Director, Business Development

System Offices is one of several system members within the Texas A&M University System, representing one of the largest systems of higher education in the nation, with a network of 12 universities, a comprehensive health science center, eight state agencies, Texas A&M – Fort Worth, and the Texas A&M - RELLIS Campus. The Texas A&M University System mission is to provide education, conduct research, commercialize technology, offer training, and deliver services for the people of Texas and beyond.

Texas A&M Innovation is the commercialization and industry engagement arm of The Texas A&M University System, responsible for protecting and commercializing intellectual property arising from System research, launching and supporting new ventures, building strategic industry relationships, and cultivating an innovation ecosystem that translates research into economic and societal impact.

About the role

The Director of Business Development leads the Innovation Office's proactive, outbound industry engagement strategy. This role focuses on identifying companies whose technology roadmaps, R&D priorities, and strategic gaps align with System research and IP, and initiating conversations that lead to licenses, sponsored research, joint development, and other commercial engagements.

Success is defined by executed licenses, options, sponsored research agreements, and strategic collaborations—not by the volume of introductions made. The Director is also the founding leader of the Business Development team and is expected to recruit, develop, and lead a growing group of sector-focused professionals over time.

Responsibilities

• Proactive Industry Engagement
  • Develop and execute a sector-based outbound engagement strategy targeting companies aligned with System research strengths and available IP.
  • Build and maintain executive-level relationships with corporate R&D, open innovation, corporate development, and business unit leaders.
  • Understand corporate technology development roadmaps, unmet technical needs, and partnership preferences within target verticals to shape commercial opportunities.
  • Represent the Innovation Office at industry conferences, sector summits, and corporate innovation events, cultivating relationships with trade associations, consortia, and ecosystem partners.
• Opportunity Development and Deal Support
  • Maintain current knowledge of the active invention, patent, and licensing portfolio to match System technologies with corporate needs.
  • Advance qualified opportunities from initial interest through structured deal discussions in partnership with Licensing, New Ventures, and Strategic Partnership teams.
  • Contribute to framing, positioning, and commercial strategy of opportunities, including deal structure, partnership model, and market rationale.
  • Develop sector-level marketing materials, capability briefs, and targeted outreach content in collaboration with Marketing and Licensing teams.
• Cross-Functional Coordination
  • Partner with the Director of Strategic Partnerships to ensure alignment between outbound Business Development and inbound partnership activities.
  • Coordinate with Licensing, New Ventures, and Sponsored Research to ground industry conversations in accurate technology, IP, and commercial pathway understanding.
  • Represent Business Development in portfolio reviews and pipeline discussions, aligning outbound engagement with the office’s broader commercialization strategy.
• Team Leadership
  • Recruit, develop, and lead a team of Business Development professionals organized by sector or geographic territory as the function grows.
  • Establish operating norms, performance expectations, and coaching practices to reinforce outcome-driven behavior and disciplined use of shared systems (e.g., CRM).
  • Own the Business Development budget, travel plan, and conference participation strategy.
  • Contribute to Innovation Office leadership as a member of the Director-level group, participating in strategy, budgeting, hiring, and cross-functional problem-solving.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in a technical or scientific field (engineering, life sciences, physical sciences, computer science, or related discipline), or a business degree with demonstrated technical depth through professional experience.
• Eight years of professional experience, including at least five years in industry-facing roles such as business development, corporate partnerships, technology licensing, strategic alliances, or corporate R&D leadership.
• Experience using CRM systems and structured pipeline data to manage relationships and opportunities.

Skills

• Demonstrated track record of closing meaningful commercial agreements (licenses, joint development agreements, sponsored research programs, or strategic partnerships) through personally cultivated corporate relationships.
• Working knowledge of the technology commercialization process, including distinctions between research-stage and market-ready technologies, patent basics, licensing structures, and technology development cycles in at least one major industry vertical.
• Excellent interpersonal, written, and presentation skills, with the ability to engage credibly with technical researchers and corporate decision-makers.
• High professional integrity and commitment to accuracy when representing research and technologies to external partners.
• Willingness and ability to travel domestically and internationally as needed.
• Ability to multitask and work cooperatively with others.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree (MS, MBA, PhD, JD, or equivalent) in a technical, business, or legal field.
• Experience in a university technology transfer office, national laboratory commercialization group, corporate R&D partnerships function, or comparable innovation-focused organization.
• Familiarity with sponsored research agreements, master research agreements, cooperative research and development agreements, and other university-industry engagement vehicles.
• Prior experience recruiting, building, or leading a team in business development, partnerships, or industry engagement.
• Sector fluency in one or more of the following: energy, agriculture, semiconductors and advanced electronics, advanced manufacturing, defense and national security, life sciences, or digital technologies.
• An established industry network in Texas, the Gulf Coast region, or national technology sectors relevant to System research.

Benefits

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

This is a security-sensitive position restricted to U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents only.