Strategic Venture Director, PCI Ventures

University of Pennsylvania; United (PA); On-site; USD 135,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Tuition benefits

Retirement plans

Time off

Wellness programs

Professional development

University resources

Flexible work hours

Home ownership support

Adoption assistance

Job summary

The Senior Associate Director will serve as the scientific and entrepreneurial lead for PCI Ventures, evaluating high-potential technologies, shaping commercialization strategies, and creating milestone-based development plans with Penn faculty and the expert network.

They will provide mentorship to PCI Ventures staff, establish venture-building frameworks, lead early opportunity triage, coordinate with Penn I-Corps, and act as deputy to the Executive Director to ensure continuity and strategic

Qualifications

• Masters degree and 5-7 years of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience is required; PhD strongly preferred.
• Personally has done the kind of science that Penn faculty are trying to commercialize.
• Has deep product development experience, having learned through experience, not just intellectually, what it takes to move a technology from proof of concept to something manufacturable at scale.
• Was part of the founding team of a venture-backed startup, which meant raising capital, building a team, navigating regulatory pathways, and finding early customers.
• Took a technology from concept to a market-ready product, integrating the science, engineering, and validation needed to get there.
• Has worked across startups, research institutions, government, and industry, so they know how each of these worlds thinks, and how to translate between them.
• Has been on both sides of the table, as a founder seeking capital and as an institutional leader helping others commercialize.

Responsibilities

• Scientific and commercial strategy development: Work with faculty, researchers, and senior commercialization advisor to evaluate technologies, develop commercialization theses, identify key technical and commercial assumptions, and define milestone-based plans for advancing venture opportunities.
• Senior commercialization advisor leadership and quality oversight: Directly supervise the senior commercialization advisors, and provide day-to-day coaching, review project work, and ensure consistent quality and rigor across venture-building activities.
• Venture-building frameworks and operating practices: Partner with the Executive Director to develop and maintain PCI Ventures' commercialization frameworks, playbooks, milestone practices, and project-review processes.
• Early-stage triage and I-Corps coordination: Hold office hours for early teams, assess readiness for PCI Ventures engagement, and coordinate with Penn I-Corps when additional customer discovery is needed.
• Project coverage and continuity: Step into projects as needed during senior commercialization advisor transitions, vacancies, or workload gaps and provide senior scientific and commercial support.
• Other duties and responsibilities as assigned

Education

Masters degree

PhD preferred

Job description

The Senior Associate Director will serve as the scientific and entrepreneurial lead for PCI Ventures, evaluating high-potential technologies, shaping commercialization strategies, and creating milestone-based development plans with Penn faculty and the expert network.

They will provide mentorship to PCI Ventures staff, establish venture-building frameworks, lead early opportunity triage, coordinate with Penn I-Corps, and act as deputy to the Executive Director to ensure continuity and strategic