Job ID: 376354
About the Job
Organization Overview
The Hormel Institute is a biomedical research institute within the University of Minnesota's Research and Innovation Office (RIO), which advances the University's research, innovation, and economic development mission. The Institute advances discoveries that improve human health through research, education, and community engagement. Located in Austin, Minnesota, the Institute brings together internationally recognized faculty, advanced research infrastructure, and strategic partnerships to accelerate scientific discovery, workforce development, and innovation.
Position and Department Overview
The Business Development and Partnerships Director leads external engagement and partnership development to connect The Hormel Institute's research expertise and innovation capabilities with new opportunities for collaboration, utilization, and revenue. The role identifies, cultivates, and secures opportunities with industry, academic, and public sector partners.
The position guides opportunities from initial concept through early development by building partnership models, bringing together the right internal and external stakeholders, and helping promising ideas move toward implementation. As initiatives become established, the Director helps transition ongoing operations to designated Institute teams, allowing the role to maintain focus on new and emerging opportunities.
In addition to advancing current initiatives, the Director evaluates new concepts for feasibility, alignment with institutional priorities, partnership potential, and long-term sustainability, with particular emphasis on opportunities that strengthen external engagement and institutional growth. The Director leads feasibility analysis and business planning for emerging initiatives in collaboration with Institute leadership, Finance, faculty leaders, and external partners. Working closely with faculty, Institute leadership, University units, and external partners, the Director serves as a connector and translator between the academic research environment and external partners, helping turn shared interests and opportunities into viable collaborations and programs.
This position reports to the Chief of Staff and serves as a member of The Hormel Institute Executive Leadership Team. The role works collaboratively with Institute leadership, the University of Minnesota Research and Innovation Office (RIO), faculty initiative leads, and strategic external partners to advance shared institutional and regional priorities. The role does not directly supervise staff but leads through collaboration across internal teams and external stakeholders to move opportunities forward. The employer retains the right to change or assign other duties to this position as needed.
Focus of Job Responsibilities
The Director will step into an active portfolio of high-priority initiatives while also identifying and developing new opportunities over time. The current portfolio includes:
Viral Manufacturing and Translational Consortium (VMTC)
Leads development of partnership, feasibility, and business planning activities necessary to establish a sustainable public-private consortium focused on advancing clinical-grade viral vector production. Responsibilities include coordinating feasibility assessments, supporting development of financial and business models in collaboration with Institute leadership and the Rare Disease Council, cultivating consortium participation, and advancing partnership frameworks that position VMTC for long-term sustainability and investment.
Minnesota Bioimaging Center (MBiC) and Riverland Community College Partnership
Supports external engagement and partnership development to advance academic and workforce training pathways in advanced microscopy. This includes coordinating with Riverland Community College and exploring alignment with the University of Minnesota Rochester, while driving strategies to expand external utilization of MBiC capabilities through client development, partnerships, and increased visibility.
Industry Co-Location and Small Business Partnership Model
Leads identification, development, and onboarding of external small business partners into Institute laboratory space to enhance research collaboration, optimize facility utilization, and generate new revenue streams. This includes establishing partnership models, coordinating initial agreements, and evaluating opportunities for expansion of the model to additional partners.
The portfolio is expected to evolve over time based on institutional priorities, with a continued focus on expanding external partnerships, increasing utilization of Institute capabilities, and supporting revenue diversification.
External Engagement and Business Development - 50%
About the Job
Organization Overview
The Hormel Institute is a biomedical research institute within the University of Minnesota's Research and Innovation Office (RIO), which advances the University's research, innovation, and economic development mission. The Institute advances discoveries that improve human health through research, education, and community engagement. Located in Austin, Minnesota, the Institute brings together internationally recognized faculty, advanced research infrastructure, and strategic partnerships to accelerate scientific discovery, workforce development, and innovation.
Position and Department Overview
The Business Development and Partnerships Director leads external engagement and partnership development to connect The Hormel Institute's research expertise and innovation capabilities with new opportunities for collaboration, utilization, and revenue. The role identifies, cultivates, and secures opportunities with industry, academic, and public sector partners.
The position guides opportunities from initial concept through early development by building partnership models, bringing together the right internal and external stakeholders, and helping promising ideas move toward implementation. As initiatives become established, the Director helps transition ongoing operations to designated Institute teams, allowing the role to maintain focus on new and emerging opportunities.
In addition to advancing current initiatives, the Director evaluates new concepts for feasibility, alignment with institutional priorities, partnership potential, and long-term sustainability, with particular emphasis on opportunities that strengthen external engagement and institutional growth. The Director leads feasibility analysis and business planning for emerging initiatives in collaboration with Institute leadership, Finance, faculty leaders, and external partners. Working closely with faculty, Institute leadership, University units, and external partners, the Director serves as a connector and translator between the academic research environment and external partners, helping turn shared interests and opportunities into viable collaborations and programs.
This position reports to the Chief of Staff and serves as a member of The Hormel Institute Executive Leadership Team. The role works collaboratively with Institute leadership, the University of Minnesota Research and Innovation Office (RIO), faculty initiative leads, and strategic external partners to advance shared institutional and regional priorities. The role does not directly supervise staff but leads through collaboration across internal teams and external stakeholders to move opportunities forward. The employer retains the right to change or assign other duties to this position as needed.
Focus of Job Responsibilities
The Director will step into an active portfolio of high-priority initiatives while also identifying and developing new opportunities over time. The current portfolio includes:
Viral Manufacturing and Translational Consortium (VMTC)
Leads development of partnership, feasibility, and business planning activities necessary to establish a sustainable public-private consortium focused on advancing clinical-grade viral vector production. Responsibilities include coordinating feasibility assessments, supporting development of financial and business models in collaboration with Institute leadership and the Rare Disease Council, cultivating consortium participation, and advancing partnership frameworks that position VMTC for long-term sustainability and investment.
Minnesota Bioimaging Center (MBiC) and Riverland Community College Partnership
Supports external engagement and partnership development to advance academic and workforce training pathways in advanced microscopy. This includes coordinating with Riverland Community College and exploring alignment with the University of Minnesota Rochester, while driving strategies to expand external utilization of MBiC capabilities through client development, partnerships, and increased visibility.
Industry Co-Location and Small Business Partnership Model
Leads identification, development, and onboarding of external small business partners into Institute laboratory space to enhance research collaboration, optimize facility utilization, and generate new revenue streams. This includes establishing partnership models, coordinating initial agreements, and evaluating opportunities for expansion of the model to additional partners.
The portfolio is expected to evolve over time based on institutional priorities, with a continued focus on expanding external partnerships, increasing utilization of Institute capabilities, and supporting revenue diversification.
External Engagement and Business Development - 50%
- Collaborate with UMN's Corporate Engagement Center to lead development of an external partnership pipeline across industry, academic, and public sector partners to expand utilization and revenue opportunities