Executive Director/ Office of Innovation Commercialization

This position is a member of the President’s Senior Staff and President’s Cabinet, and reports directly to the President. This position is responsible for leading and managing efforts related to an entrepreneurial (STE2M) university of behalf of NMT. This position also directs and manages operations related IP oversight and monetization; and collaborates with the NMT University Research Park Corporation and contributes to broad economic development efforts on behalf of NMT.

Leading and Managing Efforts Related to an Entrepreneurial University including:  Work to support overall direction of NMT as an Entrepreneurship University.  Work with the university president to assess procedures, policies, and practices that will continue the momentum as a STE2M/entrepreneurial university.  Market NMT externally as an entrepreneurship university; this includes our organic IP-development process as part of the overall picture; continue to build external networks that are both personal and professional based on NMT as an entrepreneurship university.  Work closely with NMT faculty and researchers to understand and assess the potential of their intellectual property.  Market the OIC internally as the internal point of contact for all IP-development matters.  Market the commercialization process internally via one seminar and two Entrepreneurship social events per academic year.  Work with NMT students as needed to provide structure and opportunities to develop student IP.  Work to continue to improve and evolve the NMT Inventors and Entrepreneurs Workshop and connect it with ongoing and new initiatives concerned with promoting entrepreneurship and innovation in New Mexico.  Work to Market Tech’s organic development philosophy and also Tech’s willingness to support economic development activities in New Mexico.  Work with NMT faculty and staff to develop IP as the basis for compelling, broad, method-deep invention disclosures.  Work with outside entities and the NMT Research Division to obtain support for faculty and staff IP-commercialization activities.  Work with faculty to develop compelling and detailed invention disclosures in accordance with the NMT IP Policy.  Work with faculty and staff on connections and relationships with individuals and entities that can further NMT IP monetization.  Work with faculty and staff as legal liaison with IP firms working with NMT.  Provide, support, and guide student teams working to support development and marketing of NMT faculty and staff IP.  Facilitate and support contacts between potential customers, licensees, and/or funding partners for NMT innovations.  Work with NMT consultants to continue to build relationships with potential philanthropists, business partners, connectors, and others interested in NMT as an entrepreneurial university.  Work with key law firms to develop IP strategies starting with NMT invention disclosure forms; maintain overall professional relationships with key law firms.

Direct and Manage Operations Related IP Oversight and Monetization:  Collaborate with NMT University Research Park and contribute to broad economic development efforts.  Develop and maintain relevant policies and procedures that support IP development at NMT.  Develop policy guidelines regarding licensing and spinoffs.  Maintain the NMT IP Policy with input and assistance from NMT Restricted Funds.  Help with development, maintenance, and implementation of policies related to IP.  Work with the NMT University Research Park Corporation (NMTURPC) to manage the monetization of NMT IP.  Collaborate regularly with the Director of NMTURPC on monetization of NMT IP.  Work to build NMT Seed Fund that would invest in NMT startups.  Work to build NMT Mentoring Stage Funding that will support on-campus IP development.  Identify potential licensees for NMT technology; work with RPC Board to build relationships with potential investors and licensees.  Work on NMT’s contribution to Economic Development in Socorro and in New Mexico.  Oversee the Technology Commercialization Accelerator in Socorro (under a cooperative agreement with the NM Small Business Development Center) and manage the Technology Accelerator Coordinator.  Work to develop license deals with companies and/or spinoffs based on NMT technologies that will locate in Socorro or NM.  Work with local entities and entrepreneurs trying to promote specific job and/or value-creating projects in New Mexico.  Serve on local economic development and/or investment boards and committees as appropriate.  Support initiatives and groups working on rural economic development and entrepreneurship.  Interface with the NMT Centers of Excellence (CoE) in Cyber Security on matters related to economic development.  Supervisory authority with regard to spending and other CoE matters related to economic development.  This position reports regularly to the President, Board of Regents, NMT University Research Park Board, and the NMT Foundation on progress, accomplishments, and goals for the OIC.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

PhD in science, engineering, or technology field required. Demonstrated experience with university innovation operations and in enhancing entrepreneurial endeavors required. Demonstrated experience with processes and procedures taking innovation to commercialization required. Demonstrated experience interacting with stakeholders related to university technology development (such as faculty, licensees, funding entities required. Demonstrated experience with investment funds, such as venture capital required. Demonstrated experience with state and local economic development operations required. Personal and professional integrity in the highest degree required. Demonstrated record of fiscal and operational management required. Exceptional written and verbal communication skills in conveying goals and objectives of innovation commercialization to internal and external stakeholders required. Demonstrated skills in working with administrators, faculty, staff and students in a climate of openness and transparency, integrity, trust, mutual respect and collaborative problem solving desired. Serving as a research faculty or academic faculty at a university desired.