Director of Entrepreneurship and Innovation

University of Florida•Gainesville, FL

About The Position

The University of Florida College of Pharmacy seeks a visionary entrepreneurial leader to build a sustained culture of innovation and entrepreneurship across the College’s education, research, and clinical missions. This senior position will direct the Pharmacy Innovation Leadership Laboratory (PILL), build partnerships with industry and venture capitalists, expand commercialization opportunities, and support faculty and student innovators. The director will develop programs and infrastructure that translate ideas and discoveries into products, ventures, and health solutions. The director will develop and execute a college-wide innovation strategy, foster participation in invention and commercialization, and serve as an advocate and coach for faculty, staff, trainees, and students. The role will build external partnerships; support faculty-led startups; expand industry-sponsored research and strategic alliances; and work with UF Innovate and university offices to advance disclosures, patents, startups, and licensing. The director will also lead fundraising for entrepreneurship and innovation programs, including development and stewardship of an endowment. The role includes coordinating entrepreneurship coursework and curricula, developing mentorship networks and innovation programming, providing guidance on intellectual property, market validation, and funding strategies, and creating shared resources for product development, regulatory strategy, and market access. The director will track and report program performance through metrics, a dashboard, a website, and regular communications to College of Pharmacy stakeholders. The faculty rank is Clinical Professor; candidates must meet the stated rank qualifications or demonstrate exceptional qualifications and experience as described in the posting.

Requirements

Terminal degree (PharmD, PhD, MD, or equivalent) in pharmacy, biomedical sciences, engineering, or a related field; candidates without a terminal degree may be considered with exceptional qualifications and demonstrated experience.
Demonstrated experience in successful entrepreneurship and innovation, translational research, and commercialization achievement.
Proven ability to lead culture change and influence faculty, staff, and senior leadership.
Strong knowledge of intellectual property, technology transfer, and product development.
Working knowledge of startup formation, capitalization, funding stages, and regulatory and market access considerations.
Qualified for the rank of associate professor and recognized as a national or international authority or outstanding teacher in the field or specialization, with a distinguished record of achievement beyond the associate professor level.

Nice To Haves

10 or more years of experience launching or leading startups, translational programs, or industry partnerships.
Familiarity with pharmaceutical development, digital health, medical devices, diagnostics, or regulatory pathways.
10 or more years of experience with venture capital, corporate partnerships, or academic leadership roles.
Track record of securing philanthropic or external funding for innovation initiatives.

Responsibilities

Direct the Pharmacy Innovation Leadership Laboratory (PILL).
Develop and execute a strategy to establish a sustained culture of innovation across the College’s research, education, and clinical missions.
Foster participation in invention, product development, and commercialization, and serve as an advocate and coach for faculty, staff, trainees, and students pursuing innovation and entrepreneurship.
Build partnerships with industry, venture capital, nonprofits, and health systems to support licensing, startups, and co-development.
Support the formation and growth of faculty-led startups, including governance, fundraising, and early-stage operations.
Expand industry-sponsored research and strategic alliances.
Partner with UF Innovate and university offices to accelerate disclosures, patents, startups, and licensing activity.
Represent the College as lead ambassador for innovation with industry, investors, alumni, foundations, and the broader innovation ecosystem.
Lead fundraising for entrepreneurship and innovation programs, including creation and stewardship of an endowment.
Create and disseminate structured pathways to identify, refine, and advance ideas with commercial or translational potential.
Coordinate coursework emphasizing scientific entrepreneurship through inter-college collaboration.
Design incentive models that align innovation and commercialization with promotion, tenure, and professional advancement.
Provide guidance on intellectual property creation, market validation, and funding strategies.
Develop mentorship networks connecting faculty innovators with entrepreneurs, clinicians, and industry experts.
Integrate entrepreneurship and innovation content into PharmD, graduate, and postdoctoral curricula.
Develop an entrepreneurship and innovation seminar series and shared resources for product development, regulatory strategy, and market access.
Track college-wide entrepreneurship and innovation programs, including proof-of-concept funding, accelerators, pilot grants, and fellowship tracks.
Track and report entrepreneurship and innovation performance metrics, maintain a dashboard and website, and provide regular communications to College of Pharmacy stakeholders.
Champion experimentation, translational thinking, and responsible risk-taking.

Benefits

Health insurance, including voluntary vision, dental, long-term disability, and other insurance options.
Retirement options including the Florida Retirement System Pension Plan, State University System Optional Retirement Program, Florida Retirement System Investment Plan, and Voluntary Retirement Savings Plan.
Generous paid leave plan.
Access to a sick-leave pool.
Maternity and paternity leave.
Leave payouts.

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