SSTI Job Corner

Have an open position? Let us post your position or RFP listing — it's free for SSTI Members/$95 for all others. Postings stay active on our website for 45 days and a brief mention is included in the SSTI Weekly Digest. Please use our listing submission form or send the position title, description, and any other relevant information to Susan Niple (niple@ssti.org | 614.901.1690). The deadline to be included in our weekly newsletter is Wednesday at 12:00 PM. 

The following positions are available:

Director, Innovation Economics and Policy - RTI International
 

RTI International has an opening for a Director, Innovation Economics and Policy within its Center for Applied Economics and Strategy (CAES). CAES delivers impactful analysis, research, and program services that span environmental and natural resource economics, food and agriculture, energy, innovation and science policy, and economic development. Our multidisciplinary team brings intellectual rigor, creativity, and decades of domain-specific expertise to help clients make informed planning and programmatic decisions.

The IEP program area delivers innovative, rigorous mixed methods analyses, services, and products with a focus on innovation, research, development and technology policy and programs. Clients mirror the breadth of stakeholders aligned with the program area’s mission: government agencies at all levels, foundations and associations, universities, nongovernmental organizations, and mission-aligned private-sector organizations. Each client has its own information priorities and contract mechanisms that influence IEP’s operations. Projects generally fall into three categories that are not mutually exclusive: economics of innovation and new technology, science policy and program evaluation, and translational science and commercialization. Contracting mechanisms include fixed-price, time and materials, cooperative agreement, and grant funded items. Lastly, the IEP program area serves as a center of excellence in science policy and innovation for RTI. Important collaborations are across CAES and with IDG and IA.

The director will provide business management and leadership to the program area. Working closely with IEP program staff, the director will ensure high-quality project management, robust technical implementation, team cohesion, strategic growth, and new business development. For more information and to apply, please go here.

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FUEL Director of Use-Inspired R&D - Louisiana State University

Future Use of Energy in Louisiana (FUEL), is an NSF-funded program, NSF Engine: Louisiana Energy Transition Engine, that is positioning the state as a global energy transition leader through high-impact technology development and innovation that supports the energy industry in lowering carbon emissions. FUEL brings together a growing team of universities, community and technical colleges, state agencies, and industry and capital partners led by LSU.

The Director of Use-Inspired Research & Development will be responsible for working closely with the FUEL Executive Director, industry members, universities, and community stakeholders to promote, develop, design, implement, and monitor all use-inspired research & development activities under the project. This position will supervise and manage all industry-directed use-inspired R&D projects including the Use-Inspired R&D network, Use-Inspired R&D round table discussions, Use-Inspired R&D support programs for HBCUs/MSIs/CTCs, and Use-Inspired R&D projects ranging from $50k to $500k and beyond. For more information, go here.

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FUEL Director of Workforce Development - Louisiana State University

Future Use of Energy in Louisiana (FUEL), is an NSF-funded program, NSF Engine: Louisiana Energy Transition Engine, that is positioning the state as a global energy transition leader through high-impact technology development and innovation that supports the energy industry in lowering carbon emissions. FUEL brings together a growing team of universities, community and technical colleges, state agencies, and industry and capital partners led by LSU.

The Director of Workforce Development will be responsible for working closely with the FUEL Executive Director, Industry Members, Universities, and community stakeholders to promote, develop, design, implement, and monitor all Workforce Development activities under the project. This position will supervise and manage all industry directed Workforce Development projects including a STEM k-12 network of educators and partners across the FUEL Region, a nested mentor program for college, high school, and middle school students to encourage STEM education, a STEM train-the-trainer program to help grow the STEM k-12 workforce in the FUEL Region, and identify workforce needs and deploy funds to support the creation of new educational courses to address gaps based on industry workforce needs at the technical and professional education levels. For more information, please go here.

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FUEL Director of Technology Commercialization - Louisiana State University

Future Use of Energy in Louisiana (FUEL), is an NSF-funded program, NSF Engine: Louisiana Energy Transition Engine, that is positioning the state as a global energy transition leader through high-impact technology development and innovation that supports the energy industry in lowering carbon emissions. FUEL brings together a growing team of universities, community and technical colleges, state agencies, and industry and capital partners led by LSU.

The Director of Technology Commercialization will be responsible for working closely with the FUEL Executive Director, Industry Members, Universities, and community stakeholders to promote, develop, design, implement, and monitor all Translation of Innovation to Practice/Technology Commercialization activities. This position will supervise and manage all Technology Commercialization projects including a energy entrepreneur network across the Region, an Energy Transition Proof-of-Concept fund, an executives-in-residence (EIR) program in support of new FUEL supported ventures, a structure for incubation of early-stage FUEL supported ventures, an investor alliance, a FUEL-focused technology transfer office, a patent fund for FUEL supported inventions, and a FUEL pitch event for early stage ventures. For additional details, please go here.

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FUEL Director of Community Engagement - Lousiana State University

Future Use of Energy in Louisiana (FUEL), is an NSF-funded program, NSF Engine: Louisiana Energy Transition Engine, that is positioning the state as a global energy transition leader that supports the energy industry in lowering carbon emissions. FUEL brings together a growing team of universities, community and technical colleges, state agencies, and industry and capital partners led by LSU.

The Director of Community Engagement will be responsible for working closely with the FUEL Executive Director, industry members, universities, and community stakeholders to promote, develop, design, implement, and monitor all community engagement activities. This position will supervise and manage all community engagement projects including Use-Inspired R&D support programs, Workforce Development support programs, and Translation of Innovation to Practice/Technology Commercialization support programs. For more information, please go here.

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Senior Managing Director - BioGenerator Ventures

BioGenerator Ventures, the investment and entrepreneur support division of BioSTL, is seeking a Senior Managing Director to play a crucial role in driving the growth and impact of St. Louis' thriving innovation ecosystem. The Senior Managing Director will be responsible for leading BioGenerator Ventures, which includes managing its portfolio of over 70 active companies.

In this pivotal role, the Senior Managing Director will lead BioGenerator Ventures’ ongoing work to create and grow promising new companies in St. Louis —providing investment and comprehensive startup support, including access to the BioGenerator Labs. BioGenerator Ventures' current portfolio is aligned with St. Louis' strengths, including therapeutics, diagnostics, medical devices, agtech, food/nutrition, and healthcare. In 2023, BioGenerator Ventures invested in 23 startup companies, and the portfolio has collectively raised over $2.7B in capital from local, national, and global investors.

As part of the BioSTL Senior Leadership Team, the Senior Managing Director will help guide the long-term vision and strategic direction of BioSTL, which has been a driving force in developing St. Louis' innovation ecosystem. The position will report to Donn Rubin, BioSTL Founding President and CEO and BioGenerator Ventures’ Chairman. For more details and to apply for the position, please go here.

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Assistant Vice President, Enterprise and Innovation - University of Nevada, Reno

The University of Nevada, Reno, is seeking an Assistant Vice President for Enterprise & Innovation (AVP-EI). The AVP-EI will lead the commercialization of the University’s research, artistic, scholarly and innovation discoveries and activities. This includes managing the university’s intellectual property and enterprise endeavors, cultivating relationships with private and public entities, and providing strategic direction for the university of Nevada, Reno Innevation Center and Community outreach efforts. Additionally, the AVP-EI will play a key role in enhancing industry partnerships and building engagement opportunities through the Nevada Center for Applied Research, and Promoting the state-wide Manufacture Nevada program, which assists businesses to become premier industry leaders in the manufacturing, construction and mining industries.

They will directly work with faculty entrepreneurs to form new ventures and support existing start-ups in all disciplines, while identifying and expanding entrepreneurial opportunities for university’s faculty and students. The AVP-EI will also serve as the point-of contact with the Board of Nevada Research & Innovation Corporation (NVRIC), a non-profit corporation whose mission is to support commercialization and entrepreneurial activities at the University. For more information and to apply, please go here.

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Associate Director, Technology Venture Studio - University of Missouri - Kansas City

The UMKC Innovation Center is seeking candidates for the position of Associate Director, Technology Venture Studio. This position manages UMKC Innovation Center Technology Venture Studio programs to assist technology founders and businesses in accessing capital, advisors, networks, training, coaching and other resources for developing businesses. The role works directly with Digital Sandbox KC, KCInvestED, Whiteboard2Boardroom, Digital Health KC, and the supporting Studio programs designed to build connectivity and community for early-stage tech companies. The Associate Director creates and manages events, measures program success, and assists with program impact collection. This position requires strong project management and networking skills. For a more detailed description and to apply for the position, please go here.

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President & CEO - Cherokee Farm Development Corporation

The Cherokee Farm Development Corporation (CFDC) is pleased to begin a national search for its next President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO). A not-for-profit organization, CFDC is responsible for the development and support of real estate and innovation assets essential to the research, innovation and workforce development goals of The University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UT).

CFDC currently supports the development of the UT Research Park at Cherokee Farm, a place-based initiative housing high-tech firms like Volkswagen and CEC, the R&D programs of UT’s Institute for Advanced Materials & Manufacturing, the CFDC-operated Spark Innovation Center incubating and accelerating high-tech start-ups, and The Orthopaedic Institute, a state-of-the-art ambulatory care facility operated by the UT Medical Center and OrthoTennessee and housing UT’s R&D Center for Precision Health. In the Fall of 2024, CFDC will open a new ~90,000 SF mixed-use facility on the UT Research Park supporting research, innovation and workforce development in advanced manufacturing, and is currently entertaining bids from organizations interested in developing an extended stay hotel and conference center on the site.

The CFDC President and CEO will support the expansion of the UT Research Park and explore other place-based innovation initiatives in the greater Knoxville region, including, for example, in the City of Knoxville, Knox County’s Hardin Valley, and in Oak Ridge, where the University enjoys a strategic partnership with Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). For a full description please go here.

Applications and nominations should be addressed to Catherine Lane, Search Committee Chair, and submitted via email to emily@tnresearchpark.org. Applications should include: 1). a cover letter; 2). a curriculum vitae; and 3). the names and contact information of five professional references. Review of applications will begin on April 15, 2024, and continue until the position is filled. The anticipated start date is August 1, 2024.

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National Science Foundation Engines Program Director - Activation Capital

Central Virginia has been awarded a National Science Foundation Type 1 Engines award. The purpose of this grant is to conduct an integrated and comprehensive set of activities spanning use-inspired research, translation-to-practice, entrepreneurship, and workforce development to nurture and accelerate Central Virginia’s Advanced Pharmaceutical Manufacturing (APM) cluster activity. The Engine will bring together an inclusive and diverse network of partners and stakeholders who will participate in the regional innovation ecosystem.

The Project will accelerate the creation of an APM hub that will drive the nation’s effort to secure its supply of quality affordable medicines, from R&D to the domestic manufacture of KSMs, APIs and finished formulations, enabling breakthroughs. The region is well positioned to support the Engine, with significant public and private investment ($500+ million) and is home to more than 80 life science R&D commercialization assets across complementary industries that can be leveraged to build a sustainable Engine.

The Virginia Biotechnology Research Park Corporation (Activation Capital’s 501c3) is seeking an accomplished senior business leader to serve as the Program Director to lead the implementation and strategy for AC’s Type 1 National Science Foundation Engines Award. This individual has demonstrated scientific credentials and senior leadership experience in successfully managing major initiatives and public-private stakeholder groups. For a detailed job description and instructions to apply, please go here.

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Innovation Partners Director - University of Oregon, Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation

The University of Oregon Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation is seeking an Innovation Partners Director to drive optimization of outcomes for research translation; expand the university’s capacity to generate use-inspired, market-driven innovations; and accelerate discovery at the intersection of academic research, innovation, and commercialization. The position focuses on developing, managing, and continuously improving the technology transfer process for all UO innovation assets. The Director primarily will lead the day-to-day operations of the technology transfer office, including protection of intellectual property, negotiation and execution of a wide array of technology transfer agreements, and management of faculty and student outreach and training. Additionally, the Director will serve as the case manager for a subset of the portfolio, complemented by direct reports that manage the portfolios for the physical sciences and social sciences.

This position has broad latitude and authority to accomplish goals and objectives. The successful candidate must have strong communication and management skills, the ability to plan both strategically and tactically, high-functioning organizational skills, attention to detail, adherence to confidentiality, and discretion.

This is a full-time position reporting to the Associate Vice President for Industry, Innovation & Translation (IIT). The Director will collaborate closely with the AVP and other units in IIT for the overall strategic direction, management, and administration of the University of Oregon’s technology commercialization operations and industry engagement programs. This position requires work located in Eugene, but hybrid options may be considered. For more details and to apply, plese go here.

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