Industry & Innovation Director

Texas Tech University has retained UI Collab to lead the search for an accomplished Industry & Innovation Director to lead industry engagement and commercialization for CASFER, a $51 million NSF Engineering Research Center. The Director will play a pivotal role in building an industry consortium and sustainable revenue model focused on fertilizer and agribusiness audiences
, while developing strategic partnerships that connect CASFER’s research and technologies with industry needs and market opportunities. This senior leadership opportunity sits at the intersection of research, industry engagement, business development, and technology commercialization, with responsibility for growing industry participation, advancing sponsored research and commercialization opportunities, and strengthening the Center’s long-term financial sustainability.

Founded in 1923, Texas Tech University began with a mission to serve the needs of West Texas, but its impact has always reached far beyond. Today, Texas Tech, located in Lubbock (pop. 300,000+), is home to a vibrant community of more than 42,000 students. Texas Tech’s 1,800-acre campus showcases Spanish Renaissance architecture and is home to one of the country’s largest public art collections.

Its 13 colleges include a prestigious School of Law and a distinguished School of Veterinary Medicine.

CASFER (the NSF Engineering Research Center for Advancing Sustainable and Distributed Fertilizer Production) and the Institute for Sustainability and Circular Economy (ISCE) at Texas Tech University seek an Industry and Innovation Director to lead the Center’s Innovation Ecosystem, industry partnerships, and commercialization strategy.

Directs, plans, coordinates, and supervises the operations and activities of a specialized unit or small department; develops and implements policies and procedures, administers the budget, organizes tasks, and sets priorities. Serves as liaison with university personnel and the community ks under general supervision with broad latitude for initiative and independent judgment.

• Sustainability & Revenue Leadership. Lead execution of CASFER’s Sustainability Plan for the Innovation Ecosystem, with accountability for achieving approximately $1M/year in industry membership and member-sponsored research. Develop and execute a growth plan with quarterly targets, a qualified pipeline, measurable activity funnel, and regular progress reporting to Center leadership.
• Industry Membership Growth. Grow and retain CASFER’s industry membership by recruiting new IPAB member companies, maintaining at least 80% member retention, converting in-kind members to paid membership, and building a qualified prospect pipeline through research, partner institutions, and leadership relationships.
• Strategic Industry Development. Engage priority sectors aligned with CASFER and CASFER 2.0, including fertilizer and agribusiness, wastewater utilities, manufacturing/OEM and deployment partners, and AI, data-platform, and circular-economy organizations. Present CASFER’s value proposition to executive and technical decision-makers.
• Business Planning & Commercialization. Lead CASFER’s business plan and commercialization strategy, including membership models, member-sponsored research, licensing, and the CASFER 2.0 platform framework. Contribute to diversified revenue through grants, services, pilot projects, licensing, and membership.
• Technology Transfer & Commercialization. Develop and lead the Technology Transfer Strategic Plan. Maintain working knowledge of commercialization requirements, technology readiness levels (TRLs), regulatory pathways, and validation milestones needed for market…