Vice President for Venture Pathways and Chief Commercialization Officer

About the role

The Vice President for Venture Pathways and Chief Commercialization Officer (CCO) will lead Rice University's efforts to maximize the translation of university-wide discoveries and inventions into concrete commercial success, contributing to the betterment of the world. Reporting directly to the Executive Vice President for Research, the CCO will activate and coordinate an enhanced commercialization ecosystem at Rice.

Responsibilities

• Activate and coordinate an enhanced commercialization ecosystem at Rice to maximize the translation of university-wide discoveries and inventions to foster concrete commercial success.
• Increase faculty and student participation in venture funding and technology licensing.
• Expand and oversee Rice's technology ventures and commercialization activities in support of the university's foundational research and educational mission.
• Cultivate an on-campus culture that is rooted in discovery and innovation, uniting individual faculty, post-docs, and students in the commercialization process via robust programming and a substantial service and support infrastructure.
• Align these efforts with broader venture creation efforts and educational programs located in Rice's Schools and academic departments.
• Serve as the bridge between the university's impressive research enterprise and the broader innovation ecosystem at Rice and in Houston and the Gulf South region.
• Leverage Rice's world-class engineering and science research community, working within the broader Rice entrepreneurship ecosystem to advance and grow Rice's innovation portfolio.

Requirements

Possessing, in equal measure, the skills to envision and execute, the CCO will have the capability to serve as a strong strategic partner for research faculty, coupling entrepreneurial DNA with extensive experience in technology commercialization.

Qualifications

• Proven track record in technology commercialization and venture creation.
• Experience leading and managing complex, multi-disciplinary teams.
• Strong understanding of intellectual property law and management.
• Ability to build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders including faculty, industry partners, and government agencies.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Experience in fostering a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship.

Skills

• Strategic thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Leadership and management experience.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong organizational and project management skills.
• Knowledge of federal regulations related to research and technology transfer.

Benefits

Rice University offers a comprehensive benefits package including health insurance, retirement plans, and paid time off.

Pay

The salary range for this position is $200,000 - $250,000 annually, commensurate with experience.

Schedule

The schedule for this role is full-time.

Benefits

Rice University provides a comprehensive benefits package including health insurance, retirement plans, and paid time off.

Contact Information

To apply, confidential inquiries, nominations, referrals, and resumes with cover letters should be directed in confidence to the WittKieffer consultants supporting this search. Applications should include, as two separate documents, a CV or resume and a letter of interest addressing the themes in the profile, available at www.wittkieffer.com.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Rice University is an Equal Opportunity Employer with commitment to diversity at all levels, and considers for employment qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, genetic information, disability or protected veteran status. Rice University is committed to ensuring Equal Employment Opportunity and the full inclusion of all qualified persons in the workplace. This commitment includes providing reasonable accommodations to persons with disabilities.