*We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds and levels of seniority, and are open to shaping the role depending on the candidate.

AMA (Wednesday, 18th of February, 2026, 5:00PM): Register to attend here

Introduction to the role:

We are seeking a thoughtful, proactive, and values-aligned Portfolio Community Manager to join our team.

The successful candidate will play a critical role in building, activating, and evolving Icehouse Ventures’ founder community. They will design and deliver events and community initiatives that bring founders, advisors, talent, and ecosystem partners together, and will be excited by the opportunity to support New Zealand’s most ambitious entrepreneurs through connection, learning, and shared experience.

Reporting to: Head of Platform, Steph

Works closely with: Marketing, Design and the Investment Team

Location: Auckland preferred, New Zealand required

Introduction to Icehouse Ventures

Icehouse Ventures believes entrepreneurs will create a vastly brighter future for New Zealand. We intend to contribute to this by being transformative investors in New Zealand’s most transformative technology companies.

We’re a team of 24 based in Auckland with >$600m invested into >350 companies, including Halter, Hnry, Crimson Education, Tracksuit, Sharesies, Partly, Dawn Aerospace, Mint Innovation, Tradify, and many others.

Our Values:

• Ambition – constantly expand what’s possible.

• Ownership – invite accountability, deliver brilliantly.

• Humility – demonstrate confidence through vulnerability.

• Resilience – persist beyond what’s comfortable.

• Warmth – make others’ lights shine brighter.

About the Role:

Key Responsibilities:

Founder Events & Programming

• Plan, coordinate, and deliver high-quality programming for founders and startup teams, including webinars, dinners, in-person speaker sessions, and founder retreats.

• Continuously test and evolve event formats and community initiatives to increase relevance, engagement, and founder impact.

Community Engagement & Network Activation

• Activate and engage the Icehouse Ventures community, including our Extended Team of advisors, talent network, and ecosystem partners.

• Build and maintain a strong, trusted network of support around our portfolio companies, helping founders access the right expertise and connections.

Community Operations & Systems

• Build and maintain repeatable frameworks for event promotion, delivery, follow-up, and measurement.

• Own and maintain community and network databases across founders, startup teams, talent, advisors, co-investors, and ecosystem partners.

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Amplification

• Partner with marketing and design to deliver effective pre- and post-event strategies that extend learnings, generate demand, and strengthen our wider community.

Insights, Measurement & Improvement

• Track and report on engagement and outcomes across community initiatives to inform decision-making and prioritisation.

• Surface insights from events, founder conversations, and community engagement to help shape future portfolio support initiatives.

Traits we anticipate will help you succeed in the role include:

• A strong sense of ownership and organisation, with the ability to manage multiple initiatives, timelines, and stakeholders without losing attention to detail.

• A healthy balance of patience and urgency. Comfortable building community and relationships over time, while also moving quickly to deliver high-quality experiences.

• Excellent interpersonal skills and genuine warmth, with an ability to build trust and rapport with founders, advisors, partners, and teammates.

• Clear, thoughtful communication skills, both written and verbal, with confidence engaging diverse audiences and coordinating across teams.

• Practical problem-solving ability and adaptability, with comfort navigating ambiguity and adjusting plans as priorities evolve.

• Curiosity, humility, and a desire to continuously learn from founders, colleagues, and the wider startup ecosystem.

Prior experience that may be helpful:

Note: We do not expect any candidate to have all of the following experiences. We are also interested in alternative backgrounds that augment our current team and capabilities.

• A strong academic foundation with evidence of drive and a growth mindset.

• Early exposure to startups or entrepreneurship through internships, part-time roles, student ventures, or side projects.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with evidence of being able to build relationships and work well with a wide range of people.

• An interest in the New Zealand startup ecosystem, technology, and what it takes to build high-growth companies.

Remuneration & Benefits:

• Competitive base salary: $70k - $105k

• Bonus: 10% of base subject to KPIs

• Carry on future funds raised, subject to vesting and carry agreement

• ESOP in Icehouse Ventures, subject to vesting and ESOP agreement

• Annual Health & Wellbeing subsidy

• Numerous team offsites (including our iconic annual founder retreat on Barrier Island)

Apply:

*Venture capital is about doing what it takes to partner with the best people, not taking a cookie-cutter approach that treats everyone the same. If you think you could be an exceptional fit for Icehouse Ventures but this role sounds ahead or behind where you're at in your career, please apply anyway - we'd love to hear from you.

Interested? Submit the form below, which will include your CV and a cover letter detailing your interest in the opportunity, why you are a great fit for Icehouse Ventures, and how you aspire to contribute to the Icehouse Ventures mission.