Venture Development Manager

University of Utah; Salt Lake City (UT); On-site; USD 75,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Utah is seeking a Venture Development Manager to identify university technology with startup potential and shape initial strategies toward company formation. You will assess market potential, differentiate technologies, and outline commercial paths while collaborating with faculty, licensing staff, and industry experts.

You will co-lead the Startup Design Studio, help prioritize opportunities, and drive commercialization planning across the portfolio within a dynamic innovation

Qualifications

• Ability to understand and interpret technical or research-based information.
• Experience in venture development, market research, management consulting, product strategy, startup development, or a related field.
• Ability to assess markets, competitors, customer needs, business models, and commercialization pathways across multiple technical areas.
• Excellent communication, relationship management, and presentation skills.
• Ability to work effectively with faculty inventors, technical experts, business leaders, investors, and university stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Review commercialization assessments to identify technologies with the potential to become successful companies.
• Coordinate commercial due diligence to outline startup viability including market assessment, competitive analysis, customer identification, technology differentiation, and commercial pathway evaluation.
• Lead portfolio strategy and prioritization through standardized evaluation frameworks, opportunity scorecards, commercial readiness rankings, decision criteria, and go/no-go recommendations.
• Develop initial commercialization strategies that identify target customers, entry markets, business model hypotheses, key milestones, commercial risks, and strategic priorities.
• Work with faculty inventors to clarify the value proposition and identify the evidence, partnerships, and resources needed to reduce commercial risk.
• Prepare selected opportunities for review through the Startup Design Studio and lead the Startup Design Studio, guiding discussions related to market opportunity, differentiation, business models, startup viability, and commercial risk.
• Maintain startup portfolio data and reporting that provide visibility into opportunity quality, readiness, decisions, and progress through the commercialization pipeline.
• Monitor market and industry trends to identify emerging areas of commercial opportunity across the University's research portfolio.

Skills

Technical information interpretation

Venture development experience

Market assessment & analysis

Communication & presentation

Stakeholder collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Master's degree or equivalent

Job description

Venture Development Manager

Job Summary

The University of Utah is building the future of innovation — and we're looking for a connector, strategist, and startup champion to help turn promising technologies into successful companies. The Manager, Venture Portfolio identifies university technologies with strong startup potential and develops the initial strategies needed to move those opportunities toward company formation. This position leads startup viability assessment, initial portfolio prioritization, and early commercialization planning, helping the Technology Licensing Office make informed and consistent decisions about which opportunities should be advanced as startups. Working closely with faculty inventors, licensing professionals, venture development staff, and industry experts, the Manager evaluates market potential, technology differentiation, commercial risks, and potential business models. The position also co-leads the Startup Design Studio, where initial commercialization strategies are pressure-tested and translated into actionable venture development plans.

This is a unique opportunity to sit at the center of the University's innovation ecosystem — working closely with the TLO team, inventors, entrepreneurs, and investors — to accelerate the growth of breakthrough ideas into successful companies.

Learn more about the great benefits of working for University of Utah: benefits.utah.edu

The department may choose to hire at any of the below joblevels and associated pay rates based on their business need and budget.

Responsibilities

• Review commercialization assessments and faculty interest to identify technologies with the potential to become successful companies.
• Conduct or coordinate commercial due diligence to outline startup viability, including market assessment, competitive analysis, customer identification, technology differentiation, and commercial pathway evaluation.
• Lead portfolio strategy and prioritization through standardized evaluation frameworks, opportunity scorecards, commercial readiness rankings, decision criteria, and go/no-go recommendations.
• Develop initial commercialization strategies that identify target customers, entry markets, business model hypotheses, key milestones, commercial risks, and strategic priorities.
• Work with faculty inventors to clarify the value proposition and identify the evidence, partnerships, and resources needed to reduce commercial risk.
• Prepare selected opportunities for review through the Startup Design Studio and lead the Startup Design Studio, guiding discussions related to market opportunity, differentiation, business models, startup viability, and commercial risk.
• Maintain startup portfolio data and reporting that provide visibility into opportunity quality, readiness, decisions, and progress through the commercialization pipeline.
• Monitor market and industry trends to identify emerging areas of commercial opportunity across the University's research portfolio.

Minimum Qualifications

EQUIVALENCY STATEMENT: 1 year of higher education can be substituted for 1 year of directly related work experience (Example: bachelor's degree = 4 years of directly related work experience).

Department may hire employee at one of the following joblevels:

Senior Supervisor: Requires a bachelor's (or equivalency) + 4 years or a master's (or equivalency) + 2 years of directly related work experience. Manager: Requires a bachelor's (or equivalency) + 6 years or a master's (or equivalency) + 4 years of directly related work experience.

Preferences

• Ability to understand and interpret technical or research-based information
• Experience in venture development, market research, management consulting, product strategy, startup development, or a related field.
• Ability to assess markets, competitors, customer needs, business models, and commercialization pathways across multiple technical areas.
• Excellent communication, relationship management, and presentation skills.
• Ability to work effectively with faculty inventors, technical experts, business leaders, investors, and university stakeholders.

Requisition Number: PRN46218B

Full Time or Part Time? Full Time

Work Schedule Summary: Monday – Friday

Department: 00642 - Technology Licensing Office

Location: Campus

Pay Rate Range: $75,000 - $85,000

Close Date: 12/15/2026