Director of IALS Venture Development

About UMass Amherst

The flagship of the Commonwealth, the University of Massachusetts Amherst is a nationally ranked public land-grant research university that seeks to expand educational access, fuel innovation and creativity, and share and use its knowledge for the common good. Founded in 1863, UMass Amherst sits on nearly 1,450-acres in scenic Western Massachusetts and boasts state-of-the-art facilities for teaching, research, scholarship, and creative activity. The institution advances a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community where everyone feels connected and valued-and thrives, and offers a full range of undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees across 10 schools and colleges, and 100 undergraduate majors. We believe every member of our university community can contribute to our ongoing success by striving for the highest level of excellence as we seek breakthrough solutions to mounting environmental, social, economic, and technological challenges in our world.

About Research & Engagement

The UMass Amherst community engages more than 31,000 students, 1,400 faculty, and 5,000 staff in 11 schools and colleges with a wide variety of degree programs, research, and public service. More than 800 faculty lead sponsored research projects in many areas from basic to applied that are sponsored by federal, state, and private sources with expenditures of more than $240 million in 2023.

Job Summary

The Director of the Institute for Applied Life Sciences (IALS) Venture Development program is responsible for the creation of a culture, resources, and programs conducive to the development of research-based pre-startups and startups on campus.

The Director develops and maintains external relationships with key partners, manages a portfolio of pre-startup projects and startup ventures based on UMass applied science and technology, and supervises professional staff related to the operations of the IALS Venture Development program, oversees the Business Innovation Fellows program.

Essential Functions

• Advances the mission of creating a sustainable increase in the campus's translational research capacity, output and impact including cultivating a pipeline of translational projects from the campus research enterprise, follow-on funding, alumni support, and industry relationships.
• Manages the portfolio of startups and pre-startups. Oversees the portfolio of startup support training, events, programs, professional development opportunities and other resources for faculty, graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers. Guides and mentors faculty, postdoctoral fellows and students who are interested in startup ventures, research translation, and related activities. Promotes startups from the research enterprise and Collaborates through on-campus and off-campus events. Collaborates with the IALS Director and the Associate Director of Venture Development to develop new programs, events, and resources to grow the startup pipeline and to accelerate the development of pre-startups into fundable entities.
• Serves as a member of the IALS leadership team to advance the Institute's mission and operations, represents the Institute as appropriate, cultivates networks of mentors, investors, donors, faculty and other campus researchers, and campus leadership to serve as influencers and advocates for translational research and its potential impact. Nurtures relationships with key organizations in industry and the regional/national innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem. Collaborates with UMass leadership on goals two and three of the campus strategic plan: Innovate for the Common Good and Engage for the Common Good. Serves as Co-PI on awards and collaborates with the IALS Director and IALS Finance & Administration Director to oversee awards and gifts related to IALS Venture Development.
• Develops resources to sustain translational research related training, mentoring and internal grant programs beyond the life of any sponsored-award dollars as a member of the IALS leadership team and with other campus leaders. Collaborates with the IALS Director to oversee Translational Seed Award Programs.
• Directs the Business Innovation Fellows Program, which provides business planning support to pre-startup projects and startup ventures based on UMass applied science and technology. Recruits highly qualified graduate research assistants to serve as Fellows.

Other Functions

• Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)

• MBA or MS in a STEM discipline.
• More than ten (10) years of experience in managing entrepreneurship such as venture mentoring, or advising and coaching of founders/startup principals.
• Track record of implementing initiatives and events to support technology commercialization, innovation, and industry engagement.

Physical Demands/Working Conditions

• Typical office environment.

Additional Details

• Some travel may be necessary.
• The appointment duration for this position is one year, with the possibility of extension subject to funding availability and program needs.

Work Schedule

• 37.5 hours/week, Monday through Friday.
• May be required to work occasional nights and weekends.

Salary Information

PSU Level 36

Exempt Hiring Ranges

Special Instructions to Applicants

Along with the application, please submit a resume. References will be checked at the finalist stage. Please be prepared to provide contact information for three (3) professional references. Applications will be reviewed on a continuous basis until the position is filled. Early submissions are encouraged.

The University of Massachusetts Amherst welcomes all qualified applicants and complies with all state and federal anti-discrimination laws.