Innovation & Industry Partnerships Director

Texas A&M University System; Commerce (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee tuition assistance

Health benefits

Retirement plans

Job summary

East Texas A&M University seeks an Executive Director of Innovation & Industry Partnerships to provide strategic leadership for innovation, entrepreneurship, and industry collaboration. The role leads the Venture College, aligns university talent with entrepreneurs, investors, and partners, and advances a university-wide innovation ecosystem.

The position reports to the VP for Research and Economic Development, oversees program delivery, partnerships, and funding, and requires strong

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and five years of progressive experience in innovation, entrepreneurship, business development, venture development, startup support, industry engagement, or closely related area.
• Demonstrated experience developing and managing relationships with entrepreneurs, businesses, industry partners, investors, executives, economic development organizations, or other external stakeholders.
• Ability to develop and implement programs that support innovation, entrepreneurship, venture development, and external engagement.
• Strong strategic-planning, relationship-management, project-management, and organizational skills.
• Ability to travel as required, including periodic travel between Commerce and the Dallas campus.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and operational leadership for university innovation and venture-development activities.
• Lead and manage the Venture College, including program design, entrepreneur recruitment, mentoring, workshops, and pitch events.
• Develop an accessible pipeline for faculty, staff, and students to validate ideas and connect with mentors and partners.
• Build a culture of innovation across the university through cross‑unit collaboration.
• Develop annual priorities, budgets, and performance measures for the Venture College and related programs.
• Coordinate with Texas A&M Innovation to connect innovators with IP, market assessment, licensing, and new-venture formation.
• Identify opportunities for grants, sponsorships, and external funding to support entrepreneurship initiatives.

Skills

Strategic planning

Relationship management

Program development

Communication skills

Travel ability

Leadership

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Graduate degree preferred

Job description

East Texas A&M University seeks an Executive Director of Innovation & Industry Partnerships to provide strategic leadership for innovation, entrepreneurship, and industry collaboration. The role leads the Venture College, aligns university talent with entrepreneurs, investors, and partners, and advances a university-wide innovation ecosystem.

The position reports to the VP for Research and Economic Development, oversees program delivery, partnerships, and funding, and requires strong