Executive Dir, OCAST
About the role
The Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology (OCAST) serves as Oklahoma’s leading catalyst for science, technology, and innovation. OCAST's mission is to foster innovation in existing and developing businesses by supporting applied research and technology implementation, facilitating technology transfer between research laboratories and businesses, providing seed capital for innovative firms, and helping small and medium-sized manufacturing firms become more competitive.
Responsibilities
- Evaluates emerging technologies and early-stage ventures for investment potential
- Oversees research and innovation funding programs
- Guides technology transfer and commercialization efforts
- Helps move research from development into practical market applications
- Develops organizational strategy
- Makes sure performance metrics and KPIs are monitored
- Secures additional grant and investment funding
- Ensures regulatory and governance compliance
- Represents OCAST in meetings with public and private stakeholders
Requirements
Executive leadership experience in a science, technology, innovation, or economic development organization.
Experience in research and development, technology commercialization, or technology-based entrepreneurship.
Experience deploying capital or managing investments in early-stage technology ventures.
Expertise in budgeting and financial oversight within a complex or regulated environment.
Experience leading and managing professional and technical staff.
Working knowledge of state agency or corporate governance practices.
Demonstrated success in building partnerships across industry, academia, and government sectors.
Qualifications
- An advanced degree in science, engineering, business, public administration, or a related field is preferred.
- Candidates should have a background in business, science, engineering, or other technology-driven fields.
- Experience leading innovation programs, grantmaking initiatives, or portfolio management efforts is preferred.
- Familiarity with Oklahoma’s economic, academic, or technology ecosystem is desirable.
- Equivalent executive-level experience may be considered in lieu of specific qualifications.
- Preference may be given to candidates with:
- A PhD, MBA, JD, or another advanced degree.
- Five or more years of direct experience in a scientific or technological subject-matter domain.
- Five or more years of experience in technology commercialization and economic development, including activities across the technology value chain such as intellectual property development and protection, technology transfer, investment in emerging technologies, risk mitigation, and attracting additional capital investment.
- Experience founding and launching a technology-based company, with demonstrated success in business creation, financing, and operational execution.
- Five or more years of management experience supervising director-level staff in either a public agency or private-sector organization.
- Knowledge and skills in budgeting and financial management, oral and written communication, leading and directing professional, technical, and administrative staff, building and maintaining effective working relationships, developing and implementing short-, medium-, and long-term strategic plans, transparency requirements, statutory compliance, and accountability standards, research and development, technology-based entrepreneurship, capital investment, business models, technology transfer, and technology commercialization processes.
Skills
- Budgeting and financial management
- Oral and written communication
- Leading and directing professional, technical, and administrative staff
- Building and maintaining effective working relationships
- Developing and implementing short-, medium-, and long-term strategic plans
- Transparency requirements, statutory compliance, and accountability standards
- Research and development, technology-based entrepreneurship, capital investment, business models, technology transfer, and technology commercialization processes
Benefits
The State of Oklahoma offers a comprehensive benefits package, including a generous benefit allowance to offset the cost of insurance premiums for employees and their eligible dependents.
Pay
$175,000 commensurate with experience and approval of the OSTRaD Board of Directors
Schedule
Full time