Commercialization Program Director, MTRAC for Life Sciences

Commercialization Program Director, MTRAC for Life Sciences

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How to Apply

A cover letter is required for consideration for this position and should be attached as the first page of your resume. The cover letter should address your specific interest in the position and outline skills and experience that directly relate to this position.

Job Summary

The University of Michigan is one of the world's most powerful engines for scholarly research, service, and impact. Sustaining and supporting the University's robust research enterprise is vital for maximizing innovation and economic growth. As a service and resource for researchers interested in the commercialization of technologies and research discoveries, Innovation Partnerships is a unit of the Office of Research that plays a central role in helping to ensure that society realizes the benefits of the research conducted at the University of Michigan.

Innovation Partnerships is the primary gateway for U-M researchers seeking to increase the impact of their work. It connects researchers with the private sector through corporate-sponsored research collaborations, licensing agreements, and startups. Its licensing, business development, and investment professionals provide step-by-step service to faculty, starting with invention assessment and intellectual property support, followed by business mentoring and connections to early-stage capital.

Innovation Partnerships is seeking a Commercialization Program Director to lead the Michigan Translational Research and Commercialization (MTRAC) for Life Sciences Innovation Hub across both of its funding tiers: Kickstart early-stage awards (up to $42,500) and MTRAC mid-stage awards (up to $250,000). Like the MTRAC Advanced Transportation Innovation Hub, the Life Sciences Hub will have one program director responsible for the full path from a researcher's first conversation, through proof-of-concept funding, to mid-stage translational funding and follow-on investment.

The MTRAC for Life Sciences Hub is a statewide program supporting translational research projects in life sciences with high commercial potential, with the ultimate goal of positively impacting human health. Funding focuses on four market segments: devices, diagnostics, therapeutics, and healthcare IT. Faculty and staff innovators from all schools at the University of Michigan as well as other institutions of higher education, non-profit research centers, and health systems across Michigan are eligible to submit projects for funding consideration. Since 2017, the Hub has awarded over $24M to more than 180 projects, and funded projects have led to 40 startups that raised over $370M in follow-on funds. The Hub has an operating budget of up to $2M, with half provided by the Michigan Strategic Fund through the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) and the remainder from participating institutions. It is co-managed by Innovation Partnerships and the U-M Medical School's Fast Forward Medical Innovation (FFMI) program.

The Commercialization Program Director will be a full member of the Innovation Partnerships team, reporting to the Director of Ventures, Life Sciences. The Commercialization Program Director will: 1) identify potential projects for Kickstart and MTRAC funding; 2) coordinate and facilitate the marketing, application, review, award selection, and award administration process for both tiers, with guidance from the MTRAC and Kickstart oversight committees; 3) oversee awarded projects to ensure successful outcomes, achievement of milestones, and preparation for other follow-on funding; 4) oversee administrative, financial, and reporting requirements of the program, including reporting to MEDC; and 5) maintain and enhance relationships with internal and external partners.

Responsibilities*

Promote the program and identify projects

Promote Kickstart and MTRAC funding to eligible institutions statewide.

Create and nurture relationships with key stakeholders on and off campus, including other university technology transfer offices, research administrators, and health systems.

Identify promising research discoveries and technologies from across the state that could benefit from translational research funding.

Meet with researchers before submission to assess stage of development and commercial potential, and direct each team to the right program.

Provide alternative paths to teams whose projects are not a fit for Kickstart or MTRAC, so that their commercialization efforts can continue.

Lead Kickstart early-stage funding

Manage the Kickstart request-for-proposals process, including the pre-submission application and the review cycle.

Triage projects based on stage appropriateness and commercial potential.

Coordinate application intake with other technology transfer offices, ensuring proposal quality, intellectual property protection, and alignment of institutional objectives.

Coordinate the proposal review process with internal reviewers and the members of the Kickstart Oversight Committee.

Manage the award process, coordinating with program management staff at other universities to ensure adequate project management, milestone attainment, and reporting.

Lead MTRAC mid-stage funding

Manage the annual MTRAC request-for-proposals, application, review, and award selection process.

Coordinate the review process with internal reviewers and all members of the MTRAC Oversight Committee. The Oversight Committee is composed of experienced technologists, entrepreneurs, industry partners, university representatives, and venture capitalists.

Arrange and conduct meetings with the oversight committees and with applicants and awardees.

Coordinate, alongside Innovation Partnerships and Fast Forward Medical Innovation, with internal and external commercialization resources (for example prototype development, external business consulting firms, business school students, industrial partners, and venture capital firms) to evaluate and guide technology development activities.

Manage awarded projects and the path to follow-on funding

Assist faculty with proposal preparation and project execution, including milestone optimization, revision, and completion consistent with translational goals.

Provide commercialization support to awardees, ensuring successful completion of project milestones and appropriate positioning for future funding.

Guide successful Kickstart projects toward MTRAC mid-stage funding and other follow-on funding, and track outcomes for both tiers.

Connect awardees with mentors, including oversight committee members and Mentors-In-Residence, to help them make critical technology and business decisions and develop commercialization plans.

Evaluate business opportunities related to funded technologies by analyzing product development status, customer needs, market factors, and resource requirements.

Manage program finances and reporting

Manage oversight of program funds for both funding tiers, and coordinate with those designated to assist with commercialization development (patent landscape, market assessments, product development, and similar work).

Prepare quarterly financial statements, program metrics, and progress reports for MEDC and other stakeholders, and make presentations to MEDC as required.

Serve as Innovation Partnerships' day-to-day contact with MEDC and with the other MTRAC Hubs to share best practices and work through program challenges.

Provide a collective accounting and reporting process for all Hub participants.

Supervise administrative support, part-time interns or temporary employees, and subcontracted vendors.

Manage the Hub system of support for other Michigan institutions

Coordinate with other university technology transfer offices to identify opportunities for MTRAC for Life Sciences resources and co-market the benefits of participation.

Manage the intake of applicants from other institutions, ensuring consistency and quality of proposals, timed to use the central selection process and resources, including the oversight committees.

Coordinate with program management resources at other institutions so that project management, milestone attainment, and reporting are maintained.

Connect projects to additional resources and collaborate with Innovation Partnerships

Maintain a working knowledge of other translational, gap, and grant funding programs and innovation education programs related to life sciences, and stay current on life science industry technology trends and needs.

Work closely with Fast Forward Medical Innovation and with Innovation Partnerships' licensing and ventures professionals to support the selection process and ensure that technology advancement tasks align with commercialization plans.

Provide education, mentorship, and support to university inventors, including teaching in entrepreneurship programs for academics and mentoring investigators on their venture efforts.

Support the Ventures team with due diligence on investment opportunities as needed.

Provide the Innovation Partnerships team with regular updates on program activity, share program news and success stories with the Marketing team, and participate in broader Innovation Partnerships strategic initiatives.

Required Qualifications*

Bachelor's degree in life sciences or a related technical field.

7 years of experience in life sciences technology development, technology transfer, or business development.

Excellent project management, program management, and team-building skills, with a strong comfort level for multi-tasking across many concurrent projects.

Experience managing a funded program or grant, including budgets, milestone tracking, and reporting to a funder or sponsor.

Working knowledge of current strategies, requirements, and implementation practices to successfully bring technology to market in the life sciences and biotech space.

Ability to effectively coach faculty members in areas outside of their research expertise, including business management and commercialization.

Strong interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to successfully interact with a variety of audiences, including scientists, program sponsors, industry representatives, investors, and college administration.

Ability to work both independently and in a team environment.

Network of industry contacts, or the ability to build one quickly.

Proactive and goal-oriented, with maturity, poise, and good judgment.

Knowledge of venture funding and the milestones that drive value creation for investors, an understanding of technology transfer and the venture start-up process, and familiarity with FDA regulations for clinical trials and commercialization (for example IND, 510(k), IDE).

Desired Qualifications*

Advanced degree in a STEM field.

Experience in academia or an academic technology transfer office, including administering university-based translational or gap funding.

Experience in a life science startup, including product development and customer discovery.

Experience writing or leading federal research or small business grants (for example NIH, SBIR, or STTR).

Experience teaching or mentoring academic researchers on commercialization and entrepreneurship.

Experience supporting investment due diligence on early-stage companies.

Business experience in new technology commercialization.

Modes of Work

Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about thework modes (https://hr.umich.edu/working-u-m/my-employment/ways-we-work-resource-center/ways-we-work-implementation-group/modes-work) .

Additional Information

The University of Michigan is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, which is consistently rated one of the top places to live in the country. For more information, visit https://www.visitannarbor.org.

Background Screening

The University of Michigan conducts background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer and may use a third party administrator to conduct background checks. Background checks are performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

Application Deadline

Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days. The review and selection process may begin as early as the eighth day after posting. This opening may be removed from posting boards and filled any time after the minimum posting period has ended.

U-M EEO Statement

The University of Michigan is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

Job Detail

Job Opening ID

285354

Working Title

Commercialization Program Director, MTRAC for Life Sciences

Job Title

Project Senior Manager

Work Location

Ann Arbor Campus

Ann Arbor, MI

Modes of Work

Hybrid

Full/Part Time

Full-Time

Regular/Temporary

Regular

FLSA Status

Exempt

Organizational Group

Umor Tech Trnsfr-Ott

Department

UMOR Innovation Pshps Admin

Posting Begin/End Date

11/05/2026 - 11/12/2026

Salary

$90,000.00 - $135,000.00

Career Interest

Administration

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