Associate Vice President for Economic Development
- Employer
- University of Vermont
- Location
- Burlington
- Salary
- $190,000 - $225,000
View more categoriesView less categories
- Employment Type
- Full Time
- Institution Type
- Four-Year Institution
Job Details
Associate Vice President for Economic Development
Posting Summary
We will begin reviewing applications as of 10/15/2026
Reporting to the Vice President for Research and Economic Development (VPR), the Associate Vice President (AVP) for Economic Development provides strategic leadership for statewide economic development, industry engagement, workforce solutions, innovation, partnerships, and entrepreneurship. The AVP also serves as a senior integrator and primary connector among university offices and resources and external partners, translating institutional strengths into mutually beneficial partnerships and new initiatives with measurable economic and public impact.Strategic Innovation and Leadership
The AVP is responsible for identifying, developing, launching and evaluating strategic initiatives that advance the university's economic and innovation priorities, in alignment with the strategic direction of the VPR and in coordination with relevant university units. The AVP will leverage institutional strengths and emerging opportunities to create partnerships and programs that generate measurable economic, research, community, workforce, and financial impact.
The AVP will:
- Cultivate and sustain executive-level relationships with corporations, state and local government agencies, entrepreneurs, investors, business associations, chambers, economic development agencies, nonprofit organizations, and community leaders.
- In partnership with the Office of Engagement, lead discovery with prospective partners to understand their research, innovation, talent, workforce, commercialization, or community needs and connect them with the appropriate UVM expertise and resources and where appropriate, help develop opportunities into actionable initiatives by defining the value proposition, partners, resource requirements, and measures of success.
- Develop and advance strategic and deep partnerships that may combine sponsored research, entrepreneurship support, workforce development, talent recruitment, internships, technology licensing, testing and validation, philanthropic engagement, and new venture creation.
- Coordinate with the UVM Foundation Corporate Relations Office, Vermont Center for Emerging Technologies, and other relevant university and external partners to present a unified approach and clarify ownership and advance opportunities efficiently.
- Represent UVM in regional and statewide economic development strategy discussions and help position the university as a trusted convener and implementation partner.
Managerial RoleThe AVP provides strategic leadership of and coordinates economic development activities and strategic initiatives under the leadership of the VPR. As a portfolio leader and manager, the AVP will:
- Provide direct leadership for five units within OVPR, including UVM Innovations, Office of Engagement, Leahy Institute for Rural Partnerships, Biolabs Innovation Hub, and the Vermont Gallium Nitride Technology Hub.
- In coordination with each unit's leader, identify, prioritize, and advance new and/or stronger economic development activities, such as corporate partnerships, support for entrepreneurs, and revenue-generating activities like research partnerships, fee-for-service programs, and UVM-connected start-up businesses.
- Coordinate economic development activities with the UVM Foundation Corporate Relations Office and the Vermont Center for Emerging Technologies, and other units within the University as needed.
- Oversee and guide unit leaders to ensure their work aligns with organizational goals and missions and that units participate in strategic initiatives, establish shared priorities and performance measures, and nurture a team approach among these units in support of university-wide economic development goals.
Communications RoleWith the VPR, the AVP communicates within the university about economic development initiatives, opportunities, and outcomes and works with communications teams to advance this priority. The AVP will:
- Partner with university communications teams to develop compelling narratives, case studies, briefing materials, presentations, and reports that demonstrate the impact of UVM partnerships and innovation activity and support efforts to attract additional partners and investment.
- Provide timely strategic advice, investment recommendations, and concise decision materials to the VPR and other UVM leaders.
- Represent the VPR and the university on committees, councils, working groups, and external forums relevant to economic development, innovation, industry engagement, and entrepreneurship.
Minimum Qualifications (or equivalent combination of education and experience)
- Master's degree and significant progressively responsible leadership experience in economic development, innovation, industry engagement, entrepreneurship, technology commercialization, and/or corporate philanthropy, or a related field.
- Demonstrated success developing and executing complex initiatives from concept through launch, including securing resources and coordinating multiple internal and external stakeholders and producing measurable outcomes.
- Demonstrated ability to work effectively with and influence senior leaders and partners across academic, corporate, government, nonprofit, and community settings, including in a decentralized organizational environment.
Desirable Qualifications
- Experience in a research university, public research organization, economic development agency, innovation district, technology-based enterprise, or comparable innovation or partnership environment.
- Experience designing and launching multi-partner economic development initiatives, structuring public-private partnerships, or advancing industry-institutional partnerships.
- Experience developing performance indicators, using them to assess progress and inform decisions, and communicating economic, research, workforce, or community impact.
- Knowledge of Vermont's or a comparable state or regional innovation and economic development ecosystem.
Anticipated Pay Range
$190,000 - $225,000
Other Information
Special Conditions
Non-standard work hours required, A probationary period may be required, Occasional evening and/or weekends required (if non-exempt position, may result in overtime), Travel to and from worksites required, Background Check required for this position
FLSA
Exempt
Union Position
No
Job Location
Burlington, Vermont, United States
Job Close Date (Jobs close at 11:59 PM EST.)
Open Until Filled
Department
VP Research Admin Office/30600
Standard Hours at 1.0 FTE
37.5
Term (months per year)
12
For full job description and to apply, visit https://apptrkr.com/9842084"">https://www.uvmjobs.com/postings/88219
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Organization
The University of Vermont’s hilltop campus looks out across one of America’s most vibrant small cities to Lake Champlain and the Adirondack Mountains beyond. Here, students’ educational experience and activities are enriched by our location — from the energy and innovation of Burlington to the forests, farms, and independent spirit of Vermont.
UVM is a Public Ivy and top 100 research university of a perfect size, large enough to offer a breadth of ideas, resources, and opportunities, yet small enough to enable close faculty-student mentorship. With a commitment to undergraduate education, UVM professors — world-class researchers, scholars, and artists — bring their discoveries into the classroom and their students into the field.
You’ll find UVM faculty and students studying the effects of climate change aboard the Melosira, a research vessel and floating lab; testing new vaccines at the on-campus medical center; launching local start-ups; and working with refugees at Burlington community centers.
Since 1791, the University of Vermont has worked to move humankind forward. The fifth oldest university in New England, UVM boasts a legacy of important firsts in education: the first college to declare public support of freedom of religion and the first to admit women and African-Americans to Phi Beta Kappa.
Today, the university continues to provide endless ways to explore the world, challenge ideas, and dig in on the most pressing issues of our time.
At a glance:
- Founded in 1791, became a Land Grant university in 1862
- Home to seven undergraduate schools and colleges, the Honors College, Graduate College, Larner College of Medicine, and Division of Continuing and Distance Education
- Enrollment: 10,267 undergraduates, 1,462 graduate students, 461 medical students, 23 post-baccalaureate certificates, 892 non-degree students
- 1,556 full- and part-time faculty
- Offering 100+ bachelor’s degree programs, 50 master’s programs, 29 accelerated master’s programs, and 22 doctoral programs
- 18 Division I athletic teams
- “UVM” stands for Universitas Viridis Montis, Latin for University of the Green Mountains
Our vision
To be among the nation’s premier small research universities, preeminent in our comprehensive commitment to liberal education, environment, health and public service.
Our mission
To create, evaluate, share and apply knowledge and to prepare students to be accountable leaders who will bring to their work dedication to the global community, a grasp of complexity, effective problem-solving and communication skills, and an enduring commitment to learning and ethical conduct.
About Burlington:
UVM’s hometown perennially appears on national rankings that laud its livability, access to nature and recreation (including the best skiing in the northeast), thriving food and music scene, rising identity as a technology and innovation hub, and its status as a top college town. City perks include an active pedestrian marketplace in the heart of downtown, 8 miles of waterfront along Lake Champlain featuring stunning sunsets over the Adirondacks beyond, and a 12-mile paved bike trail that runs along the lake. Burlington’s nickname, BTV, comes from the code for its airport, just 10 minutes from campus. With Montreal a 90-minute and Boston a 3.5-hour drive away, international and metropolitan culture are easily accessible for weekend adventures.
With a metro-area population of approximately 210,000, Burlington is Vermont’s largest city. In addition to UVM, large local employers include Global Foundries, GE Healthcare, Keurig Green Mountain, Dealer.com, Seventh Generation and Ben & Jerry’s Homemade. Vermont’s public K-12 schools are perennially ranked among the best in the nation.
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