Education Director - NCTI

National Commercialization and Translation Institute (NCTI):

The National Commercialization and Translation Institute (NCTI) is a national initiative dedicated to helping innovative technology companies transform breakthrough ideas into commercial success. Supported through a National Science Foundation (NSF) initiative and led by the University of Central Florida, NCTI serves as a national hub connecting entrepreneurs, investors, industry leaders, government partners, and commercialization experts to accelerate innovation, business growth, and economic impact. NCTI is designed to help promising deep-technology companies navigate the journey from scientific discovery and technological advancement to sustainable market success.

As a new institute, NCTI offers a unique opportunity to shape the future of technology commercialization on a national scale. Through strategic partnerships, individualized commercialization support, and a collaborative innovation ecosystem, the institute is advancing solutions that help high-potential companies overcome commercialization barriers and bring transformative technologies to market. NCTI combines the agility and entrepreneurial spirit of a startup with the resources and credibility of a leading research university, creating an environment where innovation, partnership, and impact drive meaningful results.

The Opportunity:

The National Commercialization and Translation Institute (NCTI) is looking for an accomplished industry practitioner and educator to serve as its Founding Education Director. This highly visible role will shape and deliver commercialization education for a national cohort of deep-technology companies, helping founders and executive teams develop the skills, strategies, and insights needed to move groundbreaking innovations from the laboratory to the marketplace.

The successful candidate will combine real-world entrepreneurial or commercialization experience with a passion for teaching and mentoring others. Collaborating with industry experts, investors, founders, and thought leaders, the Education Director will create engaging educational experiences that strengthen the nation's innovation ecosystem while helping establish NCTI as a premier resource for NSF-funded startups and emerging technology companies.

• This is a Contracts & Grants (C&G) funded position. Employment is subject to availability of funding and may cease at the time funding for this employment is depleted. This position is approved for the first 18 months of the 24-month grant period.

• Classification Title: Program Director I

Responsibilities:

• Design and build the EDUCATE curriculum for deep-technology commercialization: learning objectives, module sequence, session formats, and materials tailored to NSF SBIR/STTR Phase II/IIB company teams, informed by cohort triage results and founder competency and behavioral assessment findings shared by the Commercialization Director (E1).

• Deliver cohort education: facilitate live virtual cohort sessions, workshops, and structured educational peer roundtables on the program cadence; adapt delivery to cohort needs identified through triage, assessment results, and company feedback. (The Commercialization Director organizes cohort community events — entry orientation, the in-person midpoint convening, and showcase participation — with programming coordinated between the two roles.) (E2, E3).

• Recruit, onboard, and coordinate practitioner instructors and subject-matter experts — founders, operators, and investors — drawing on the institute’s Partner Council, the Edward Lowe Foundation, the GrowFL/CEO Nexus practitioner community, and the national network, in coordination with the Partnerships Director (E2).

• Lead the ORIENT portfolio: plan, produce, and disseminate the national video and webinar series extending commercialization orientation to the broader NSF SBIR/STTR community; manage production vendors and distribution channels; track national reach metrics (O1 to O3).

• Administer pre/post learning assessment on the registered cadence; deliver organized, research-grade education data to the Project Manager and independent external evaluator (RTI International) per the protocol and Data Management and Sharing Plan; support the evaluator’s implementation-fidelity documentation for education activities (E4).

• Stand up and manage the virtual delivery platform and curriculum content library: platform selection support, configuration, session logistics, recordings, and content governance.

• Document the education model (curriculum, instructor model, delivery formats, assessment instruments) for the pilot’s transferable playbook; incorporate evaluator formative findings into curriculum revisions.

• All other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications: 

Bachelor's or Master's degree and 8+ years of relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience pursuant to Fla. Stat. 112.219(6).

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience launching, leading, advising, or supporting startup or technology-based companies through commercialization, market validation, or business growth.

• Experience designing and delivering practitioner-led education, executive learning, accelerator programming, or commercialization training for founders and company leaders.

• Experience translating complex business or technical concepts into engaging workshops, learning modules, digital resources, or short-form educational content.

• Experience facilitating cohort-based learning, peer roundtables, workshops, or executive-level discussions in virtual or in-person settings.

• Demonstrated knowledge of startup assessment, commercial viability, business model development, market strategy, and growth planning.

• Experience producing professional educational videos, webinars, or other digital learning content, including coordination with production partners or vendors.

• Experience developing learning assessments, measuring educational outcomes, or supporting program evaluation and continuous improvement.

Special Instructions to the Applicants:

• This is a 0.75 FTE (30 hours per week) Administrative & Professional appointment. The anticipated starting salary for this position is $90,000 annually. The final salary will be determined based on the candidate's qualifications, experience, and internal equity considerations.

• This position will work 30 hours per week during UCF's business hours of Monday-Friday; 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

• Occasional domestic travel is required (cohort convenings, the in-person midpoint convening, annual showcase).

• The selected candidate must comply with NCTI conflict-of-interest and nondisclosure protocols, including disclosure of any financial interest in applicant or cohort companies, given the position’s role in approving participant funding.

• All applicants must be authorized to work for any U.S. employer. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position, and the university cannot accommodate H‑1B transfers or employment-based visa processing for individuals currently sponsored by another employer.

Are you ready to unleash YOUR potential?  

As a next-generation public research university and Forbes-ranked top employer in Florida, we are a community of thinkers, doers, creators, innovators, healers, and leaders striving to create broader prosperity and help shape a better future. No matter what your role is, when you join Knight Nation, you’ll play an integral role at one of the most impactful universities in the country. You’ll be met with opportunities to connect and collaborate with talented faculty, staff, and students across 12 colleges and multiple campuses, engaging in impactful work that makes a positive difference. Your time at UCF will provide you with many meaningful opportunities to grow, you’ll work alongside talented colleagues on complex projects that will challenge you and help you gain new skills, and you’ll have countless rewarding experiences that go well beyond a paycheck.

Working at UCF has its perks! UCF offers: 

• Benefit packages, including Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Flexible Spending, and Employee Assistance Program 

• Paid time off, including annual and sick time off and paid holidays

• Retirement savings options 

• Employee discounts, including tickets to many Orlando attractions 

• Education assistance 

• And more…For more benefits information, view the UCF Employee Benefits Guide.

Dive into our Total Rewards Calculator to discover the diverse selection available to you, giving you a glimpse into the benefits that together shape your comprehensive rewards package at UCF.

Unless explicitly stated on the job posting, it is UCF’s expectation that an employee of UCF will reside in Florida as of the date the employment begins.

Additional Requirements related to Research Positions:

Pursuant to Florida State Statute 1010.35, prior to offering employment to certain individuals in research-related positions, UCF is required to conduct additional screening. Applicants subject to additional screening include any citizen of a foreign country who is not a permanent resident of the U.S., or who is a citizen or permanent resident but is affiliated with or has had at least 1 year of education, employment, or training in China, Cuba, Iran, Russia, North Korea, Syria, or Venezuela.

The additional screening requirements only apply to research-related positions, including, but not limited to faculty, graduate positions, individuals compensated by research grants or contract funds, postdoctoral positions, undergraduate positions, visiting assistant professors, and visiting research associates.

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The University of Central Florida is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment based on any characteristic protected by law.  The University maintains programs for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities in accordance with all applicable federal and state laws.

As a Florida public university, the University of Central Florida makes all application materials and selection procedures available to the public upon request.  

UCF is proud to be a smoke-free campus and an E-Verify employer. 

For general application or posting questions, please email [email protected].

If an accommodation due to a disability is needed to apply for this position, please email [email protected].