COO: Leader of Science & Startup Ecosystem

DuPont Group; Wilmington (DE); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

DuPont seeks a Chief Operations Officer for The Innovation Space to lead its 130,000-square-foot laboratory, facilities, and client service delivery. You will translate strategy into safe, reliable operations across facilities, finance, legal, technology, and people functions while guiding a multidisciplinary team and external partners.

The role combines enterprise leadership with hands-on execution, enabling scientists and entrepreneurs to advance breakthrough technologies toward commercial

Qualifications

• Required Bachelor's degree in science, engineering, operations, or a related field, or equivalent relevant experience.
• At least 10 years of progressively responsible operational leadership experience, including leadership of multidisciplinary teams.
• Experience overseeing complex laboratories, research, engineering, manufacturing, or similarly regulated operations.

Responsibilities

• Provide overall leadership for the organization’s 130,000-square-foot laboratory, office, and collaboration facility, ensuring safe, reliable, and cost-effective delivery of infrastructure, technical capabilities, and services.
• Oversee budgeting, forecasting, accounting, cash management, financial reporting, audits, tax coordination, and internal financial controls, working closely with the President & CEO and external financial resources.
• Provide leadership for environmental health and safety, laboratory safety, regulatory compliance, and enterprise and operational risk management.
• Support the sourcing and recruitment of promising science-based startups through relationships with universities, investors, accelerators, economic-development organizations, corporate partners, and other ecosystem stakeholders.

Job description

DuPont seeks a Chief Operations Officer for The Innovation Space to lead its 130,000-square-foot laboratory, facilities, and client service delivery. You will translate strategy into safe, reliable operations across facilities, finance, legal, technology, and people functions while guiding a multidisciplinary team and external partners.

The role combines enterprise leadership with hands-on execution, enabling scientists and entrepreneurs to advance breakthrough technologies toward commercial