Job location: School Eng & Applied Sciece - 107 Towne - 3600 Civic Center Boulevard - 9th Floor

Employment Type: Full-time
Posted data: 2019-09-23
Req: JR00007947
University Overview

The University of Pennsylvania, the largest private employer in Philadelphia, is a world-renowned leader in education, research, and innovation. This historic, Ivy League school consistently ranks among the top 10 universities in the annual U.S. News & World Report survey. Penn has 12 highly-regarded schools that provide opportunities for undergraduate, graduate and continuing education, all influenced by Penn’s distinctive interdisciplinary approach to scholarship and learning.

Penn offers a unique working environment within the city of Philadelphia. The University is situated on a beautiful urban campus, with easy access to a range of educational, cultural, and recreational activities. With its historical significance and landmarks, lively cultural offerings, and wide variety of atmospheres, Philadelphia is the perfect place to call home for work and play.

The University offers a competitive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare and tuition benefits for employees and their families, generous retirement benefits, a wide variety of professional development opportunities, supportive work and family benefits, a wealth of health and wellness programs and resources, and much more.

Posted Job Title

Director, SEAS Innovation and Technology

Job Profile Title

Director D

Job Description Summary

The Director of SEAS Corporate Relations strengthens the interactions between Penn Engineering and major corporations in the areas of market development. Through partnerships with the private sector, Penn Engineering vast research knowledge can be leveraged with corporate partners to create, enhance and further develop new technologies and business opportunities in close alignment with the many interdisciplinary programs and faculty within Penn Engineering, and across other Penn Schools at the University through active collaboration. Through a strong understanding of the strengths of Penn Engineering’s research programs and expertise and the ability to align those assets with corporations expressing similar interests, the Director will help to implement the market sector business development strategies for Penn Engineering through coordinated efforts via the Penn Center for Innovation’s (PCI) Corporate Outreach Group, as well as the vision of the Dean of the School of Engineering and Applied Science. The Director will work with faculty, students, administration, and representatives from industry to advance these mutual research interests and to partner with corporations while helping to foster new relationships across the University and private businesses. The Director will have dual reporting responsibilities to PCI’s Chief Innovation and Corporate Outreach Officer and to the Dean of the School of Engineering and Applied Science.

Job Description

Responsibilities:

• Work with PCI’s Chief Innovation and Corporate Outreach Officer and the Dean of the School of Engineering and Applied Science to define and implement a strategic corporate outreach plan to connect programs and research projects at Penn Engineering that will align well with corporate interests. Develop productive connections between University faculty and external corporate interests to identify areas of common interest and help to coalesce them into more formal business development relationships to create, enhance and further develop new technologies and business opportunities in close alignment with the many interdisciplinary programs within the University and the School of Engineering and Applied Science.

• Oversee the development of a deep understanding of faculty and programmatic research interests at Penn Engineering to facilitate the aforementioned outreach activities and bridge potential areas of interest to the private sector. Key activities to include building capability/capacity for corporate interest by identifying and organizing internal resources such as interviewing faculty, cataloguing expertise of faculty interested in working with corporate research groups outside the University. Build and cultivate relationships across campus and the region to drive and ensure engagement and streamline collaboration with corporations. Interact with University faculty, officials, industry partners, vendors, and government representatives to understand and reduce barriers to collaboration.

• Collaboratively and smoothly connect potential partnership opportunities that are identified by the outreach activities outlined above, which may include licenses, corporate sponsored research relationships or alliances, or new ventures with the licensing, ventures and/or corporate contracts groups at PCI for further development.

• Help to design, implement and advance corporate/university events that foster research interest and partnerships among faculty, students, administration, and representatives from industry. Help to identify relevant grant opportunities, understand and communicate application and vetting process.

• Working closely with PCI’s Chief Innovation Officer and the Dean of the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, develop key metrics of success and maintain data on research areas of expertise and work closely with faculty and corporations to facilitate project success.Establish ongoing factors to monitor collaborations to ensure continued productivity; which can include working to address areas of concerns.

• Work with key personnel at PCI and the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences to develop and manage a Corporate Outreach Relations online and social media presence.

• Perform additional duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

Master’s degree or greater in engineering, or related engineering business discipline and minimum 5 years supervisory/ management position, preferably in academia or industry or equivalent education and experience required. PhD or a terminal professional degree and experience with industry translation, either through invention, startup companies, in academia, government, a regulatory or industry position strongly preferred. Experience with industry translation and commercialization in an industry setting or business development role. Ability to promote collaboration between industry and academia regarding new technologies and scientific discoveries.Experience and understanding of university policies and procedures a plus. Excellent problem-solving and interpersonal communication skills.

Job Location - City, State

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Department / School

Provost's Center

Pay Range

$88,861.00 - $168,837.00

Affirmative Action Statement 
Penn adheres to a policy that prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected class.

Special Requirements 
Background check required after a conditional job offer is made. Consideration of the background check will be tailored to the requirements of the job.