Director of Project Development and Translation

Job Details

Director of Project Development and Translation

Stanford Medicine, Catalyst serves as Stanford Medicine’s flagship innovation program to support inventors across the Stanford community in developing and accelerating their most promising innovations for transformative health. Catalyst supports impactful, prototype-stage innovations across the spectrum of healthcare and fosters these innovations by offering up to $1M in capital, mentorship, and access to industry experts. Chosen projects also receive program management, validation resources, testing and deployment within a regional health care system, go-to-market resources, readiness for independence, and exposure to outside investors.

The Director of Project Development and Translation manages a diverse portfolio of early-stage Catalyst Projects at Stanford University and Stanford Medicine, driving their progression from bench-to-bedside. Leading a team of project managers, the Director ensures timely project milestones and resource delivery. With a focus on successful Catalyst Project translation beyond the Stanford research environment, they develop multi-year business plans and pilot innovations within the Stanford healthcare ecosystem. The role includes direct engagement with investors and strategic partners—such as angel investors, venture capital, private equity, biotech corporates, incubators, and grant funders—to secure financial backing and commercialization readiness.

The Director facilitates understanding of market and investment landscapes across biotech/pharma, medtech, digital health/AI, and diagnostics to support strategic decision-making and innovation success.

In addition to project oversight, the Director provides Catalyst Project with strategic leadership and operational management, aligning programs with organizational goals, fostering innovation, and preparing projects for independence and sustainable impact through program management, validation, testing, and investor exposure.

Duties include:

• Oversee a large portfolio of early-stage Catalyst healthcare Projects, guiding them from research and development through to clinical and commercial translation (“bench to bedside”).
• Hire, lead, and develop a high-performing team of project managers and staff; oversee career development, performance management, and team structure to ensure effective project execution, timely milestone achievement, and overall program success.
• Drive the development and execution of multi-year business plans, including pilot implementations within the Stanford healthcare ecosystem.
• Conduct market and clinical application analyses—including indication assessments, unmet need evaluations, market tracking, and business model development—and synthesize information from diverse sources to produce comprehensive market reports that inform strategic decision-making for Stanford Medicine Catalyst initiatives.
• Lead and facilitate high-level negotiations, communications, and presentations across diverse stakeholder groups, including academic researchers, corporate partners, investors, and industry collaborators. Effectively bridge cultural and organizational differences to build consensus, foster partnerships, and advance project goals.
• Provide strategic leadership for the program, including long-term planning, resource allocation, and alignment with institutional goals; serve as a key advisor to senior leadership on program direction, policy development, and broader institutional initiatives; evaluate organizational structure and effectiveness to drive continuous improvement in processes, team performance, and impact.
• Cultivate relationships with investors, strategic partners, and funding sources (e.g., VCs, angel investors, private equity, biotech corporates, incubators, and grant funders) to secure financial and strategic support for translational projects.
• Manage and contribute to outreach strategies, including relationship building and communication with internal and external stakeholders such as Stanford Health Care (SHC), Stanford Children’s Health (SCH), Industry Relations (IR), VCs, and industry partners.

* - Other duties may also be assigned.