Director Academic Innovations

The Director – Academic Innovations is responsible for the development and execution of the strategies to achieve success with SCRA’s partners in the academic sector, including the research and comprehensive universities, technical colleges, and independent colleges, throughout the state. This success is evidenced by greater collaboration between and among the state’s academic institutions, industry, and SC’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, thus leading to increased research capacity and the commercialization of use-inspired research.

• Leads diverse team in support of technology transfer and commercialization of use-inspired research at academic institutions.
• Facilitates and manages relationships between and among academic institutions, entrepreneurs, and companies in target industries, focusing on use-inspired research and technology commercialization.
• Manages teams tasked with identifying opportunities to obtain translational research funding, supporting applications for funding and, in some cases, leading the funded programs.
• Identifies areas of common interest among disparate parties and facilitates progress toward mutually desirable business outcomes.
• Leads the Academic Innovations team, prepares Annual Operating Plan, develops and manages grant programs, and develops processes and procedures.
• Equips Academic Innovations to mature academic startups through the stages of Ideate, Develop, Accelerate and Scale.
• Works collaboratively with the Director, Industry Solutions, the Director, SC Launch Program, and the Executive Director of investment affiliate, SC Launch, Inc.
• Participates in developing and executing SCRA’s strategic plan.
• Represents SCRA at national, regional, and statewide conferences, and makes public presentations.
• Represents SCRA in, and where appropriate leads, multi-party efforts to develop and implement strategies to advance South Carolina’s Innovation Economy.
• Utilizes a deep understanding of South Carolina academia’s capabilities to foster collaboration and accelerate the application of current research efforts across SCRA’s missions in the areas of advanced manufacturing/materials, clean tech sustainability and resilience, life sciences, and information technology.
• Identifies appropriate resources to accomplish objectives, both internally and externally to SCRA; works to identify and develop key capabilities.
• Demonstrates creative collaboration capabilities to lead progress, overcome obstacles and negotiate agreements.
• Works collaboratively with leaders of economic development and entrepreneurial ecosystem partners to advance South Carolina’s innovation economy.
• Represents SCRA in contract development and negotiations.
• Operates at the highest level of ethical conduct.

• Bachelor's degree in business or related technical field, MBA, or Master’s in technical field preferred.
• Minimum ten or more years related experience in university technology transfer and commercialization or technology-based economic development.
• Demonstrated history of facilitating complex relationships among disparate entities, preferably in industry, entrepreneurship, academia, and venture capital.
• Substantial experience in strategic planning, research management, business development and commercialization.
• Able to quickly master new technical and business knowledge and apply to academic/industry collaborations and academic startups.
• Must possess and demonstrate integrity to handle confidential information.