Executive Director

The new Executive Director position will be responsible for the development and management of university innovation initiatives at Florida Tech’s soon-to-be rebranded/reimagined CAMID facility in Palm Bay, FL. The following job description outlines four primary areas of responsibility.

Primary Responsibilities

Strong business development acumen to focus on partnerships and key stakeholders interested in developing an entrepreneurship/innovation center of excellence. Engage with SME/SMMs and work with like-minded organizations to promote strategic partnerships to further University strategic plan and create sustainable program operations.

• Develop relationships with local, state, and regional businesses, associations, and conferences to strengthen the brand and business development opportunities for the program.
  
  
• Represents Florida Tech as a public speaker at community functions and purposeful networking events
  
  
• Promotes strategic collaborations with the private sector and Florida Tech to leverage research and funding opportunities.
  
  
• Interfaces and promotes strong relationship building with key stakeholders inclusive of personnel, clients, donors, Advisory Board Members, Florida Tech administration, local, state, and federal administrators, and the community at large.
  
  

Strong collaboration leadership skills to integrate university assets to innovative initiatives.

• Build and maintain relationships with various stakeholders in the institution and regularly engage with senior leadership and faculty of the Colleges of Engineering and Science, Business, Psychology and Liberal Arts, and Aeronautics. on university-wide strategy and long-term investments.
• Lead prospect visits in partnership with Office of Advancement and External Affairs, and engage Deans, directors, faculty, and/or students when appropriate.
• Collaborate with the Offices of Advancement and Sponsored Research to identify, apply for, and manage grant funding opportunities.
• Collaborate with External Affairs to identify and pursue with state and federal funding opportunities.
• Develop, implement, and maintain, in conjunction with the university
• marketing, a strategic marketing and brand awareness campaign.

Responsible for developing sustainable programs and operations focused on engaging with small and medium-sized businesses, as well as innovative entrepreneurs.

• Strategically manage a prospect portfolio of potential business partnerships, in conjunction with the Office of Advancement, and shared research projects that results in hosted projects, research partnerships, or funding. Meet performance objectives by maintaining a high level of development activity and identification of "new" prospects each year.
  
  
• Oversee requests for proposals, vendor evaluations, procurement, vendor management, consulting engagements, policy and procedure development and enforcement as needed.
  
  
• Oversee SBA/SBIR/STTR applications and program management of funded programs.
  
  
• Establish diverse streams of revenue via partnerships, memberships, and fee-for-service program offerings.
  
  
• Ensure effective management of space, mechanical, and personnel assets, including training technicians, students, and clients in the facility
  
  
• Establish, manage and track relationships with investors and the community using Florida Tech’s CRM.
  
  
• Develop an annual strategic funding plan and budget to meet operational costs.
  
  
• Oversee program management to ensure key metrics and milestones associated with funding and university objectives are achieved.
  
  

Coordinate with University Facilities to identify and fund facility capital improvements.

Operational Responsibilities

• Reports to the Sr. Assoc. Provost for Research
  
  
• Manages a team of approximately three to six individuals, including Program Manager(s), Technician(s), and more
  
  
• Sets performance goals and measurements, and conducts annual evaluations and provides feedback for personnel
  
  
• Oversees the budgets and all financial operations of program(s) within the cost center.
  
  

Minimum Qualifications:

• BS/BA in Business preferred
  
  
• 5+ years of experience building relationships and networks with community partners
  
  
• Strong, effective presentation, written and verbal communication skills
  
  
• Experience supervising staff, implementing evaluation processes, and managing budgets and allocation of resources
  
  
• Strong strategic planning and implementation skills
  
  
• 3+ years of fundraising experience
  
  
• Proficiency in Office Suite and basic computer functions
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Masters’/MBA degree
  
  
• Relevant business management or entrepreneurship experience
  
  
• Experience in grant writing and management
  
  
• Experience with SBIR/STTR programs
  
  
• Exemplary customer service skills
  
  
• Ability to adapt quickly in a fast-paced and expanding work environment
  
  
• Must be a self-starter and possess strong analytical and problem-solving skills
  
  
• Demonstrated ability to organize and work independently as a leader and as part of a team
  
  

Equal Opportunity

Florida Tech does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, age, pregnancy, parenting status, veteran status or retirement status in its activities and programs. In accordance with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Florida Tech does not discriminate on the basis of sex. Inquiries concerning the application of the non-discrimination policy may be directed to the Office of Title IX at John E. Miller Office Building (401QAD), 150 West University Blvd, Melbourne, FL 32901, TitleIXCoordinator@fit.edu , or 321-674-8885, or to the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights.

Americans with Disabilities Act

Please notify us at least five days in advance if a reasonable accommodation for a disability is needed by calling the Office of Human Resources at 321-674-8100.

Annual Security & Fire Safety Report

The federal Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act) requires colleges and universities, both public and private, participating in federal student aid programs to disclose campus safety information, and imposes certain basic requirements for handling incidents of sexual violence and emergency situations.

Florida Tech’s 2023 Annual Security and Fire Safety Report includes statistics for the previous three years concerning reported crimes that occurred on campus; in certain off-campus buildings or property owned or controlled by Florida Tech; and on public properly within, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from, the campus.

The numbers provided include crime statistics that were reported to local law enforcement agencies, campus security and other Campus Security Authorities.

The report also includes institutional policy statements regarding campus safety and security measures; descriptions of prevention and awareness programs; related university procedures and important guidance; and other essential safety information.

You can obtain a printed copy of this report at the Department of Security Welcome Center located at 3126 Panther Place, during normal business hours, or by accessing the following web site Annual Security and Fire Safety Report 2023.

Official Transcripts

Official transcripts of all collegiate work must be sent directly from the attended institution to the Office of Human Resources prior to the first day of employment. All international degrees must have a course-by-course official evaluation and translation sent to the Human Resources Office directly from an evaluation company affiliated with the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services, Inc. (NACES).

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