Chief Innovation & Advancement Officer

monell chemical senses center•Philadelphia, PA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Monell Chemical Senses Center (Monell) is seeking an inaugural Chief Innovation & Advancement Officer (CIAO) to lead an integrated strategy connecting science to supporters, ideas to investment, and discovery to application. This role reports directly to the Executive Director and President and serves as a key member of the executive leadership team. The CIAO will lead an integrated portfolio encompassing Philanthropy, Marketing & Communications, Intellectual Property (IP) & Innovation, and Monell Insiders (the center’s corporate membership program). This is an opportunity for a strategic, entrepreneurial leader to partner with scientists and leadership to amplify the center’s impact, secure its long-term sustainability, and translate discovery into real-world benefit. The CIAO will play a pivotal role in shaping the next chapter of Monell's work and in building the diversified, sustainable revenue base on which Monell’s future depends.

Requirements

A bachelor’s degree is required.
Experience in science or a science-adjacent field, with the ability to engage credibly with researchers.
Senior leadership experience in relevant advancement areas such as philanthropy, innovation and business development, and/or marketing.
Demonstrated success leading advancement efforts generating approximately $3–5 million annually.
Strong strategic planning, execution, and relationship-building skills.
The ability to translate complex scientific work into compelling narratives.
Experience leading cross-functional teams.
High integrity, sound judgment, and professionalism.

Nice To Haves

An advanced degree in a relevant discipline.
Experience in a research institute, academic medical center, or science-based nonprofit.
Familiarity with intellectual property strategy, technology transfer, and/or commercialization.
Experience working with boards of directors, foundations, or advisory councils.
Knowledge of federal, foundation, and corporate funding landscapes.
Experience leading enterprise-level innovation or organizational growth initiatives.

Responsibilities

Contribute to institutional strategy, long-range planning, and organizational growth as a member of the executive leadership team.
Advance Monell’s scientific mission through a unified innovation and advancement strategy, providing strategic counsel on funding, partnerships, and growth opportunities.
Provide executive leadership for Monell’s philanthropic program, including individual, major, planned, foundation, and corporate giving.
Lead fundraising efforts generating approximately $3–5 million annually, with an emphasis on diversified and sustainable revenue.
Cultivate and steward relationships with impact donors and partners in collaboration with board and advisory leaders, ensuring strong stewardship, impact reporting, and alignment with scientific outcomes.
Oversee marketing and communications to ensure Monell’s brand, messaging, and storytelling reflect scientific excellence and institutional impact.
Elevate Monell’s visibility and thought leadership across local, national, and global audiences, and align external communications with advancement and engagement priorities.
Lead the Monell Insiders program and related efforts in corporate partnerships and business development.
Refine and grow the center’s corporate membership program—targeting 50% growth within the first two years with a focus on new sectors such as healthcare, and the elevation of at least three long-term members to leader level in the same period.
Promote a culture shift toward more translational and applied science collaborations, develop core capabilities that support both basic research and service-based projects, assess industry trends, and cultivate mission-aligned relationships with industry.
Advance innovation and interdisciplinary collaboration by building partnerships with academia, industry, government, foundations, and nonprofits.
Support the translation of scientific discoveries into applied solutions, collaborations, and funding opportunities.
Work collaboratively with scientific leadership and legal counsel to support responsible IP protection, commercialization, licensing, and research translation.
Lead and mentor high-performing teams across Philanthropy, Marketing & Communications, IP & Innovation, and Monell Insiders, as well as external consultants, aligning the group’s mission and goals with the center’s goals and revenue strategy.
Establish clear goals, metrics, and accountability for team members while fostering collaboration and operational excellence.