Partnerships 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:

Join the founding team of the National Commercialization and Translation Institute (NCTI), a groundbreaking National Science Foundation (NSF) pilot led by the University of Central Florida. The Partnerships Director will serve as a key architect of NCTI's national network, cultivating relationships with investors, industry partners, mentors, national laboratories, and entrepreneurial support organizations that support the commercialization and growth of emerging technologies. This is a unique opportunity to help launch a first-of-its-kind initiative with the potential to influence the future of technology commercialization and innovation support nationwide.

The most successful candidate will be a connector and ecosystem builder who thrives at the intersection of innovation, business development, and technology commercialization. They will possess the credibility and relationship-building skills needed to engage investors, entrepreneurs, researchers, industry leaders, and strategic partners while identifying opportunities that accelerate innovation and create meaningful impact. Experience supporting startups, commercialization programs, venture networks, or innovation ecosystems is strongly preferred.

• 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:

• Build and manage the national mentor corps: recruit, vet, onboard, and develop mentors matched to cohort company sectors and stages; support mentor-company matching with the Commercialization Director; monitor engagement quality and rotate under-performing matches (N1).

• Build and manage the investor network beyond the anchor investment partner: recruit venture, angel, corporate-strategic, and mission-aligned investors; co-deliver structured investor access — investor deep dives, curated introductions as each company reaches readiness — for cohort companies with the Commercialization Director (N2, S6).

• Operationalize national laboratory partnerships (Oak Ridge, Sandia, Pacific Northwest): establish points of contact, facility-access and technical-collaboration pathways, and match cohort companies to laboratory capabilities (N3).

• Steward the project’s 31 letter-of-collaboration partners and build the redundant, sector-matched partner bench required by the risk-management plan; monitor partner performance and execute replacements so no cohort company is stalled by partner under-performance.

• Build and maintain the institute’s national resource portfolio as an institutional asset: establish and steward working agreements and referral pathways with entrepreneurial support organizations and programs — including I-Corps, ART, NSF Engines, GrowFL, the Edward Lowe Foundation, the UCF Business Incubation Program, and the NIST Manufacturing Extension Partnership — and with fabrication, pilot-production, and manufacturing capacity providers, so the Commercialization Director can match cohort companies to ready resources on demand.

• Develop industry and corporate partnerships that create customer, channel, supply-chain, and strategic-partner opportunities for cohort companies.

• Maintain partner-engagement records in the institute CRM to research-grade standards — partner activity is study data under the registered protocol — and support Partner Council coordination, agendas, and follow-through.

• Support the annual investor showcase, the in-person midpoint convening, and cohort convenings: partner and investor attendance, programming input, and follow-on introduction tracking.

• 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 building and managing strategic partnerships within technology commercialization, innovation, entrepreneurship, startup, accelerator, or economic development environments.

• Demonstrated success developing relationships with investors, industry leaders, government agencies, research organizations, or entrepreneurial support networks.

• Experience supporting startup companies, technology ventures, or innovation-driven organizations through business growth, commercialization, fundraising, or market expansion efforts.

• Familiarity with federal innovation and commercialization programs such as NSF SBIR/STTR, I-Corps, NSF Engines, ART, NIH, DoD, or similar initiatives.

• Experience working with venture capital, angel investor, corporate innovation, or entrepreneurial ecosystems.

• Prior experience in a startup, technology company, accelerator, incubator, or economic development organization.

• Experience utilizing CRM systems to manage stakeholder relationships, engagement activities, and program outcomes.

Special Instructions to the Applicants:

• The anticipated starting salary for this position is $105,000 annually. The final salary will be determined based on the candidate's qualifications, experience, and internal equity considerations.

• Regular domestic travel is required (partner and laboratory engagement, investor 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].