Manager Innovation Education Engagement

The Innovation Education & Engagement Manager serves as a cross-functional leader within USF CONNECT advancing USFs innovation and commercialization mission through integrated support of entrepreneurial education industry partnerships external communications strategic planning and ecosystem development. This role bridges academic research startup activity industry needs and regional economic development efforts creating pathways for both faculty and companies to advance market-ready solutions. The Innovation Strategist leads educational programming fosters strategic partnerships manages external communications and contributes to program alignment that positions USF CONNECT as a national leader in innovation-driven economic growth.

The duties and responsibilities for this position include:

Marketing Communications & Storytelling (30%) Lead external communications strategy (newsletters social events website press releases); craft narratives that highlight program impact and outcomes; manage strategic messaging for ecosystem partnerships.

Strategic Planning & Program Alignment (20%) Support strategic planning for entrepreneurial education industry engagement and economic development; conduct landscape analyses; align programs with institutional and regional priorities; define metrics and track performance.

Industry Engagement & Economic Development (20%) Build partnerships with industry government and nonprofits; represent USF CONNECT at consortiums and ecosystem events; support sponsored initiatives that elevate USFs innovation profile.

Program Development & Delivery (25%) Design refine and deliver education programming (ideation lean startup design thinking business modeling market readiness); develop hybrid/online modules; support TBTI SII Evolve Accelerator and commercialization initiatives.

Faculty Liaison & Internal Collaboration (5%) Bridge CONNECT with academic colleges and faculty researchers to foster entrepreneurial mindset; participate in internal committees and working groups.

Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelors degree or equivalent combination of education and experience. Five or more years of relevant experience in innovation/entrepreneurial education incubation/acceleration communications strategic planning or industry engagement.

Senate Bill 1310- The Florida Senate ( is conditional upon meeting all employment eligibility requirements in the U.S.
SB 1310: Substitution of Work Experience for Postsecondary Education Requirements
A public employer may include a postsecondary degree as a baseline requirement only as an alternative to the number of years of direct experience required not to exceed:
(a) Two years of direct experience for an associate degree;
(b) Four years of direct experience for a bachelors degree;
(c) Six years of direct experience for a masters degree;
(d) Seven years of direct experience for a professional degree; or
(e) Nine years of direct experience for a doctoral degree
Related work experience may not substitute for any required licensure certification or registration required for the position of employment as established by the public employer and indicated in the advertised description of the position of employment.
Minimum Qualifications that require a high school diploma are exempt from SB 1310.

Preferred Qualifications

Masters degree (MBA or related is preferred).