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University Director of Technology Ventures, Office of Research

POSITION DETAILS

The City University of New York’s (CUNY) Office of Research (OR) at the Central Office is responsible for the leadership of University initiatives that build research capacity. Research, scholarly, and creative pursuits are supported through three OR divisions: Research Development and Programs; Innovation and Entrepreneurship; and Research Integrity and Compliance. Jointly, these divisions encourage collaborative and transdisciplinary research innovations; foster startups and commercialization both within and beyond the CUNY community; and ensure adherence to the standards that govern research ethics and sponsored program administration.

Reporting to the University Executive Director for Research and Innovation, the University Director of Technology Ventures will serve as a primary liaison between OR’s innovation teams, CUNY faculty researchers, and industrial partners on a diverse array of commercialization and sponsored research opportunities. The University Director will help foster, strengthen, and sustain the CUNY innovation ecosystem by enabling intellectual property (IP) generation and technology commercialization activity across the University’s 26 colleges and schools. The University Director of Technology Ventures will engage closely with OR’s Technology Commercialization Office (TCO) and Industrial and Applied Research (IAR) group to help grow CUNY's capacity for IP development and protection, faculty entrepreneurship, and technology transfer to industry.

In addition to the position overview, other key duties will include, but not be limited to the following:

• Lead and foster relationship development with CUNY faculty researchers across the innovation ecosystem and industry and investors aligned with CUNY research strengths.

• Design and implement systematic approaches to identify and map CUNY-wide research strengths with technology transfer potential and external prospects with likely interest in CUNY technologies.

• Develop programs, trainings, pipelines, and workflows that upskill CUNY researchers to evaluate the IP opportunities and technology applications of their discoveries.

• Guide CUNY faculty prospects to TCO and IAR collaborators for IP generation and entrepreneurship training.

• Initiate and propel dialogue between CUNY researchers and industrial sponsors for technology commercialization opportunities.

• Create and maintain project management solutions to monitor and expedite complex cases involving CUNY researchers, industry, and other venture partners.

• Design, launch, and sustain consultation services for CUNY researchers about IP generation and licensing processes.

• Partner with OR’s TCO and IAR colleagues to support faculty and student entrepreneurship training initiatives and CUNY small business incubators, accelerators, and other innovation nodes.

• Collaborate with CUNY communications, marketing, and public/government relations professionals to showcase CUNY innovation and public impact research for key audiences.

• Align with OR research compliance, research development, and other domains to foster robust innovation ecosystem outcomes.

• Engage CUNY leaders and decision-makers to champion the CUNY innovation ecosystem and its value.

• Other duties as assigned.

NOTES:

1. Until further notice, this position is eligible for a hybrid work schedule.

2. This role requires regular travel to CUNY colleges and schools across the five boroughs of New York City to connect with researchers and other innovation stakeholder communities.

QUALIFICATIONS

MINIMUM

Bachelor's degree and eight years' directly related experience required.

PREFERRED

•Advanced degree in a directly related discipline, which may substitute for up to two years of the required experience.

•Demonstrated experience designing and implementing systemic innovation and entrepreneurship programs and functions within a higher education or research environment.

•Demonstrated knowledge and strong familiarity with:

-IP generation, protection, and technology commercialization laws, regulations, and standards in higher education.

-Stakeholder relationship development and management best practices for both internal and external innovation stakeholders.

-Emerging tools, trends, sector-wide conversations, and developments in technology transfer, innovation and commercialization.

-Research administration methods as they intersect with a university innovation ecosystem.

•Demonstrated experience in:

-Guiding researchers and their IP through technology commercialization lifecycles.

-Designing and implementing innovation infrastructure ecosystem to include structures, workflows, procedures, and processes in a complex higher education environment.

-Identifying and evaluating commercialization opportunities with high-impact IP and return-on-investment.

-Engaging with industry, venture capital, and other potential investors.

-Designing and delivering trainings on IP and technology commercialization.

•Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Office suite, administrative, financial, and/or academic programs, systems, and databases.

•Exemplary organizational and project management skills to develop objectives, set and adapt to changing priorities, manage competing demands/changes and meet deadlines.

•Proactive, flexible, and collaborative work style with strong interpersonal communication, presentation, and negotiation skills to forge successful relationships with diverse faculty, staff, and external partners.

•Detail-oriented and precise with strong research, writing, and analytical skills, plus ability to thrive in a demanding, multi-faceted, time-sensitive office.

•Demonstrated commitment to public service, service excellence, inclusion, equity, ethics, confidentiality and integrity.

CUNY TITLE OVERVIEW

Supports Intellectual Property protection, technology transfer, and commercialization of the University's academic/scholarly research, innovations, and inventions.

- Identifies and evaluates the commercial potential of University research and technology, partnering with faculty, government agencies and industry

- Fosters relationships with business and industry partners

- Obtains and enforces appropriate patent and trademark protections for new products, maintaining the confidentiality of product processes and technologies

- Participates in the promotion, protection, copyrighting, patenting, and licensing of inventions, and ensures commercialization activities benefit the University

- Manages a portfolio of research, technologies, and/or inventions for a specific scientific development area

- Performs related duties as assigned.

CUNY TITLE

Higher Education Officer

FLSA

Exempt

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

The salary range is **$111,560 - $119,995** commensurate with credentials, education, and experience.

CUNY is in the process of implementing salary schedule increases. Once implemented, salaries of eligible employees will be adjusted by 6.09% with additional increases of 3.25% effective 9/1/2025 and 3.5% effective 9/1/26, in accordance with the terms of the PSC-CUNY collective bargaining agreement.

CUNY's benefits contribute significantly to total compensation, supporting health and wellness, financial well-being, and professional development. We offer a range of health plans, competitive retirement/pension benefits and savings plans, tuition waivers for CUNY graduate study and generous paid time off. Our staff also benefits from the extensive academic, arts, and athletic programs on our campuses and the opportunity to participate in a lively, diverse academic community in one of the greatest cities in the world.

HOW TO APPLY

For full consideration, submit a cover letter and resume online via CUNY's web-based job system, addressing how your experience and credentials meet the responsibilities and qualifications outlined.

The direct link to the job opening from external sources is:

https://hrsa.cunyfirst.cuny.edu/psc/erecruit/EMPLOYEE/HRMSCG/c/HRS\_HRAM\_FL.HRS\_CG\_SEARCH\_FL.GBL?Page=

HRS\_APP\_JBPST\_FL&Action=U&FOCUS=Applicant&SiteId=1&JobOpeningId=30703&PostingSeq=1

Current CUNY employees must apply through CUNYfirst Employee Self Service using their login credentials. After you login, click the Careers tile on the Employee Self Service Menu page to view job openings.

CLOSING DATE

Open until filled.

JOB SEARCH CATEGORY

CUNY Job Posting: Managerial/Professional

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

CUNY encourages people with disabilities, minorities, veterans and women to apply. At CUNY, Italian Americans are also included among our protected groups. Applicants and employees will not be discriminated against on the basis of any legally protected category, including sexual orientation or gender identity. EEO/AA/Vet/Disability Employer.

Job ID

30703

Location

Central Office