FAST Engine Chief Executive Officer

About the role

This is a full-time (1.00 FTE), 12-month, professional faculty position. Reporting to the Associate Vice President for Economic Development and Industry Relations at Oregon State University and working closely with the FAST Strategic Governing Council, the CEO will lead a complex, multi-institutional organization spanning research universities, community colleges, industry, government, workforce organizations, investors, and community partners.

About FAST

Frontiers of Advanced Semiconductor Technology (FAST) is a National Science Foundation (NSF) designated Regional Innovation Engine advancing U.S. leadership in semiconductor manufacturing through the development and deployment of AI-enabled Advanced Process Control (AI-APC) systems. FAST is a consortium of more than 95 industry, academic, government, workforce, and community partners aligned to catalyze innovation, workforce development, and inclusive economic growth across Oregon’s Cascade-Willamette Innovation Corridor (CWIC).

FAST is one of the National Science Foundation’s Regional Innovation Engines, designed to strengthen U.S. economic competitiveness through long-term regional innovation ecosystems that integrate research, commercialization, workforce development, entrepreneurship, and industry engagement. The Engine is funded by NSF for up to 10 years, with substantial state, industry, and philanthropic co-investment.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the chief executive and public face of FAST, articulating and advancing a compelling long-term vision for the Engine’s impact and sustainability.
• Direct a complex statewide partnership of universities, community colleges, industry, government, workforce organizations, and investors.
• Deliver measurable outcomes in semiconductor innovation, commercialization, workforce development, and regional economic competitiveness.
• Lead FAST through successful NSF stage-gate reviews following the initial two-year award period by ensuring the Engine achieves its milestone-based performance objectives, demonstrates measurable commercialization and regional economic impact, and secures subsequent phases of NSF funding.
• Build executive-level relationships with federal agencies, industry leaders, investors, elected officials, and academic partners.
• Expand FAST’s long-term financial sustainability through strategic partnerships and diversified public and private investment.
• Lead and develop FAST’s executive leadership team, providing strategic direction, performance management, and organizational leadership across a complex, multi-institutional organization.
• Partner closely with FAST Directors and Co-Directors to align research, workforce, commercialization, and partnership activities in support of the Engine’s strategic goals and NSF performance milestones.
• Serve as the public face and national spokesperson for FAST and Oregon’s semiconductor innovation ecosystem.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, physical sciences, business, or a related field.
• Experience in semiconductors, advanced manufacturing, AI, or closely related technology sectors.
• Minimum of 10 years of senior leadership experience with demonstrated responsibility for complex, multi-stakeholder organizations or initiatives.
• Proven ability to lead at the intersection of technology, industry, and economic development.
• Demonstrated success securing and managing large-scale public and private funding.
• Strong record of building partnerships across industry, academia, government, and communities.
• Exceptional communication skills and executive presence, with a proven ability to align diverse stakeholders around shared goals.
• Commitment to inclusive excellence and inclusive regional prosperity.

This position is designated as a critical or security-sensitive position; therefore, the incumbent must successfully complete a criminal history check and be determined to be position qualified as per University Standard: 05-010 et seq. Incumbents are required to self-report convictions and those in youth programs may have additional criminal history checks every 24 months. Final candidates for this position must complete a sexual misconduct reference check, per University Policy 05-010. An offer of employment will be contingent upon satisfactory results from the sexual misconduct reference check.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree (PhD, MBA, JD, or equivalent) in engineering, physical sciences, business, or a related field.
• Experience leading or scaling innovation ecosystems, research consortia, technology hubs, or startup platforms.
• Familiarity with federal research funding, cooperative agreements, and technology commercialization.
• Experience operating within or alongside research universities while building independent, sustainable organizations.
• Experience with intellectual property contracts between industry and academia.
• Demonstrated success managing a complex, multi-organizational budget.
• Experience leading a large federally funded initiative or center with milestone-based performance requirements and external oversight.
• Experience building and leading statewide or national innovation, workforce, or economic development partnerships.