Director of Commercialization

Director of Commercialization – Institute for Protein Innovation

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The Institute for Protein Innovation (IPI) is an independent nonprofit research institute dedicated to advancing protein science and accelerating biomedical discovery by developing and distributing high-quality, well-validated recombinant protein tools. Founded in 2017 by Timothy

A. Springer, Ph.D. and Andrew

C. Kruse, Ph.D., IPI is headquartered on the Harvard Medical School campus in the Longwood Medical and Academic Area in Boston.
IPI provides open‑access synthetic recombinant antibodies and other protein reagents, with a focus on human extracellular and secreted proteins, to support reproducible and reliable research. The institute operates a high-throughput antibody discovery platform using yeast display technology and automated laboratory systems to produce and validate antibodies at scale.
Through a partnership with Addgene, IPI distributes its reagents globally under an open science model, providing researchers with antibodies, associated plasmids, sequences, and validation data where available. The institute also conducts internal research programs with a focus on neurobiology and offers educational initiatives to train the next generation of protein scientists.
IPI’s publicly available collections include integrin antibodies, epitope tag antibodies, glypican antibodies, and neurobiology‑relevant antibodies, with ongoing development and validation. Its funding combines philanthropic support, revenue from reagent distribution, and sponsored research, enabling IPI to advance its mission without a profit motive.
$175,000 - $240,000 a year

As part of IPI’s continuing growth and evolution, we are seeking a Director for the Institute’s business activities, including products, services, commercial partnerships, and monetization of the Institute’s intellectual property assets.

Develop comprehensive strategy for IPI commercial activities, with particular focus on developing revenue potential in keeping with the Institute’s biomedical research mission. Collaborate with the CEO, CSO, Finance Director and Commercialization Committee (and full Board, when appropriate) during strategy development to test, refine and confirm various assumptions as needed.

Develop a multi‑year revenue and profitability plan by product/service line, market segment, and client type. Ensure IPI’s commercialization plan is aligned with the Institute’s R&D plan, in coordination with the CSO.

• Corporate- and academic-sponsored research agreements
• Other corporate partnerships and consortia
• Commercialization of IPI intellectual property, know‑how, and access to key platforms, with emphasis on commercialization of therapeutic antibody candidates and leads
• Oversee contract negotiation and execution and management of IPI licenses

Distribution for IPI-developed reagent antibodies:

• Provide oversight of external reagent antibody distribution
• Lead IPI’s direct-to-researcher antibody distribution program
• Develop and execute marketing campaign strategies to promote IPI antibody adoption

Develop and implement a targeted market strategy for the Institute’s research services to be developed and operated as extensions of IPI’s research platforms. Examples include protein development, engineering, and expression.

• At least 10 years of senior‑level leadership in life science business teams, including leadership and strategy development in both start‑up and growth settings.
• Experience with multiple products and/or service lines, and/or at multiple companies or business units, preferred.
• Significant experience establishing strategic partnerships between providers of life science products and/or services, and biotech or pharma companies.
• Demonstrated expertise in portfolio management, program management, and project management.
• Proven track record of developing managers and staff under direct mentorship and supervision.
• Knowledge of the research antibody market and demonstrated track record in the commercialization of antibody products or other…