TEDCO – Executive Director of Maryland Innovation Initiative (MII)

• Executive Director of Maryland Innovation Initiative
• Columbia, MD
• Filing Deadline: Open until filled

Maryland Technology Development Corporation (TEDCO) was established by the Maryland General Assembly to provide funding, resources, and connections that early stage technology and life sciences companies need to grow and to thrive. One of its programs, the Maryland Innovation Initiative (MII), was formed to promote the commercialization of research conducted in participating universities; to encourage qualifying universities to partner on commercialization proposals, strategies, and funding sources, including with federal laboratories located in Maryland; and to facilitate technology transfer from university labs to start-up companies.

TEDCO is currently seeking an Executive Director to have strategic and operational responsibility of all MII programs. The Executive Director will work under the direction and control of the MII Board to execute the vision and policies as set forth in MII’s enabling legislation. The Executive Director will be one of the key leaders in Maryland in the tech transfer community.

The Executive Director will drive the collision of faculty and innovators and serial entrepreneurs by accelerating and supporting innovators from research universities and general universities such as Bowie State, Frostburg, and the University of Maryland. Its mission will be to take science from labs and help entrepreneurs bring it to the market. They accomplish this by providing people resources for the application, as well as avenues for funding.

The Executive Director for the MII is primarily responsible for the day-to-day management and staffing of the MII program.  This includes performing all tasks necessary to ensure that the MII program is run efficiently and consistent with the vision and policies established by the MII Board and the MII legislation and in alignment with TEDCO objectives.

Specific responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Reviewing and managing all MII proposals, including assisting applicants with the application process and TEDCO’s on-line proposal management system, coordinating reviews with the TEDCO review committee, and keeping applicants notified as to the status of their proposals.
• Managing and tracking all awards resulting from the program, including working with TEDCO’s counsel to coordinate the execution of funding agreements, processing payments to awardees, and ensuring that awardees submit any required reports and otherwise comply with the terms of the awards.
• Provide administrative and technical support for meetings of the MII Board, including scheduling meetings, taking minutes, and keeping Board members updated on the status of the MII program.
• Promoting the MII program to university administrators and faculty in coordination with university site miners and technology transfer officers, and to other potential applicants through presentations and the development of content for marketing materials.
• Defining, collecting and analyzing metrics for the MII program.
• Generating all required reports for the program including reports for the MII Board, reports required by the MII legislation, and any other required reports.
• Managing a portfolio of the MII awardees, including obtaining technology transfer and economic impact data from any resulting companies, maintaining relationships with companies commercializing technologies developed through the MII program, and encouraging such companies to take advantage of TEDCO’s other funding programs.
• Supervising all MII staff members and directing them to accomplish the tasks above as appropriate.
• Partnering with university stakeholders to identify best concepts, methodologies, and practices that may be commercialized for the betterment of entrepreneurs.
• Other duties as needed or assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required. Advanced Degree preferred.
• A minimum of ten years of experience performing duties like those outlined above.
• Strong business acumen.
• Understanding of the startup landscape, specifically as it relates to innovation, technology and life sciences.
• Proven ability to effectively collaborate and build relationships across the Maryland innovation ecosystem, which includes MII member university faculty, staff and administrators, government agencies, entrepreneurs, investors, and service providers
• Proven ability to build consensus.
• Exceptional oral and written communication skills.
• Strong organizational skills

The MII Executive Director reports directly to the MII Board for policy implementation. The MII Executive Director will be responsible for working within the TEDCO administrative structure to meet the goals of the MII Program.

This position will be housed at TEDCO’s office in Columbia, MD.

TEDCO is an equal employment opportunity employer. All hiring decisions and employment actions are made without regard to race, color, creed, religion, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status or any characteristic protected by law.