Director, Tech Ventures & Spinout Growth

Northeastern University; Boston (MA); Hybrid; USD 114,000 - 165,000; Full time

Job summary

Northeastern University’s Center for Research Innovation is seeking a dynamic Director of Technology Ventures to lead the spinout portfolio and build scalable programs that support roughly 50 ventures. You will guide venture formation, test go-to-market strategies, and shape educator and investor networks to scale impact across disciplines.

You will design curricula, engage faculty founders, and partner with commercialization teams to drive value creation from formation to launch and beyond.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree in STEM required, life sciences, physical sciences, or engineering preferred.
• 8–10 years in venture development, technology commercialization, or startup building.
• Experience designing scalable programs serving a portfolio of companies.
• Proven ability to build and maintain relationships with venture capital firms, corporate investors, and angels.
• Experience with non-dilutive funding pathways (SBIR/STTR) and related support programming.
• Direct experience in academic technology transfer or research commercialization.
• Strong financial and business acumen, including cap tables and equity considerations.
• Excellent relationship-management, coaching, and communication skills across stakeholders.
• Comfort operating in ambiguity and building new infrastructure in a fast-evolving field.

Responsibilities

• Lead venture development activities across a portfolio of spinouts, guiding formation through launch.
• Design and execute scalable venture creation and acceleration processes.
• Oversee portfolio-level initiatives, milestones, and staff for consistent progress.
• Develop scalable programming and investor-engagement strategies across the portfolio.
• Represent CRI externally at conferences and industry events to share best practices.

Skills

Advanced degree in STEM

Venture development experience

Program design

Relationship management

Fundraising knowledge

Academic tech transfer

Financial acumen

Communication skills

Ambiguity tolerance

Education

Advanced degree in STEM fields (life/physical sciences or engineering)

Job description

Northeastern University’s Center for Research Innovation is seeking a dynamic Director of Technology Ventures to lead the spinout portfolio and build scalable programs that support roughly 50 ventures. You will guide venture formation, test go-to-market strategies, and shape educator and investor networks to scale impact across disciplines.

You will design curricula, engage faculty founders, and partner with commercialization teams to drive value creation from formation to launch and beyond.