation and impact

Build strategic relationships with companies, founders, investors, universities, public institutions and entrepreneurship organisations in Hamburg and beyond

Turn ideas and relationships into concrete programmes, partnerships, pilots, learning formats and innovation projects

Further develop KLU SPARK’s incubation activities in close collaboration with the Program Manager Incubation

Lead flagship initiatives and external engagement formats, including Beyond Now

Develop partnership, sponsorship and funding opportunities that create value for KLU SPARK and its stakeholders

Strengthen a community in which students, alumni, founders, mentors, researchers and corporate partners exchange ideas and create opportunities together

Represent KLU SPARK confidently to internal and external stakeholders

Build alignment across KLU and coordinate people and teams without relying solely on formal authority

Set priorities, manage resources and monitor progress to ensure the effective delivery of KLU SPARK's programmes and initiatives

Ensure continuity, knowledge transfer and a structured handover at the end of the interim assignment

Your qualifications

You combine entrepreneurial drive with strong relationship-building and programme development skills. You enjoy working across boundaries and know how to create value for people with different perspectives and interests.

You are likely to bring:

Experience building and delivering programmes, partnerships, communities or initiatives from the ground up and developing existing activities further

Experience in entrepreneurship, innovation, start-ups, business development, consulting, venture building, incubation or a related field

The ability to build trust with founders, students, academics, corporate leaders and public or ecosystem stakeholders

Strong project management skills and the ability to turn ideas into action

Confidence representing an organisation externally and engaging with senior stakeholders

The ability to create alignment and commitment across a complex organisation

A hands-on approach, sound judgement and the resilience to work independently in an evolving environment

The ability to quickly understand existing structures, identify priorities and deliver results within a defined timeframe

Experience leading projects, teams or cross-functional initiatives, with or without formal management responsibility

Excellent communication skills in English; German is an advantage

Relevant academic qualifications or equivalent professional experience

Nice to have:

Experience in a university, business school, incubator, accelerator, corporate innovation unit or knowledge-intensive organisation is an advantage.

Knowledge of logistics, supply chain management, digitalisation, sustainability or responsible leadership would be particularly relevant.

We offer

The opportunity to lead a visible platform at the intersection of entrepreneurship, academia and business

Direct access to students, founders, researchers, alumni, corporate leaders and the wider Hamburg ecosystem

A clear leadership mandate with room to shape programmes, partnerships and priorities

An international and entrepreneurial environment at a specialised university with strong links to logistics and industry

Close collaboration with KLU’s faculty, leadership and external partners

The opportunity to create meaningful impact and leave KLU SPARK stronger and more connected than you found it

The opportunity to take ownership of meaningful initiatives and achieve visible results within a defined period

A collaborative working environment that values initiative, diverse perspectives and cross-functional cooperation

At KLU you will work with open-minded and ambitious colleagues in an international, multicultural atmosphere at the attractive HafenCity location. The campus not only offers breathtaking views of the Elbphilharmonie Concert Hall, the container terminals and the new quarters being built in Hamburg's HafenCity, but also modern workplaces. Our employees benefit from family-friendly working hours, home office, company pension scheme, sports facilities and a subsidy for the public transport job ticket.

We value diversity

We value diversity and therefore welcome all applications regardless of gender, nationality, ethnic and social origin, religion and worldview, disability, age, sexual orientation, and identity.

Contact

Please send your complete application documents, including a cover letter, resume, relevant references, and your possible start date, by email to klu-jobs@m.personio.de or via the Apply button.

gn = gender neutral

About us

Kühne Logistics University–Wissenschaftliche Hochschule für Logistik und Unternehmensführung is a private university founded in 2010 and located in Hamburg's HafenCity. KLU is a state-recognized university with the right to grant PhDs. With its AACSB accreditation, it ranks among the top 5% of business schools and management universities worldwide, with a dedicated focus on logistics, operations, and supply chain management. Following an internationalization strategy, we are now opening a campus in Vietnam and plan for two further campuses in Africa and the Americas.

We instill KLU's signature operations mindset in all our students, drawing on the strengths and key characteristics of logistics, including resilience, data-driven and action-oriented decision-making. As a boutique university, KLU offers its students and doctoral candidates a high degree of specialization and excellent study conditions. Further education programs for specialists and managers are offered in the form of seminars and summer schools by KLU Executive Education.