Executive Director, Translational Strategy and Innovation

Executive Director, Translational Strategy and Innovation

Columbia University Irving Medical Center's Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons (VP&S) is recruiting an Executive Director of Translational Strategy and Innovation to lead a diverse portfolio of early‑stage biomedical and healthcare innovation projects advancing discoveries from bench‑to‑bedside. The Executive Director will provide strategic, scientific, and operational leadership to accelerate these translational projects, ensuring timely achievement of project milestones, effective resource allocation and alignment with institutional priorities.

The Executive Director will work closely with VP&S research leadership and an advisory council of executives with leadership experience in biotech, venture capital and at major pharmaceutical companies.

A key focus of this role is developing and executing multi-year business plans, piloting innovations across the healthcare ecosystem, and cultivating partnerships with investors, venture capital firms, private equity, biotech and medtech companies, incubators, and other funding agencies to support commercialization and innovation success. This role will bridge the medical school and industry, integrating insights from market and investment landscapes across biotech/pharma, medtech, digital health/AI, and diagnostics to support strategic decision-making and innovation success.

Working collaboratively across the VP&S research and clinical enterprise, the director will design frameworks that promote innovation, translation and impact in therapeutics. The ideal candidate will have experience working at or with pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or life science organizations and will demonstrate the ability to work across various scientific modalities, including cell and gene therapies, small and large molecules, and antibody‑based therapeutics.

• Strategic Leadership
  :
  Oversee a broad portfolio of early-stage translational projects, guiding teams from research and development through to clinical and commercial translation (“bench to bedside”).
• Scientific Integration
  :
  Apply a deep understanding of translational and preclinical science to align research initiatives with downstream development needs.
• Team Development
  :
  Build and lead a high-performing team of project managers and staff; oversee hiring, career development, performance management, and team structure to ensure effective project execution, timely milestone achievement, and overall program success.
• Program Planning
  :
  Develop and implement multi-year business plans, including pilot implementations within the healthcare ecosystem. Establish metrics, timelines, and feedback cycles to monitor progress, ensure accountability, and drive continuous improvement.
• Market Analysis
  :
  Conduct market, scientific, regulatory and clinical opportunity assessments to inform strategic decision-making and investment readiness.
• Partnership Development
  :
  Lead high-level negotiations, communications, and presentations across diverse stakeholder groups, including academic researchers, corporate partners, investors, and industry collaborators. Effectively bridge cultural and organizational differences to build consensus, foster partnerships, and advance project goals.
• Institutional Alignment
  :
  Advise senior leadership on the long-term program strategy. Evaluate organizational structure and effectiveness to drive continuous improvement in processes, team performance, and impact.
• Cross-Campus Collaboration
  :
  Coordinate with key partners, including Columbia Business School, Columbia Doctors, New York‑Presbyterian, Columbia Technology Ventures (CTV), Columbia Development, and external industry collaborators.
• Other duties may be assigned.

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in a related field plus 7 years of related experience.

• Ph.D., M.D./Ph.D., or equivalent advanced degree in a relevant scientific or biomedical discipline, or MBA with significant life science experience.
• 10+ years of experience in the healthcare technology, life sciences, or venture/startup ecosystem.
• Demonstrated success leading early‑stage ventures,…