Chief Operations Officer - The Innovation Space

Dupont•Elsmere, DE

4d•Onsite

About The Position

The Chief Operations Officer (COO) at The Innovation Space, a nonprofit organization and entrepreneurial ecosystem, plays a crucial role in transforming breakthrough scientific discoveries into commercially viable businesses. Located on the Experimental Station campus in Wilmington, Delaware, The Innovation Space provides a comprehensive platform including laboratory and office facilities, scientific equipment, entrepreneurial programs, mentorship, funding, and investor connections. Established through a partnership between the State of Delaware, DuPont, and the University of Delaware, it supports startups in life sciences, industrial biotechnology, advanced materials, clean technology, renewable energy, nutrition, and related fields. The organization values curiosity, sound judgment, mutual respect, practical problem-solving, and a commitment to helping entrepreneurs succeed. Since 2017, companies supported by The Innovation Space have raised over $1.24 billion in capital, and in 2025, its startups supported approximately 2,490 jobs and generated an estimated $703.9 million in economic output nationwide. The COO, a DuPont employee seconded to The Innovation Space, will lead laboratory, facilities, scientific support, and business operations, translating organizational strategy into safe, reliable, and scalable systems across finance, legal, technology, people operations, EH&S, compliance, and risk management. This role offers a blend of enterprise leadership and hands-on execution, enabling scientists and entrepreneurs to advance breakthrough technologies.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in science, engineering, operations, or a related field, or equivalent relevant experience.
At least 10 years of progressively responsible operational leadership experience, including leadership of multidisciplinary teams.
Experience overseeing complex laboratories, research, engineering, manufacturing, or similarly regulated operations.
Demonstrated financial acumen and responsibility for operating budgets, capital planning, financial performance, financial statements, internal controls, vendor management, and contract administration.
Experience providing executive oversight of EH&S, regulatory compliance, operational risk, emergency preparedness, and business continuity in a laboratory, research, engineering, manufacturing, or similarly regulated environment.
Strong judgment, communication, and execution skills, with the ability to move effectively between strategic leadership and hands-on problem-solving.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree in science, engineering, business, finance, or related discipline.
Experience supporting science-based startups, shared laboratory facilities, research organizations, or innovation ecosystems.
Experience in a nonprofit, public-private partnership, or multi-stakeholder governance environment.
Experience overseeing organizational and investment assets and working with external accounting, audit, and investment professionals.
Familiarity with grant-funded operations, government contracting, or federally funded programs.

Responsibilities

Provide overall leadership for the organization’s 130,000-square-foot laboratory, office, and collaboration facility, ensuring safe, reliable, and cost-effective delivery of infrastructure, technical capabilities, and services.
Lead laboratory and facility planning, infrastructure reliability, preventive maintenance, capital planning, and significant construction and improvement projects.
Manage operating budgets and external contractors, vendors, and service providers supporting laboratory and facility operations.
Partner with Innovation Space clients to understand their operational and technical needs and continually improve laboratory capabilities, service quality, reliability, utilization, and the overall client experience.
Oversee budgeting, forecasting, accounting, cash management, financial reporting, audits, tax coordination, and internal financial controls, working closely with the President & CEO and external financial resources.
Lead annual operating and capital planning and support financial reporting to organizational leadership, the Board of Directors, funding partners, and government agencies.
Oversee the administrative and financial management of government, foundation, and corporate grants, including budgeting, compliance, allowable-cost requirements, documentation, reporting, audit readiness, and coordination with program leaders.
Lead the development, review, negotiation, and administration of client agreements, collaboration agreements, grant and funding agreements, vendor contracts, and construction and capital-project agreements, working with legal counsel as appropriate.
Oversee procurement, competitive bid processes, vendor selection and management, insurance, contract tracking, and other core business-administration activities.
Provide strategic oversight of information technology, cybersecurity, telecommunications, access-control systems, financial systems, and other business technology infrastructure.
Provide leadership for environmental health and safety, laboratory safety, regulatory compliance, and enterprise and operational risk management.
Establish and maintain appropriate policies, procedures, management systems, and internal controls to support safe, compliant, and effective operations.
Oversee regulatory interactions, environmental reporting, audits, inspections, emergency preparedness, business continuity, and corrective actions.
Support the sourcing and recruitment of promising science-based startups through relationships with universities, investors, accelerators, economic-development organizations, corporate partners, and other ecosystem stakeholders.
Lead or coordinate due diligence on prospective client companies and applicants to Innovation Space investment, grant, and acceleration programs.
Evaluate company leadership, technology and intellectual property, market opportunity, business model, development milestones, financing strategy, operational requirements, and key execution risks.
Support the First Fund investment program and Early-Stage Growth Grants through pipeline development, application review, diligence, funding recommendations, agreement development, closing, milestone tracking, and post-award monitoring.
Partner with the President & CEO and leadership team to establish organizational priorities and translate strategy into operating plans, budgets, systems, capabilities, and measurable results.
Lead and develop a multidisciplinary team of employees, contractors, and external service providers across a broad range of technical, financial, and business functions.
Build effective relationships across the Innovation Space ecosystem, including DuPont, the University of Delaware, government and funding partners, clients, investors, vendors, and other stakeholders.
Proactively identify organizational risks, resource constraints, and opportunities for improvement and lead cross-functional solutions.
Partner with program leadership on grant-funded initiatives and lead other strategic projects at the direction of the President & CEO.