Venture Ecosystem 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 university technologies into successful
companies.
The Venture Ecosystem Manager will help university startups move
from promising opportunities to well-supported, execution-ready
companies. This position guides faculty and startup teams through
early venture development while connecting them with the people,
programs, partners, and specialized expertise needed at each stage
of commercialization.
The Manager serves as a central connector across the University's
innovation ecosystem, coordinating internal resources and building
productive relationships with accelerators, incubators, mentors,
industry partners, economic development organizations, and
commercialization service providers. The position also supports
faculty commercialization programming and manages portfolio
operations to ensure startups have clear milestones, coordinated
support, and an efficient pathway through the venture development
process.
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
- Guide selected opportunities from initial commercial validation
through venture formation and early company development.
Translate commercialization strategies into practical execution
plans with defined milestones, responsibilities, resource needs,
and measures of progress.
Support business model refinement, customer discovery, market
validation, go-to-market planning, and early business plan
development.
Provide venture project management and maintain momentum across
faculty, mentors, partners, and internal commercialization
teams.
Develop and coordinate programming for faculty and startup
teams that build entrepreneurial skills, startup readiness, and
engagement with mentors and investors, including commercialization
workshops, venture office hours, and startup-readiness
programs.
Recruit and engage mentors, entrepreneurs, industry experts,
and other advisors who can help startup teams address specific
commercial needs.
Serve as a connector across various innovation programs and
resources, such as Venture Development Partners, the
Entrepreneur-in-Residence network, technology accelerators, and
other campus commercialization resources.
Develop relationships with external accelerators, incubators,
industry partners, strategic customers, economic development
organizations, deep-technology organizations, and federal
commercialization programs.
Build and manage a vetted network of specialized service
providers in areas such as legal, regulatory, reimbursement,
manufacturing, marketing, finance, human resources, and fractional
executive support.
Coordinate with the Senior Manager, Venture Development as
companies advance toward executive recruitment, investor readiness,
capital strategy, and institutional fundraising.
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, Operations Project / Program
Management: Requires a bachelor's (or equivalency) + 4
years or a master's (or equivalency) + 2 years of directly related
work experience.
Manager, Operations Project / Program Management:
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, startup operations,
entrepreneurship programming, innovation ecosystem development,
economic development, or a related field.
- Strong project and relationship management skills, with the
ability to coordinate multiple stakeholders without direct
authority.
- Collaborative and comfortable operating at the intersection of
technology, business, and partnership development.
- 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: PRN46217B
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/9831274"">https://utah.peopleadmin.com/postings/209271
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