Venture Operations Program Director

Venture Operations Program Director

University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus

Department: CU Innovations

Position #:  – Requisition #: 38584

Posting Date: Dec 22, 2025

Unposting Date: Ongoing

Job Category: Business Services

Primary

Location:

Hybrid

Schedule: Full-time

The Venture Operations Program Director is a strategic, entrepreneurial leader responsible for advancing CU Innovations’ proof‑of‑concept bio‑accelerator and supporting venture creation across campus. This role ensures operational excellence and drives execution of initiatives that move early‑stage academic discoveries toward commercialization. Working closely with faculty, campus partners, and industry mentors, the Program Director coordinates programs such as HIE, SPARK and connects entrepreneurial efforts across initiatives like CCTSI iCorps, Startup Toolbox to build a cohesive venture development pipeline.

• Serve as the operational lead for CU Innovations’ venture programs, ensuring timely execution of initiatives and alignment with strategic goals.
• Act as the primary point of contact for internal follow‑through, accountability, and operational coordination across ventures, grants, and startup support programs.
• Develop and maintain dashboards, trackers, and reporting systems to monitor program performance, risks, and outcomes for leadership.
• Independently oversee operations and confidently make key decisions, consistently demonstrating readiness to assume leadership responsibilities whenever needed.
• Design and implement internal initiatives that support spin‑out ventures, grant program cohorts, and CU Innovations’ overall mission.
• Plan and execute educational, networking, and outreach events that strengthen the ventures ecosystem.
• Engage with campus innovation initiatives (e.g., CCTSI iCorps, SPARK, Startup Toolbox, VMS) to connect entrepreneurial programs and build a cohesive venture development pipeline.
• Partner with the Managing Director to identify program priorities, allocate resources, and manage timelines across multiple venture projects.
• Design and implement internal processes that improve the efficiency, transparency, and consistency of venture operations.

Hybrid – eligible for a hybrid schedule of 3 days per week on campus and as needed for in‑person meetings.

CU Innovations is integral to The University of Colorado’s Anschutz Medical Campus, a top‑tier academic medical institution. We collaborate with pioneering researchers, clinicians, staff, and external partners across CU, UCHealth, and Children’s Hospital Colorado to power innovation by imagining, discovering, and commercializing advanced healthcare solutions, including treatments, medical devices, and cutting‑edge technologies.

• Medical:
  Multiple plan options
• Dental:
  Multiple plan options
• Additional Insurance:
  Disability, Life, Vision
• Retirement 401(a) Plan:
  Employer contributes 10% of your gross pay
• Paid Time Off:
  Accruals over the year
• Vacation Days: 22/year (maximum accrual 352 hours)
• Sick Days: 15/year (unlimited maximum accrual)
• Holiday Days: 10/year
• Tuition Benefit:
  Employees have access to this benefit on all CU campuses
• ECO Pass:
  Reduced rate RTD Bus and light rail service

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, biomedical sciences, engineering, or a related field.
• 6–8 years of experience in venture development, program management, operations, or innovation‑related roles.

Applicants must meet minimum qualifications at the time of hire.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Ph.D. in biomedical sciences, or related field.
• Advanced degree in business.
• 9+ years of professional experience in venture development working with academic investigators, program management, operations, or innovation/entrepreneurship environments.
• Experience working in an academic healthcare setting.
• Previous experience running an academic incubator program advancing faculty ventures.
• Experience developing dashboards, metrics reports, or project tracking systems (e.g., Excel, Power BI, Asana, Smartsheet).

• Strong scientific background.
• Strong conceptual thinker with ability…