Vice President, Brain Economy

University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB)•Galveston, TX

About The Position

The Vice President, Brain Economy will lead the strategy, partnerships, and operational development of UTMB's Brain Economy initiative. Working alongside clinical leadership, this executive will translate UTMB's strengths in neuroscience, population health, innovation, and education into a globally recognized center for brain health and cognitive longevity. This role represents an opportunity to help establish UTMB as a leading center for brain health, cognitive longevity, and innovation in the emerging Brain Economy, integrating education, research, clinical care, and community impact. The role will oversee the development of an integrated ecosystem spanning: Education, Research, Innovation & commercialization, Clinical care transformation, and Workforce and community brain health. The VP will build strategic partnerships across academia, industry, government, and global organizations to position UTMB as a national and international hub for the Brain Economy.

Requirements

Doctoral or advanced professional degree (PhD, MD, MPH, MBA or equivalent)
Fifteen (15) years of executive leadership experience in healthcare, life sciences, or global health innovation.
Demonstrated experience building multi-sector collaborations across academia, industry, and policy.
Experience leading large-scale initiatives spanning research, care delivery, and innovation.

Nice To Haves

Experience in brain health, neuroscience, cognitive longevity, or mental health ecosystems.
Track record in global health partnerships or international policy initiatives.
Experience building innovation platforms or institutes within academic medical centers.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute UTMB's Brain Economy strategy.
Align initiatives across the five pillars outlined in the institutional framework.
Identify opportunities for regional, national, and global leadership in brain health.
Build strategic collaborations with academic institutions, technology companies, biotech partners, public health agencies, and philanthropic organizations.
Clearly connect tangential and synergistic initiatives such as Project Metis, Blue Zones Ignite, etc.
Position UTMB within national and international brain health initiatives.
Develop programs to translate neuroscience discoveries into scalable innovations, startups, and clinical solutions.
Work with UTMB innovation and technology transfer offices to support neurotechnology commercialization.
Create innovation pathways linking research, care delivery, and economic growth.
Lead efforts to secure federal grants, philanthropic funding, and industry partnerships.
Develop public-private partnerships to expand brain health programs.
Build a sustainable financial model supporting initiative growth.
Launch and scale programs such as brain health workforce training, cognitive longevity clinics, community brain health initiatives, and AI-enabled clinical tools.
Build and lead a multidisciplinary team spanning strategy, partnerships, innovation, and operations.
Collaborate with UTMB clinical and research leaders to translate science into real-world impact.
Serve as a senior ambassador for UTMB's brain health initiatives.
Adheres to internal controls and reporting structure.
Performs related duties as required.