Industry Innovation Director

Texas Tech University•Lubbock, TX

About The Position

Directs, plans, coordinates and supervises the operations and activities of a specialized unit or small department; develops and implements policies and procedures, administers the budget, organizes tasks and sets priorities. Serves as liaison with university personnel and community at large. Works under general supervision with broad latitude for initiative and independent judgement. Sustainability & Revenue Leadership. Lead execution of CASFER's Sustainability Plan for the Innovation Ecosystem, with accountability for achieving approximately $1M/year in industry membership and member-sponsored research. Develop and execute a growth plan with quarterly targets, a qualified pipeline, measurable activity funnel, and regular progress reporting to Center leadership. Industry Membership Growth. Grow and retain CASFER's industry membership by recruiting new IPAB member companies, maintaining at least 80% member retention, converting in-kind members to paid membership, and building a qualified prospect pipeline through research, partner institutions, and leadership relationships. Strategic Industry Development. Engage priority sectors aligned with CASFER and CASFER 2.0, including fertilizer and agribusiness, wastewater utilities, manufacturing/OEM and deployment partners, and AI, data-platform, and circular-economy organizations. Present CASFER's value proposition to executive and technical decision-makers. Business Planning & Commercialization. Lead CASFER's business plan and commercialization strategy, including membership models, member-sponsored research, licensing, and the CASFER 2.0 platform framework. Contribute to diversified revenue through grants, services, pilot projects, licensing, and membership. Technology Transfer & Commercialization. Develop and lead the Technology Transfer Strategic Plan. Maintain working knowledge of commercialization requirements, technology readiness levels (TRLs), regulatory pathways, and validation milestones needed for market adoption. Lead commercialization and partner discussions while coordinating with researchers. Proposal Development. Identify funding opportunities and lead or significantly contribute to proposals, including industry sponsorships, commitment letters, non-core research funding, and collaborative federal proposals in coordination with Center leadership. Industry Membership & IPAB Management. Serve as the primary contact for prospective members, manage IPAB membership agreements in compliance with TTU and NSF requirements, organize IPAB meetings, and ensure appropriate separation between NSF-funded research and company-sponsored projects. Technology Marketing & Partnerships. Promote CASFER technologies through presentations, demonstrations, lab tours, testbeds, and industry events. Coordinate with testbed teams to support technology evaluations and deployment opportunities. Technology Transfer & Intellectual Property. Serve as liaison among inventors, partner technology commercialization offices, and IP counsel. Support licensing activities and maintain the Center's intellectual property portfolio and database across partner institutions. Metrics, Reporting & Compliance. Manage CRM systems and innovation metrics, maintain membership records, dues, and invoicing, prepare NSF innovation and industry reports, and ensure compliance with NSF requirements. Workforce Development. Collaborate with Research Team Science and Education & Workforce Development teams to connect students with industry through internships, fellowships, career placement, and translational research opportunities while mentoring students in industry engagement. Center Leadership & Outreach. Participate in Executive Committee and research thrust meetings, lead industry engagement initiatives, and collaborate with the Media Coordinator to develop marketing materials and outreach content.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in engineering or a STEM-related field required
Five years of progressively responsible management experience
Candidates must successfully complete a comprehensive background check prior to employment.
Employees are required to comply with all applicable state and federal regulations related to the protection of critical infrastructure.
Ongoing employment is dependent upon maintaining eligibility for access and successfully passing periodic security and compliance reviews.

Nice To Haves

Additional education may substitute for experience on a basis.

Responsibilities

Lead execution of CASFER's Sustainability Plan for the Innovation Ecosystem, with accountability for achieving approximately $1M/year in industry membership and member-sponsored research.
Develop and execute a growth plan with quarterly targets, a qualified pipeline, measurable activity funnel, and regular progress reporting to Center leadership.
Grow and retain CASFER's industry membership by recruiting new IPAB member companies, maintaining at least 80% member retention, converting in-kind members to paid membership, and building a qualified prospect pipeline through research, partner institutions, and leadership relationships.
Engage priority sectors aligned with CASFER and CASFER 2.0, including fertilizer and agribusiness, wastewater utilities, manufacturing/OEM and deployment partners, and AI, data-platform, and circular-economy organizations.
Present CASFER's value proposition to executive and technical decision-makers.
Lead CASFER's business plan and commercialization strategy, including membership models, member-sponsored research, licensing, and the CASFER 2.0 platform framework.
Contribute to diversified revenue through grants, services, pilot projects, licensing, and membership.
Develop and lead the Technology Transfer Strategic Plan.
Maintain working knowledge of commercialization requirements, technology readiness levels (TRLs), regulatory pathways, and validation milestones needed for market adoption.
Lead commercialization and partner discussions while coordinating with researchers.
Identify funding opportunities and lead or significantly contribute to proposals, including industry sponsorships, commitment letters, non-core research funding, and collaborative federal proposals in coordination with Center leadership.
Serve as the primary contact for prospective members, manage IPAB membership agreements in compliance with TTU and NSF requirements, organize IPAB meetings, and ensure appropriate separation between NSF-funded research and company-sponsored projects.
Promote CASFER technologies through presentations, demonstrations, lab tours, testbeds, and industry events.
Coordinate with testbed teams to support technology evaluations and deployment opportunities.
Serve as liaison among inventors, partner technology commercialization offices, and IP counsel.
Support licensing activities and maintain the Center's intellectual property portfolio and database across partner institutions.
Manage CRM systems and innovation metrics, maintain membership records, dues, and invoicing, prepare NSF innovation and industry reports, and ensure compliance with NSF requirements.
Collaborate with Research Team Science and Education & Workforce Development teams to connect students with industry through internships, fellowships, career placement, and translational research opportunities while mentoring students in industry engagement.
Participate in Executive Committee and research thrust meetings, lead industry engagement initiatives, and collaborate with the Media Coordinator to develop marketing materials and outreach content.