Senior Director, Technology Commercialization

Senior Director, Technology Commercialization

Wayne State University is searching for an experienced Senior Director, Technology Commercialization at its H0905 - VP Research location.

Wayne State is a premier, public, urban research university located in the heart of Detroit, Michigan where students from all backgrounds are offered a rich, high-quality education. Our deep-rooted commitment to excellence, collaboration, integrity, diversity and inclusion creates exceptional educational opportunities which prepare students for success in a global society.

The Senior Director, Commercialization provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for Wayne State University’s commercialization portfolio. This position supervises Technology Commercialization Professionals and establishes commercialization strategy, portfolio governance, performance standards, and market-facing engagement across sectors. This position reports to the Assistant Vice President, Technology Commercialization.

(Essential functions are the primary duties/major job responsibilities that an employee must be able to perform, with or without reasonable accommodation. The essential functions are listed in order of importance.)

Lead a team of Commercialization Professionals by providing mentorship, guidance, and professional development opportunities. Promote a culture of collaboration and innovation within the team to enhance performance and achieve commercialization goals. Lead strategic initiatives to enhance translation efficiency and outcomes.

Implement and manage a stage-gated commercialization framework that includes portfolio prioritization and resource allocation decisions. Oversee startup strategy and capital readiness across sectors.

Ensure the Commercialization Team keeps complete and up-to-date records in the IP (Intellectual Property) Management database and provides appropriate decision-making information to other OTC (Office of Technology Commercialization) team members in a timely manner, for compliance, financial transactions, and reporting. Ensure data accuracy and transparency across commercialisation systems.

Regularly evaluate team performance, providing constructive feedback and supporting individual and team goals that align with the overall objectives and KPI’s of the Office of Technology Commercialization. Contribute to institutional, economic impact, and external funding reports.

Manage own portfolio of technologies, in areas of expertise.

Manage the full lifecycle of commercialization, from identifying promising discoveries, protecting IP, helping to secure development funding and strategic partnerships, to licensing and commercialization.

Develop and execute forward-looking commercialization strategies for Wayne State’s IP, including market assessment, opportunity identification, commercial viability, and roadmaps aligned with university and industry needs.

Evaluate markets and prioritize technologies using data-driven analysis of competition, demand, and regulatory landscapes to optimize IP positioning and guide resource allocation.

Cultivate strong relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders, including faculty, industry partners, and entrepreneurs, including regular communication, networking, and collaboration to promote Wayne State’s innovations.

Work closely with various university departments, such as the Office of General Counsel and Sponsored Programs Administration, to ensure seamless collaboration and support for commercialization activities.

Actively seek collaborations with established companies and startups, as well as engage with the broader Michigan innovation ecosystem to enhance technology transfer and commercialization efforts.

Foster a culture of innovation by encouraging a collaborative environment that inspires faculty researchers to engage in commercialization efforts, ensuring they understand the value and impact of their work.

Lead the negotiation of licensing agreements, ensuring that terms reflect the value of the technologies and align with the university’s objectives. This includes preparing term sheets, conducting negotiations, and supporting contract finalization in close collaboration with the Director, Intellectual Property & Contracts, who retains authority over intellectual property protection strategy, patent…