Director, New Ventures

Job Title

Director, New Ventures

Agency

Texas A&M University System Offices

Department

Texas A&M Innovation

Proposed Minimum Salary

Commensurate

Job Location

College Station, Texas

Job Type

Staff

Job Description

The System Offices is one of several system members within the Texas A&M University System representing one of the largest systems of higher education in the nation, with a network of 11 universities, a comprehensive health science center, eight state agencies, and the RELLIS Campus. The Texas A&M University System mission is to provide education, conduct research, commercialize technology, offer training, and deliver services for the people of Texas and beyond.

The System Offices, within the Texas A&M University System, provides an outstanding benefits package including, but not limited to: competitive health benefits; paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays; a defined benefit retirement plan with 8.25% employer contribution through Teachers Retirement System of Texas (TRS); tuition assistance; and wellness programs to promote work/life balance.

Salary:

Commensurate with experience.

Job Description Summary:

The Director, New Ventures, is responsible for the life sciences portfolio and works with the Executive Director, New Ventures to define strategic goals and objectives. Manages project activities including developing, implementing, tracking timelines, and providing periodic evaluations and reports for projects to deliver high quality and cost-effective solutions in alignment with strategic goals and objectives. Collaborates with start-up companies and Texas A&M inventors, implementing the development of Texas A&M technologies licensed to those respective companies. Serves as main contact for outreach to build a pipeline and work closely with companies to develop a profitable and successful life sciences start-up portfolio. 

Responsibilities:

- Manage the planning and initiation of industry engagement activities in support of the overall mission to promote more industry interaction and funding of Texas A&M commercialization programs and startups.
- Manage the tracking progress of start-up companies and young companies developing Texas A&M technologies, from pre-formation to scale up.
- Work with startup companies to promote their growth and success by helping them to develop business plans, pitch decks, and financial models, and connect with appropriate investors and establish collaborative relationships with research funders.
- Help in forming partnerships with other Texas A&M units to leverage alumni networks for support of Texas A&M new venture activities.
- Manage and implement the maintenance and growth of the database of regional and national capital investment network partners.
- Manage the support activities in development of commercialization grant applications, including Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)/STTR grants.
- Work with licensing managers in assessments of new technologies for suitability of commercialization through a startup company. Perform due diligence on promising business concepts.
- Provide input into summaries and marketing materials for start-up opportunities, work with licensing and communications teams to post marketing materials to Texas A&M Innovation website.

- Lead outreach to potential strategic partners to establish contacts and initiate discussions regarding Texas A&M University technology, IP, and research collaboration opportunities; record interactions with industry and with investors; continue to update list of potential industry partners and investor contacts.
- Assist Texas A&M start-up companies in seeking and securing capital investment.
- Oversee management of the equity-related documents related to Texas A&M equity ownership in licensees and other Texas A&M-affiliated companies (including stock agreements, warrant agreements, convertible notes, SAFEs, investor term sheets, and liquidation agreements).
- Participate in various university, regional and national groups promoting economic and community development, new venture creation and industry engagement.
- Oversee preparation of reports for Texas A&M leadership and for regional and state economic development stakeholders summarizing Texas A&M's efforts in support for entrepreneurship and new venture activities

Education and Experience: <