Venture Development Manager
Job Summary
The University of Utah is building the future of innovation — and
we're looking for a connector, strategist, and startup champion to
help turn promising technologies into successful companies.
The Manager, Venture Portfolio identifies university technologies
with strong startup potential and develops the initial strategies
needed to move those opportunities toward company formation. This
position leads startup viability assessment, initial portfolio
prioritization, and early commercialization planning, helping the
Technology Licensing Office make informed and consistent decisions
about which opportunities should be advanced as startups.
Working closely with faculty inventors, licensing professionals,
venture development staff, and industry experts, the Manager
evaluates market potential, technology differentiation, commercial
risks, and potential business models. The position also co-leads
the Startup Design Studio, where initial commercialization
strategies are pressure-tested and translated into actionable
venture development plans.
This is a unique opportunity to sit at the center of the
University's innovation ecosystem — working closely with the TLO
team, inventors, entrepreneurs, and investors — to accelerate the
growth of breakthrough ideas into successful companies.
Learn more about the great benefits of working for
University of Utah: benefits.utah.edu
The department may choose to hire at any of the below job
levels and associated pay rates based on their business need and
budget.
Responsibilities
- Review commercialization assessments and faculty interest to
identify technologies with the potential to become successful
companies.
Conduct or coordinate commercial due diligence to outline
startup viability, including market assessment, competitive
analysis, customer identification, technology differentiation, and
commercial pathway evaluation.
Lead portfolio strategy and prioritization through standardized
evaluation frameworks, opportunity scorecards, commercial readiness
rankings, decision criteria, and go/no-go recommendations.
Develop initial commercialization strategies that identify
target customers, entry markets, business model hypotheses, key
milestones, commercial risks, and strategic priorities.
Work with faculty inventors to clarify the value proposition
and identify the evidence, partnerships, and resources needed to
reduce commercial risk.
Prepare selected opportunities for review through the Startup
Design Studio and lead the Startup Design Studio, guiding
discussions related to market opportunity, differentiation,
business models, startup viability, and commercial risk.
Maintain startup portfolio data and reporting that provide
visibility into opportunity quality, readiness, decisions, and
progress through the commercialization pipeline.
Monitor market and industry trends to identify emerging areas
of commercial opportunity across the University's research
portfolio.
Minimum Qualifications
EQUIVALENCY STATEMENT: 1 year of higher education
can be substituted for 1 year of directly related work experience
(Example: bachelor's degree = 4 years of directly related work
experience).
Department may hire employee at one of the following job
levels:
Senior Supervisor: Requires a bachelor's (or
equivalency) + 4 years or a master's (or equivalency) + 2 years of
directly related work experience.
Manager: Requires a bachelor's (or equivalency) +
6 years or a master's (or equivalency) + 4 years of directly
related work experience.
Preferences
- Ability to understand and interpret technical or research-based
information
- Experience in venture development, market research, management
consulting, product strategy, startup development, or a related
field.
- Ability to assess markets, competitors, customer needs,
business models, and commercialization pathways across multiple
technical areas.
- Excellent communication, relationship management, and
presentation skills.
- Ability to work effectively with faculty inventors, technical
experts, business leaders, investors, and university
stakeholders.
Special Instructions
Requisition Number: PRN46218B
Full Time or Part Time? Full Time
Work Schedule Summary: Monday – Friday
Department: 00642 - Technology Licensing Office
Location: Campus
Pay Rate Range: $75,000 - $85,000
Close Date: 12/15/2026
Open Until Filled:
To apply, visit https://apptrkr.com/9831334"">https://utah.peopleadmin.com/postings/209272
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