Regional Innovation Officer, Bloch Quantum Tech Hub, CQE

PME CQE Operations

The Chicago Quantum Exchange (CQE) is an intellectual hub in the Midwest that connects leading universities, national labs, and industry partners to advance the science and engineering of quantum information, train the future quantum workforce, and drive the quantum economy. The CQE is based at the University of Chicago and anchored by the US Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory and Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, the University of Wisconsin–Madison, Northwestern University, and Purdue University.

The community includes more than 50 corporate, international, nonprofit, and regional partners and is one of the largest collaborative teams working on quantum science in the world. The CQE leads national initiatives, including The Bloch Quantum Tech Hub, a US Economic Development Administration (EDA) designation endorsing the Chicago metro area as a central driver of US leadership in quantum technologies.

The Regional Innovation Officer (RIO) leads The Bloch Quantum Tech Hub, including developing and executing strategic, governance, and reporting functions to catalyze a maturation and manufacturing ecosystem in the Midwest that strengthens the nation’s quantum supply chain. The RIO brings quantum technologists, manufacturers, and critical industries together to build large-scale solutions to global supply chain problems. The RIO realizes the Bloch’s EDA Tech Hub Implementation Award to scale manufacturing of quantum technologies, strengthen and onshore the quantum supply chain, support growth with security and insights, and construct a facility for quantum suppliers.

• Designs, implements, and manages The Bloch's shared vision and strategy and EDA Tech Hub Implementation Award in alignment with the Chicago Quantum Exchange and reporting to its CEO.
• Develops and communicates strategic plans for implementation, sustainability, and growth.
• Leverages knowledge of the quantum marketplace and connected trends to foster Bloch industry collaborations, programs, and future workplace initiative for the regional quantum economy.
• Secures funding from philanthropic, corporate, venture, and federal sources of capital to establish and lead new Bloch initiatives and programs.
• Coordinates clear and effective governance for The Bloch, including quarterly Governance Board meetings, biweekly Cross-project Working Group meetings, Task Forces, and chairing the security Advisory Council and Facilities Council.
• Leads regular Bloch convenings to maximize connections, share information, and develop engagement opportunities, such as the Commercialization Community of Practice and launch of quantum deployment pilots
• Works with the full CQE team to ensure integration of The Bloch activities into the CQE community and capitalize on broader ecosystem opportunities.
• Manages Bloch operational and technical staff, including the Director, Operations & Strategic Engagement, and Technical Engineer and Bloch consultants focused on technical assistance, security audits, and data insights.
• Manages the Bloch’s portfolio of partners in coordination with CQE.
• Establishes policies and procedures and implements an integrated network and access model of shared-use facilities.
• Serves as EDA’s primary point of contact for The Bloch, including leadership and presentations at EDA convenings.
• Owns responsibility for satisfying EDA reporting requirements.
• Develops Bloch data collection and tracking processes, leveraging the CQE’s Salesforce system to track growth, measure impact, inform course-corrections, and communicate The Bloch impact to a wide variety of audiences, maximizing engagement, fundraising, and…