Associate Vice President for Economic Development & Innovation
Organization:
University of Central Florida
Position Title:
Associate Vice President for Economic Development & Innovation
Position Location:
Orlando, FL, On-site
Position Description:
Responsibilities:
Strategic Economic Development Leadership:
Develop and implement a forward-looking strategy to position UCF as a leader in regional and statewide economic development. Represent the university in major initiatives that support job creation, talent development, and industry growth.
Technology Transfer and Commercialization:
Oversee and strengthen UCF’s technology transfer operations, including the assessment, protection, and licensing of intellectual property (IP). Promote the successful transition of research innovations into commercial ventures through licensing, startups, and partnerships.
Innovation Ecosystem Development:
Lead initiatives to build and expand UCF’s innovation infrastructure, such as incubators, accelerators, and innovation districts. Cultivate a culture of entrepreneurship and innovation among faculty, students, and partners.
Partnership and Stakeholder Engagement:
Collaborate with the Office of Government Affairs and Community Relations and the Corporate Partnerships team to align economic development efforts with institutional priorities. Engage with industry leaders, government agencies, funding entities, and other stakeholders to grow UCF’s innovation network.
Support for Faculty and Research Enterprise:
Work closely with faculty and researchers to identify opportunities for commercialization, provide guidance on intellectual property protection, and connect them with market resources.
Communication:
Serve as an ambassador for UCF’s research and innovation portfolio. Work with the UCF Communications team to develop compelling narratives and strategies to communicate the institution’s economic and technological impact to local, state, national, and global audiences.
Team and Operations Leadership:
Direct and develop a team responsible for economic development, tech transfer, and innovation support. Foster a collaborative, responsive, and service-oriented team culture.
Minimum Qualifications:
Bachelor's or Master's degree and 12+ years of relevant experience with at least 5+ years of leadership experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience pursuant to Fla. Stat. 112.219(6).
Preferred Qualifications:
- Knowledge of the research enterprise and university-industry relations.
- Understanding of the innovation cycle, patent process, copywriting, trade marketing and intellectual properties laws.
- Expertise in interacting with a broad range of internal and external constituents to build and promote programs.
- Familiarity with federal and state research funding mechanisms, economic development incentives, and commercialization grants (e.g., SBIR/STTR).
- Experience in developing and managing strategic initiatives in complex organizations, with the ability to synthesize data for innovative commercial opportunities.
- Knowledge of Florida’s innovation economy and UCF’s institutional mission.
- Demonstrated success in forging partnerships between academia, government, and industry.
- Excellent communication, negotiation, and stakeholder engagement skills.