Executive Director of the Metro State Applied Innovation Institute (MSAII)

Minnesota State Colleges and Universities•Saint Paul, MN

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

Metro State Applied Innovation Institute (MSAII) is an independent 501 (c) (3) foundation established to support and conduct scientific research and educational and informational activities in areas such as cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and other related cutting-edge technologies for the benefit of Metro State University, Minnesota’s public, urban university with robust academic programs in these fields. Metropolitan State is recognized by CollegeNet as a leading higher education promoter of social mobility for students (Ranked # 12 out of 1,398 in 2026) and is ranked by Washington Monthly as #13 out 585 national Master’s Universities and one of its twenty-five Best in Class Colleges. MSAII is seeking to hire an Executive Director. This is a full-time position within MSAII; thus, the Executive Director is not a State of Minnesota employee.

Requirements

Master’s degree
Four years of leadership in business development, sponsored project, nonprofit, or research administration experience.
Experience with budget development, revenue modeling, developing and managing grants or contracts or fee-for-service programs.
Experience working with universities, government agencies, nonprofits, industry partners, and public-sector organizations.
Demonstrated success in collaborating cross-institutionally and with external organizations.

Nice To Haves

Doctoral degree.
Degree or Certificate in business, public administration, nonprofit management, higher education administration, technology management.
Experience building or scaling a nonprofit, research institute, innovation center, workforce intermediary, training enterprise, or fee-for-service program.
Experience with sponsored research, STTR/SBIR-adjacent work, government contracting, public/private partnerships, or defense-adjacent projects.
Familiarity with university governance, faculty roles, labor considerations, grants administration, procurement, finance, and compliance routing.
Experience developing revenue-generating training, certification preparation, cyber range services, continuing education, or employer-facing workforce programs.
Experience preparing board materials, executive briefings, proposals, budgets, dashboards, and strategic plans.
Familiarity with Minnesota cybersecurity, AI, workforce, public-sector technology, or defense innovation ecosystems.

Responsibilities

Provides executive leadership and works closely with the Board of the Metro State Applied Innovation Institute (MSAII) to set and achieve strategic goals in alignment with the needs of the university’s related academic programs.
Provides business, administrative, operational, partnership, and sustainability leadership for MSAII.
Translates the Institute’s strategies into functioning operating models, revenue-generating service lines, budgets, staffing structures, partner agreements, project workflows, and implementation plans.
Works in close collaboration with the Chief Innovation and Research Officer and other Institute and university employees, and external stakeholders to build a hybrid academic, research, workforce, outreach, and applied innovation enterprise.
Supports contract research, sponsored projects, cybersecurity and AI training programs, cyber range services, employer-facing solutions, defense-adjacent initiatives, public-sector technology capacity building, and other mission-aligned activities.
Ensures that the Institute’s business model, financial systems, external partnerships, internal processes, and project commitments are realistic, sustainable, properly documented, and fulfills the purpose of building Metro State University’s research enterprise.
Develops and manages the Institute’s sustainable operating model, including revenue-generating training, contract research, sponsored projects, cyber range services, certification preparation, and custom employer solutions.
Serves as an external-facing representative of the Institute with business, government, defense, nonprofit, education, workforce, and community partners.
Supports the business and administrative aspects of contract research, STTR-related activities, appropriations-funded work, sponsored projects, and applied innovation projects.
Oversees the business model for training, certification, and other revenue-generating programs associated with the Institute.
Develops and monitors the financial model necessary to sustain and grow the Institute.
Coordinates with the MSAII Board and across Metro State units, faculty leads, staff, external partners, and Minnesota State system offices as needed.
Works with Institute leadership and the board to position MSAII as a statewide and regional leader in cybersecurity, AI, applied innovation, defense-adjacent workforce development, public-sector technology capacity, and responsible technology adoption.

Benefits

low-cost medical and dental insurance with affordable deductibles
employer-paid life insurance
short- and long-term disability
pre-tax healthcare and dependent care accounts with a roll-over option
confidential Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for mental health, legal, and financial counseling
12 paid holidays
generous vacation and sick time
six weeks of Paid Parental Leave
Pension Plan
457(b) and 403(b) retirement accounts
various investment options
dedicated professional development
tuition waivers for both you and your dependents