Job Details

Venture Ecosystem Manager

Position Number: 9831271
Location: Salt Lake City, United States
Position Type: Economic and Business Development

Venture Ecosystem Manager

Job Summary

The University of Utah is building the future of innovation --- and we're looking for a connector, strategist, and startup champion to help turn promising university technologies into successful companies.
The Venture Ecosystem Manager will help university startups move from promising opportunities to well-supported, execution-ready companies. This position guides faculty and startup teams through early venture development while connecting them with the people, programs, partners, and specialized expertise needed at each stage of commercialization.
The Manager serves as a central connector across the University's innovation ecosystem, coordinating internal resources and building productive relationships with accelerators, incubators, mentors, industry partners, economic development organizations, and commercialization service providers. The position also supports faculty commercialization programming and manages portfolio operations to ensure startups have clear milestones, coordinated support, and an efficient pathway through the venture development process.
This is a unique opportunity to sit at the center of the University's innovation ecosystem --- working closely with the TLO team, inventors, entrepreneurs, and investors --- to accelerate the growth of breakthrough ideas into successful companies.

Learn more about the great benefits of working for University of Utah: benefits.utah.edu

The department may choose to hire at any of the below job levels and associated pay rates based on their business need and budget.

Responsibilities

Guide selected opportunities from initial commercial validation through venture formation and early company development.
Translate commercialization strategies into practical execution plans with defined milestones, responsibilities, resource needs, and measures of progress.
Support business model refinement, customer discovery, market validation, go-to-market planning, and early business plan development.
Provide venture project management and maintain momentum across faculty, mentors, partners, and internal commercialization teams.
Develop and coordinate programming for faculty and startup teams that build entrepreneurial skills, startup readiness, and engagement with mentors and investors, including commercialization workshops, venture office hours, and startup-readiness programs.
Recruit and engage mentors, entrepreneurs, industry experts, and other advisors who can help startup teams address specific commercial needs.
Serve as a connector across various innovation programs and resources, such as Venture Development Partners, the Entrepreneur-in-Residence network, technology accelerators, and other campus commercialization resources.
Develop relationships with external accelerators, incubators, industry partners, strategic customers, economic development organizations, deep-technology organizations, and federal commercialization programs.
Build and manage a vetted network of specialized service providers in areas such as legal, regulatory, reimbursement, manufacturing, marketing, finance, human resources, and fractional executive support.
Coordinate with the Senior Manager, Venture Development as companies advance toward executive recruitment, investor readiness, capital strategy, and institutional fundraising.

Minimum Qualifications
EQUIVALENCY STATEMENT: 1 year of higher education can be substituted for 1 year of directly related work experience (Example: bachelor's degree = 4 years of directly related work experience).
Department may hire employee at one of the following job levels:
Senior Supervisor, Operations Project / Program Management: Requires a bachelor's (or equivalency) + 4 years or a master's (or equivalency) + 2 years of directly related work experience.
Manager, Operations Project / Program Management: Requires a bachelor's (or equivalency) + 6 years or a master's (or equivalency) + 4 years of directly related work experience.

Preferences

Ability to understand and interpret technical or research-based information
Experience in venture development, startup operations, entrepreneurship programming, innovation ecosystem development, economic development, or a related field.
Strong project and relationship management skills, with the ability to coordinate multiple stakeholders without direct authority.
Collaborative and comfortable operating at the intersection of technology, business, and partnership development.
Excellent communication, relationship management, and presentation skills.
Ability to work effectively with faculty inventors, technical experts, business leaders, investors, and university stakeholders.

Special Instructions

Requisition Number: PRN46217B
Full Time or Part Time? Full Time
Work Schedule Summary: Monday -- Friday
Department: 00642 - Technology Licensing Office
Location: Campus
Pay Rate Range: $75,000 - $85,000
Close Date: 12/15/2026
Open Until Filled:

To apply, visit <a href=""https://apptrkr.com/9831271"">https://utah.peopleadmin.com/postings/209271