Executive Director of Business Development for Microelectronics

Arizona State University•Mesa, AZ

1d•$100,000 - $150,000•Onsite

About The Position

Arizona State University seeks a highly experienced and strategic Executive Director of Business Development for Microelectronics to lead industry, government, and defense-related engagement in support of the University’s microelectronics, semiconductor, and advanced packaging initiatives. This senior leadership role is responsible for building and sustaining high-impact partnerships with semiconductor industry leaders, federal and state government agencies, the U.S. Department of War (DoW), and the Defense Industrial Base (DIB) to advance sponsored research, industry partnerships, technology transition, and national security objectives. The Executive Director will serve as a key external-facing representative of the University, aligning institutional research capabilities with industry and government needs, identifying and securing grant and contract funding, and supporting the commercialization and deployment of microelectronics technologies. Reports directly to the Chief Operating Officer for Semiconductor Research and works closely with academic leadership, research centers, faculty, and administrative units across the University including but not limited to the Corporate Engagement and Strategic Partnership, Core Facilities, and Government Relations teams within ASU’s Knowledge Enterprise. This position is funded by DoW and requires candidates to meet the definition of US person as defined in as defined by 22 C.F.R. § 120.62 and 15 C.F.R. § 772.1.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree and nine (9) years of experience appropriate to the area of assignment/field including five (5) years managerial experience; OR, Any equivalent combination of experience and/or training from which comparable knowledge, skills and abilities have been achieved.
Strategic thinking and execution
External relationship building
Grant and contract development
Cross-sector collaboration
Technology transition and commercialization
Leadership in complex environments
Marketing and sales experience
Active or prior security clearance, or eligibility to obtain one
This position is funded by DoW and requires candidates to meet the definition of US person as defined in as defined by 22 C.F.R. § 120.62 and 15 C.F.R. § 772.1.

Nice To Haves

Master’s, Ph.D. or MBA strongly preferred in engineering, science, business, or a related field
Minimum of 10–15 years of progressively responsible experience in business development, government relations, research administration, or industry partnerships within microelectronics, semiconductors, defense, or advanced manufacturing
Experience working business development for semiconductor foundries highly preferred
Deep understanding of the semiconductor ecosystem, including R&D, manufacturing, supply chains, and workforce needs
Proven ability to build trusted relationships with senior industry executives, government officials, and academic leaders
Strong negotiation, communication, and executive presence skills
Demonstrated success securing federal, state, or defense-related research funding
Experience working with or within the U.S. Department of War, national laboratories, or defense contractors
Experience leading large, complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives or consortia
Familiarity with CHIPS and Science Act programs and defense microelectronics initiatives

Responsibilities

Strategic Partnership Development: Develop and execute a comprehensive business development strategy for microelectronics and semiconductor initiatives
Establish, grow, and manage strategic partnerships with semiconductor manufacturers, equipment suppliers, fabless companies, and related industry stakeholders
Identify opportunities to leverage ASU’s Core Facilities and capabilities to grow revenue to enable financial sustainability
Collaborate with industry and research partners to define technology gaps and identify opportunities to close those gaps with additional investments and funding
Serve as the primary liaison between the University and external partners, ensuring alignment of goals, expectations, and deliverables
Government & Defense Engagement: Lead engagement with federal, state, and regional government agencies to secure grant and contract funding, including but not limited to DoW, NSF, DOE, CHIPS and Science Act programs (NIST, DOC, DOX, DoW), Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA) and other mission-aligned agencies
Build and maintain strong relationships with the U.S. Department of War, defense research organizations (DARPA, AFRL, ARL, NRL, etc), defense manufacturing and sustainment organizations (ManTech, IBAS, FUZE, DIU, etc.), Defense Industrial Base (DIB) companies and Other Transaction Authority (OTA) contracting agencies
Support classified and unclassified research initiatives in compliance with applicable regulations and security requirements
Engage with other Microelectronics Commons Hubs, FFRDCs, DoW Labs to maximize impact of ASUs capabilities and investments
Funding & Proposal Development: Identify funding opportunities and shape large-scale, multi-institutional, and multi-partner proposals
Collaborate with faculty, research development staff, and sponsored programs offices to develop competitive proposals and white papers
Support negotiation of sponsored research agreements, cooperative research agreements, and other partnership frameworks
Technology Transition & Commercialization Facilitate pathways for technology transition, prototyping, pilot manufacturing, and commercialization of microelectronics research outcomes
Coordinate with technology transfer, innovation, and entrepreneurship offices to support licensing, startups, and industry adoption
Promote workforce development initiatives aligned with industry and defense needs
Internal Leadership & Coordination: Act as a connector across academic departments, research centers, and institutes involved in microelectronics and related fields
Advise university leadership on trends in the semiconductor industry, defense priorities, and federal research policy; bring Voice of the Customer into the university leadership team and strategies
Represent the University at industry forums, government meetings, and national conferences
Own and coordinate with Core Facilities team on the marketing and selling of ASU’s core facilities for semiconductors, microelectronics, and advanced packaging capabilities