Innovation & Industry Partnerships Director

Texas-A; Commerce (TX); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Tuition assistance

Health insurance

Retirement benefits (TRS)

Wellness program

Job summary

East Texas A&M University seeks an Executive Director of Innovation & Industry Partnerships to provide strategic leadership for innovation, entrepreneurship, and external engagement across Northeast Texas. This role leads the Venture College and aligns university capabilities with entrepreneurs, companies, investors, and community partners.

The position reports to the Vice President for Research and Economic Development, coordinating programs, securing funding, and driving measurable outcomes

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution is required.
• Graduate degree in business, entrepreneurship, management, organizational leadership, innovation, economic development, or related field is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and operational leadership for university innovation and venture-development activities.
• Lead and manage the Venture College, including program design and events.
• Develop an innovation pipeline connecting faculty and students to mentors, partners and resources.
• Foster a culture of innovation across the university through cross-unit collaboration.
• Identify opportunities for proof-of-concept support, translational funding, accelerators, and partners.
• Represent the university in industry, entrepreneurship, and economic-development meetings.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Entrepreneurship

Project management

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Graduate degree in business/entrepreneurship/management/innovation

Job description

East Texas A&M University seeks an Executive Director of Innovation & Industry Partnerships to provide strategic leadership for innovation, entrepreneurship, and external engagement across Northeast Texas. This role leads the Venture College and aligns university capabilities with entrepreneurs, companies, investors, and community partners.

The position reports to the Vice President for Research and Economic Development, coordinating programs, securing funding, and driving measurable outcomes