Enterprise Chief Innovation Officer

About the Role

The University of Utah – a leading public research university and member of the Association of American Universities – seeks an experienced, strategic, and collaborative leader to serve as its Enterprise Chief Innovation Officer. Located in one of the nation's fastest-growing innovation economies, the University offers exceptional strengths in health sciences, engineering, data science, biomedical innovation, energy, entrepreneurship, technology commercialization, healthcare innovation, life sciences, and digital technologies. The University's proximity to world-class healthcare systems, a vibrant startup community, major technology employers, and growing venture investment activity creates significant opportunities for research commercialization, industry collaboration, and expanded impact and scale.

The Enterprise Chief Innovation Officer (ECIO) serves as the University of Utah's senior leader for innovation, technology commercialization, entrepreneurship, and research translation. Reporting to the Senior Vice President for Research (SVP-R), the ECIO develops institutional strategy, advises university leadership, and leads the University's innovation enterprise to accelerate the translation of research discoveries into societal impact. The ECIO also oversees the Technology Licensing Office (TLO), providing strategic oversight and leadership while partnering with the TLO Senior Directors to advance the University's commercialization mission. The position focuses on strategy, organizational development, faculty engagement, and institutional leadership rather than day-to-day operations.

The University enters this next chapter from a position of considerable strength. The President has established an ambitious agenda for the innovation enterprise, including growing annual research activity to $1 billion, launching 30 startups per year, and positioning the University as the nation's leading entrepreneurial university. With experienced leadership in place across technology licensing and venture development, a mature and productive commercialization infrastructure, expanding seed and venture funding capabilities, and a culture that embraces innovation and entrepreneurship, the University is well-positioned to accelerate its impact.

Responsibilities

• Build on existing momentum by aligning and scaling innovation activities across the institution
• Strengthen pathways from discovery to commercialization
• Expand engagement with faculty innovators
• Further elevate the University's national profile in research translation and entrepreneurship
• Develop institutional strategy for innovation, technology commercialization, entrepreneurship, and research translation
• Advise university leadership on innovation enterprise matters
• Lead the University's innovation enterprise to accelerate translation of research discoveries into societal impact
• Oversee the Technology Licensing Office (TLO), providing strategic oversight and leadership while partnering with TLO Senior Directors
• Focus on strategy, organizational development, faculty engagement, and institutional leadership

Qualifications

• Strategic and collaborative innovation leader with a record of advancing technology commercialization, entrepreneurship, research translation, or venture development within complex organizations
• Demonstrated success in leading meaningful organizational change by working effectively within existing systems and cultures
• Demonstrated success in building partnerships across academia, industry, government, and investment communities
• Deep understanding of emerging trends and cutting-edge advancements shaping the innovation landscape
• Strong business acumen and strategic leadership skills
• Ability to inspire and engage diverse stakeholders in support of the University's ambitious innovation agenda

Application Details

For full consideration, candidate materials should be received by January 4, 2027. Applications should include, as two separate documents, a CV or resume and a letter of interest addressing the themes in the leadership profile (available at https://wittkieffer.com/positions/a1WUn000002Bwh3MAC). Nominations and inquiries can be directed to the WittKieffer consultants supporting the search – Suzanne Teer, Andrew Bean, Ph.D., and Alana Penley – at UtahECIO@wittkieffer.com.