Director of Innovation and Partnerships

Responsibilities

Innovation Strategy & Ecosystem Development

• Work closely with Executive Director to design and execute a multi-year strategy to grow and strengthen New Jersey’s AI innovation ecosystem.
• Identify market gaps across the AI innovation lifecycle, from R&D to commercialization, scale, and adoption, to inform programming and partnership development.
• Strengthen connections between government, academia, industry, and capital to ensure coordinated ecosystem growth.
• Develop KPIs for the Hub’s innovation strategy and track outcomes.
• Design innovation strategy’s contributions to the Hub’s financial sustainability model, including revenue-generating opportunities, philanthropic support, and sustainable funding models for innovation programs.

Partnership Development

• Cultivate partnerships with industry, academic institutions, venture capital firms, startups, incubators/accelerators, national labs, and philanthropic partners to execute on the innovation ecosystem strategy.
• Work closely with partners to co-develop programs, pilots, and investment opportunities.

Industry, Startup & Commercialization Support

• Oversee design and execution of AI-focused innovation programs, including a startup accelerator and a pipeline of support services and capital access for startups at various stages, including by working with Executive Director to attract venture capital to New Jersey-based start-ups.
• Cultivate corporate innovation partnerships by connecting industry leaders with startups, researchers, and pilot opportunities to accelerate technology adoption, drive joint ventures, and unlock new commercialization pathways.

Innovation Infrastructure & Convening

• As needed, coordinate with government, private sector, and educational institutions to build enabling infrastructure (labs, testbeds, sandboxes, datasets).
• Create visibility and momentum around the AI innovation ecosystem through convenings, showcases, challenges, and thought leadership.

Regional Impact

• Embed an economic development mindset into all innovation efforts, ensuring local communities and regions benefit from and contribute to AI’s growth in New Jersey.
• Coordinate with regional innovation stakeholders, particularly fellow Strategic Innovation Centers, to build an inclusive innovation ecosystem across New Jersey.

Skillset

• 10+ years of experience in innovation, technology commercialization, venture development, revenue generation and ecosystem-building roles in government, academia, or industry.
• Familiarity with the AI innovation lifecycle, including R&D, startup formation, acceleration, capital raising, and market scaling.
• Proven ability to broker complex partnerships and align diverse stakeholders toward a common vision.
• Demonstrated success in building or scaling innovation programs or ecosystems.
• Strategic thinker with operational acumen; able to develop and execute on a vision.
• Experience working in or alongside revenue-generating or fundraising initiatives.
• Excellent communication, facilitation, and relationship-building skills.