Business Development Manager - Computational Social Science Lab - Penn Engineering

Job Description Summary

The Computational Social Science Lab (CSSLab) at the University of Pennsylvania is a pioneering interdisciplinary research lab dedicated to applying computational methods and large-scale data to some of the most pressing challenges facing society. Founded and led by Duncan Watts, Stevens University Professor and Penn Integrates Knowledge Professor, the CSSLab is producing research and building tools with the potential to reshape how the public, policymakers, and institutions understand and engage with information, each other, and their communities.

The Business Development Manager will play a central role in bringing the CSSLab's groundbreaking research into the world, translating academic innovation into real-world impact through strategic commercialization and partnership development.

Job Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and regularly review strategic business development plans; maintain a rolling pipeline and tracking system to monitor opportunities, forecast targets, and measure progress across all lab commercialization initiatives; and adjust strategies in response to new opportunities or shifts in the external environment.
• Identify and cultivate partnership opportunities; work with relevant partners and internal stakeholders to negotiate and complete licensing agreements, sponsored research contracts, and data access partnerships that generate sustainable revenue streams; and manage the compilation, development, and maintenance of relevant database contacts and mailing lists to support outreach efforts.
• Lead go-to-market strategy development and execution for the lab's commercialization efforts, including building and maintaining target lists, conducting market and competitive research to identify high-value use cases and target segments, and developing pitch materials, proposals, and RFP responses for prospective partners.
• Lead efforts to identify relationships and build awareness of Lab research with relevant organizations and external groups; represent the lab at conferences, events, and meetings; and serve as a market-facing ambassador to mobilize commercialization efforts.
• Manage internal stakeholder development, coordination, and communication across university offices to align priorities and advance business development efforts; and participate in research and partnership meetings to help identify and pursue new business development opportunities with targets and existing relationships.