Client Service Specialist, Entrepreneurial Services
Ann Arbor, MI, USA
USD 70k-80k / year
Posted on Jul 27, 2026
Position Summary
Ann Arbor SPARK is Ann Arbor’s engine for economic development. We are an organization dedicated to the economic prosperity of the greater Ann Arbor region. We use our skills and knowledge to attract, develop, strengthen, and invest in driving industries to help our region thrive. The Ann Arbor SPARK Entrepreneurial Services Client Service Specialist works with the Entrepreneurial Services (ES) Team to provide excellent service to technology entrepreneurs and their client companies.
Key Deliverables of this position:
Innovative Company Relations:
· Work with the ES team to identify and recruit clients and help them navigate through the entrepreneurial ecosystem. Client meetings and providing impactful advice is a key element of this role.
· Help make key introductions on behalf of client companies to gain access to critical resources.
· Facilitate support and engagement with startups from around the state of Michigan to engage with the Ann Arbor tech ecosystem.
· Help determine whether companies are a fit for SPARK, follow up when more information is needed, and make warm introductions to the right partner when they would be better served elsewhere.
· Take the lead on assigning qualified clients to the right Account Manager, with support from the Director, and help make sure workloads are distributed fairly across the team.
· Experience advising startups on emerging technologies and software tools—including AI and low-code/no-code platforms—to accelerate innovation and validate ideas quickly.
· Administer entrepreneurship assessments to help founders critically evaluate their progress, identify key milestones, and determine the support needed to reach them.
· Support special projects that facilitate expanding SPARK’s entrepreneurial client service offerings and programs.
· Play an active role in promoting programming for events such as SPARK’s Entrepreneur Boot Camp, A2NewTech, A2Tech360, and other events in alignment with SPARK’s mission.
Education and Training
· Work with the ES team to support the Entrepreneur Boot Camp program by recruiting teams and assisting with additional facilitation as needed.
· Work with the ES team and entrepreneurial support programs at the University of Michigan (Ross ZLI, CFE, Desai Accelerator), EMU, and WCC to create a pipeline for educational programs that assist startups, entrepreneurs, and students desiring careers in early-stage innovation from these universities.
Liaison
· Provide facility tours when needed and showcase the incubator to major stakeholders/groups when needed.
· Collaborate with Michigan’s SmartZones and support statewide programs to strengthen support available to startups and entrepreneurs.
Marketing
· Work with the Marketing team to identify BA Client success stories.
· Work with the Marketing team to promote and showcase SPARK Educational Programs and Training for start-ups.
Operations
· Recruitment of startup/clients to seated, flex, and virtual tenants.
· Drive the pipeline and addition of new clients to the SPARK Central Innovation Center in downtown Ann Arbor. Support pipeline and recruitment of SPARK EAST.
· Support all SPARK teams with events when needed. Provide strategies, solutions, match and recruit startups that are relevant for various events to support SPARK’s event success.
Talent
· Work with our extended network to help our start-ups find critical early employees.
· Work with SPARK clients to identify and hire new employees through our talent programs.
· Promote and assist our clients to take advantage of SPARK’s talent programs.
Desired Attributes, education and experience:
· Minimum of three years’ experience working with technology and innovation-focused startups, with insight into how to turn ideas into innovative solutions and bring them to market.
· Ability to analyze, coach, and guide founders on complex startup challenges, connecting them with the right resources to grow.
· Experience working with Ai and low/no code software is preferred.
· Ability to communicate critical information with accuracy and efficiency.
· Ability to multi-task to meet the needs of multiple clients and projects.
· Ability to function independently – results oriented.
· Capable of working in a busy and fast-paced environment.
· Ability to tactfully handle stressful and difficult situations.
· Organized and detail oriented.
· Knowledge and experience with CRM (ideally Salesforce).
· Bachelor's degree or higher.
Ann Arbor SPARK is an Equal Opportunity Employer
Salary Range: $70k-$80k, depending on experience
Ann Arbor SPARK is an equal opportunity employer.