Executive Director, Applied Innovation & Cyber AI Institute

mnstate.edu; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 210,000 - 225,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits package

Paid holidays

Pension plan

Tuition waivers

Job summary

Metropolitan State University in St. Paul seeks an Executive Director of the Metro State Applied Innovation Institute (MSAII) to lead operations, strategy, and business development in cybersecurity, AI, and applied innovation.

You will oversee revenue-generating training, contract research, sponsored projects, and external partnerships, while aligning with Minnesota State and university units. This full-time leadership role requires clear fiscal stewardship, cross‑institution collaboration, and

Qualifications

• Master’s degree required.
• Four years of leadership in business development, sponsored projects, nonprofit, or research administration.
• Experience with budget development, revenue modeling, grants/contracts/fee-for-service programs.
• Experience collaborating with universities, government agencies, nonprofits, industry partners, and public-sector organizations.
• Demonstrated success in cross-institutional collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Institute Operations and Business Model Development: build and manage a sustainable operating model including revenue-generating training, contract research, sponsored projects, cyber range services, certification prep, and custom employer solutions.
• External Partnerships and Client Relationship Management: act as external-facing representative with business, government, defense, nonprofit, education, workforce, and community partners.
• Contract Research and Sponsored Project Support: support business/administrative aspects of contract research, STTR-related activities, appropriations-funded work, and applied innovation projects.
• Training, Certification, and Revenue-Generating Programs: oversee the business model for training, certification, and related programs.
• Financial Management and Sustainability: develop and monitor the financial model to sustain and grow the Institute.
• Internal Coordination and Governance: coordinate with MSAII Board and Metro State units, faculty leads, staff, external partners, and system offices.
• Strategic Growth and Institutional Positioning: position MSAII as a statewide and regional leader in cybersecurity, AI, and defense-adjacent work.

Skills

Leadership

Budget development

Revenue modeling

Grants/contracts

Cross-institution collaboration

Education

Master’s degree

Doctoral degree

Business degree

Public administration

Nonprofit management

Higher education administration

Technology management

Job description

Metropolitan State University in St. Paul seeks an Executive Director of the Metro State Applied Innovation Institute (MSAII) to lead operations, strategy, and business development in cybersecurity, AI, and applied innovation.

You will oversee revenue-generating training, contract research, sponsored projects, and external partnerships, while aligning with Minnesota State and university units. This full-time leadership role requires clear fiscal stewardship, cross‑institution collaboration, and