Industry Liaison Office

Job Summary

The Director or Senior Manager of the Industry Liaison Office is responsible for supporting faculty in identifying, securing, and managing industry-sponsored research funding; leading and unifying industry-sponsored research and outreach activities; and specifically supporting industry interactions in the Price College of Engineering (PCOE).

This position reports to the Chief Research Officer (CRO) and Vice Provost for Research Planning and Partnerships, Academic Affairs (AA). The selected candidate will be located in PCOE and spend roughly 85% of their time there, with a dotted-line report to the Dean of PCOE for day-to-day activities. The remaining 15% will support central coordination activities, including work with the Chief Innovation Officer within AA and other members of the Research Partnerships team.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Oversight and Operations: Support the strategic oversight and operations of ongoing and new functions that support collaborations among academic researchers, industry partners, and commercialization ventures, including the joint pursuit of federal and state funding opportunities.

• Cultivate Relationships: Cultivate, manage, and build relationships with local, state, and national industry leaders across a broad array of technology areas to foster growth in the university's research enterprise.

• Facilitate Communication: Facilitate communication, negotiate agreements, and ensure effective interactions for both the university and its industry partners.

• Strategic Planning: Engage in strategic planning and project management, and demonstrate a deep understanding of both academic and commercial environments.

• Bridge Activities: Bridge activities between Corporate Partnerships and Industry-Sponsored Research.

Department Specific Responsibilities

• Collaborate with internal stakeholders across PCOE and central university units to ensure alignment.

• Manage and lead staff as the office grows in proportion to its success.

• Identify target markets well suited for prioritizing research and service offerings from PCOE and the University of Utah more broadly; manage communication and coordination to support growth and opportunities for the University of Utah.

• Collaborate with other campus units, such as the Office of Technology Licensing, Career and Professional Development, the Office of the Vice President for Research, and others.

• Build and maintain relationships among industry leaders, University of Utah faculty, and senior leadership.

Qualifications

• Advanced knowledge of translational research and product development in engineering-related fields.

• Expertise in emerging technologies, including computing, data science/AI, and broad areas of engineering and physical sciences such as energy, robotics, quantum technologies, electrical and electronics engineering, chemical and biomedical engineering, and related areas, including national security.

• Knowledge of research and development pathways that lead to commercially viable products and services, including an understanding of best practices for collaborations between industry and academia.

• A successful record demonstrating the ability to bridge research potential with market needs and trends and to identify partnerships that catalyze innovation and translation.

• Excellent interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills, as well as the ability to organize and manage complex projects.

• Advanced degree in Engineering or Physical Sciences.

• Previous experience with consortia, membership programs, or multi-partner collaborations, as evidenced by application materials.

• Previous experience with academic research culture, as evidenced by application materials.

• Proficiency with CRM or other stakeholder management tools, as evidenced by application materials.