Innovation Systems Manager

Texas A&M University System • College Station, TX

10d • $5,668 - $8,333 • Onsite

About The Position

The Innovation Systems Manager serves as the technical lead for data systems, integration, reporting, and automation needs for Texas A&M Innovation. The role works independently and leads others in supporting licensing, new ventures, strategic partnerships, sponsorships, industry engagement, and impact reporting. Its primary focus is enterprise platform administration, data engineering, and business intelligence, while also identifying opportunities to combine reliable enterprise operations with AI-enabled development to reduce manual work and streamline workflows.

The manager administers technology transfer systems and related platforms; leads data migrations and integrations; supports CRM data structures; and coordinates system maintenance, security, governance, and recovery planning. The role also develops internal tools and AI-enabled automations, maintains data pipelines and dashboards, and oversees compliance reporting. It provides training and technical support, documents systems and processes, prepares updates for stakeholders, and gives technical direction to staff and students supporting data systems and reporting.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in an applicable field or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Five years of related experience in software development, database administration, systems integration, business intelligence, or enterprise application support.
• Experience designing or implementing automation solutions, such as workflow tools, RPA, or AI-assisted classification or routing.
• Strong experience with relational databases, SQL, data validation, reporting tools, and system integrations.
• Experience developing executive-facing dashboards in Power BI, Tableau, BOBJ, or similar business intelligence platforms.
• Experience integrating enterprise systems such as Salesforce, HubSpot, Workday, Huron, or Kuali via APIs or SFTP.
• Knowledge of project coordination, technical documentation, troubleshooting, and system support in a complex organization.
• Excellent written communication, analytical, interpersonal, and organizational skills.
• Working fluency with modern AI-assisted development tools and professional experience using them to build practical scripts, automations, or small applications.
• Knowledge of database administration, system implementation, data integration, reporting architecture, and data quality management in multi-platform environments.
• Ability to design end-to-end data architectures from source systems through integration, storage, and visualization to support reliable KPI and impact reporting.
• Knowledge of technical standards, security practices, backup and recovery procedures, data governance, and appropriate handling of sensitive information.
• Strong project management, mentoring, problem-solving, vendor coordination, and quality assurance skills.
• Ability to make sound build-or-buy decisions about software products and tools.
• Ability to explain complex technical concepts clearly to non-technical users, including licensing professionals, administrators, and faculty researchers.
• Ability to identify process improvement opportunities and develop practical, scalable technical solutions supporting innovation and commercialization operations.
• Ability to multitask and work cooperatively with others.
• Must be a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident; the position is security-sensitive and subject to a criminal history investigation and verification of credentials or other information required by institutional procedures.

Nice To Haves

• Advanced degree in computer science, information systems, data analytics, or a related field.
• Experience integrating LLM APIs into production workflows.
• Experience building and deploying web applications.
• Experience with Wellspring Sophia, Inteum, or similar intellectual property or technology transfer management systems.
• Experience in higher education, research administration, technology transfer, or commercialization operations.
• Familiarity with TX-RAMP or FedRAMP compliance standards and security protocols.
• Familiarity with iEdison reporting requirements and AUTM survey reporting.
• Two years of experience managing the work of and leading other staff and/or students.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary administrator and subject matter expert for Wellspring Sophia/Evolve and related technology transfer systems, including configuration, custom fields, user roles, permissions, and workflows.
• Lead data migrations from legacy systems, spreadsheets, and databases, including mapping, cleansing, validation, and quality review.
• Design, build, and maintain integrations between Wellspring and institutional systems using APIs, webhooks, and integration tools.
• Support CRM design and data structures for partnerships, sponsorships, paid engagements, investor relationships, external inquiries, and follow-up activity, and integrate those structures with the technology transfer platform.
• Coordinate database maintenance, upgrades, testing, performance monitoring, issue resolution, backup support, and recovery planning.
• Ensure data governance, security, access controls, and appropriate use of sensitive information in alignment with TAMUS security standards.
• Identify manual workflows and use modern AI-assisted development tools to build software and improve efficiency.
• Design and implement internal tools such as scripts, integrations, small web applications, and AI-powered automations that reduce manual work.
• Embed LLM capabilities into office workflows using TAMUS-approved enterprise AI services.
• Evaluate build-versus-buy options and make recommendations with the Director of Operations and relevant stakeholders.
• Instrument tools and automations so their impact can be measured and reported.
• Develop and maintain automated data pipelines and reporting structures for dashboards, executive reporting, commercialization metrics, and portfolio analysis.
• Build, maintain, and validate dashboards and reports in business intelligence tools to monitor disclosures, agreements, licensing activity, compliance deadlines, financial performance, and impact/KPI metrics.
• Oversee federal, state, private, and institutional compliance reporting, including invention reporting obligations and deadlines in iEdison and information used for external reporting and benchmarking such as AUTM surveys.
• Provide technical training, user support, troubleshooting, and documentation for staff, administrators, and researchers.
• Document tools, scripts, integrations, and automations so the work is durable and transferable.
• Prepare project status updates, problem summaries, progress reports, and other management and stakeholder documentation.
• Provide leadership and technical direction to staff and students supporting Texas A&M Innovation data systems and reporting efforts.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Competitive health benefits
• Paid vacation
• Paid sick leave
• Paid holidays
• Defined benefit retirement plan with an employer contribution through Teachers Retirement System of Texas (TRS)
• If applicable, defined contribution retirement plan with an employer contribution through an approved ORP vendor
• Additional voluntary tax-deferred annuity (TDA) options
• Tuition assistance
• Wellness programs to promote work/life balance

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager