Director of Technology Commercialization

Position Summary
The Statewide Technology Commercialization Director has oversight management of the SBTDC s Technology Team and programmatically supervises multiple SBTDC staff at distributed SBTDC regional centers across NC. The position will develop annual work plans for the Technology unit and will prepare a quarterly report on performance versus the development plans. Extensive inter-institutional contact with appropriate staff within the 16-campus University System will be expected. The position has responsibility for the development of new products and programs and will facilitate communication and technology transfer initiatives locally statewide and nationally. The position will manage and have oversight of existing technology-based student engagement programs and will develop new programs as appropriate. The position will also manage and deploy the existing Investor Ready Entrepreneur program updating content as appropriate and will recruit subject matter expertise to facilitate. The position serves on internal committees and work groups and is responsible to the State Director for special projects supporting initiatives of the SBTDC and other external organizations. Significant marketing and outreach will be required along with instruction/training activities which support the SBTDC s technology development and commercialization objectives. Applied research for various technology reports and publications will be performed. Primary responsibilities include: - Providing leadership supervision mentoring and performance management for technology commercialization counselors located throughout the state. - Delivering one-on-one counseling and strategic guidance to innovation-based companies entrepreneurs and university faculty members. - Planning developing and executing statewide educational programs workshops webinars and conferences focused on technology commercialization entrepreneurial growth and innovation funding. - Cultivating sponsorships and external funding sources to support programmatic initiatives and strategic objectives. - Developing and disseminating educational promotional and thought-leadership content through newsletters social media platforms websites and other communication channels. - Directing a statewide graduate student internship program including program design fundraising university partnerships student recruitment client engagement and program evaluation. - Building and maintaining strategic relationships with universities technology transfer offices innovation centers MBA programs research institutions and entrepreneurial support organizations throughout North Carolina. - Establishing and maintaining collaborative partnerships with federal state regional and local economic development organizations and innovation ecosystem stakeholders. - Representing the SBTDC through speaking engagements networking events professional conferences and other public-facing activities throughout the state and nationally. - Monitoring program performance and outcomes preparing quarterly and annual reports and ensuring achievement of annual work plan objectives and contractual deliverables. - Participating in senior leadership activities and serving as the primary liaison between SBTDC leadership and the Technology Commercialization team. The Director of Technology Commercialization leads one of SBTDCs most distinctive and nationally recognized service offerings. This position plays a critical role in strengthening North Carolinas innovation economy by helping emerging companies secure funding commercialize research-based technologies create high-quality jobs attract investment capital and bring new products and services to market. The position also serves as a key connector among universities entrepreneurs investors economic development organizations and public-sector partners helping to advance innovation-based economic development across the state.

Required Qualifications Competencies And Experience
* Strong written and verbal communication skills including public speaking presentation development and preparation of reports marketing materials and educational content. * Ability to travel extensively throughout North Carolina and occasionally outside the state. * Ability to lead supervise mentor and evaluate professional staff in a collaborative and geographically dispersed work environment. * Ability to establish priorities delegate responsibilities and manage multiple initiatives simultaneously. * Commitment to fostering a positive team culture and supporting professional development. * Working knowledge of technology commercialization processes startup formation innovation ecosystems and research-based entrepreneurship. * Understanding of federal and state innovation funding programs including non-dilutive funding opportunities venture capital angel investment and other sources of growth capital. * Ability to communicate complex technical financial and business concepts to diverse audiences.

Preferred Qualifications Competencies And Experience
* Masters degree in business administration engineering science technology management entrepreneurship or a related field. * Seven or more years of progressively responsible experience in business development technology commercialization innovation management entrepreneurship support economic development venture development technology transfer or a related field. * Demonstrated experience advising small businesses startups entrepreneurs or university researchers on business growth commercialization funding strategies or innovation-related topics. * Experience leading programs projects initiatives or teams with multiple stakeholders and competing priorities. * Experience developing and maintaining partnerships with universities government agencies economic development organizations investors entrepreneurial support organizations or other innovation ecosystem partners. * Experience with SBIR / STTR programs federal research funding technology transfer or university commercialization activities. * Experience securing grants sponsorships contracts or other external funding sources. * Experience working within a university-based nonprofit economic development or entrepreneurial support organization. * Experience managing statewide initiatives or multi-institution collaborations. * Familiarity with North Carolinas innovation entrepreneurship and economic development ecosystem.