Interim Executive Director

About the Job

Position Summary:

The Institute for Engineering in Medicine (IEM) seeks an experienced executive leader to serve as Interim Executive Director, providing strategic leadership and external engagement to advance the institute's mission, strengthen organizational effectiveness, and accelerate implementation of its growth strategy. Working closely with IEM leadership, faculty, the Medical School, the College of Science and Engineering, and external partners, this individual will help position IEM as the leading convener of Minnesota's Med Tech ecosystem.

The Interim Executive Director will provide executive leadership during a period of strategic growth, advancing IEM's research, workforce development, and partnership priorities while building organizational capacity for long-term success.

Duties/Responsibilities:

50%:
Strategic Leadership & Organizational Development

• Provide executive leadership and strategic direction to advance IEM's mission, vision, and long-term priorities.
• Advise and collaborate with IEM leadership on organizational positioning, strategic initiatives, and growth opportunities.
• Strengthen and articulate IEM's value proposition across its research centers, programs, and external partnerships.
• Lead efforts to enhance governance structures, partnership strategies, and stakeholder engagement models.
• Strengthen the effectiveness of advisory councils and boards, including industry engagement, governance practices, and recruitment of external leaders.
• Facilitate strategic planning and organizational alignment across institutional leadership and key stakeholders.

50%:
External Partnerships & Ecosystem Development

• Expand and strengthen strategic partnerships across industry, healthcare systems, academia, government, and economic development organizations.
• Represent IEM with external stakeholders and serve as a senior ambassador for the institute within Minnesota's Med Tech ecosystem.
• Provide executive leadership on industry engagement, membership strategies, and collaborative partnership models.
• Identify opportunities to expand collaborative research, innovation initiatives, and translational partnerships.
• Advance workforce development initiatives, including the Clinical Immersion Program and industry-focused educational offerings.
• Strengthen engagement with faculty, clinicians, researchers, students, and industry partners to increase participation and long-term value creation.
• Establish measures to evaluate stakeholder engagement, program effectiveness, and ecosystem impact.

Key Outcomes:

The Interim Executive Director will lead the development of:

• A 3–5 year strategic positioning and growth roadmap for IEM.
• Recommendations to strengthen governance, advisory board engagement, and organizational effectiveness.
• A Med Tech ecosystem partnership and industry engagement strategy.
• A stakeholder value proposition and membership framework.
• Strategic recommendations for workforce development, Clinical Immersion, and industry-aligned educational programs.
• Metrics and evaluation approaches to assess organizational impact and long-term success.

Required Qualifications:

• BA/BS degree plus at least 10 years of experience.
• Executive leadership experience within the Med Tech, healthcare, life sciences, higher education, or innovation ecosystem.
• Experience leading organizational strategy, governance, or innovation initiatives.
• Proven ability to build consensus, influence senior leaders, and lead cross-sector collaborations.
• Excellent relationship-building, facilitation, and executive communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Advanced degree (Master's or PhD) with 10 years of executive leadership experience.
• Demonstrated success developing strategic partnerships across academia, industry, healthcare, and economic development organizations.
• Strong understanding of research, workforce development, talent pipelines, and industry engagement.
• Experience working with research institutions or higher education organizations is preferred.

Pay Range: $100-250 per hour; depending on education/qualifications/experience.

Work Location: Hybrid