Operations Project / Program Management

Announcement

Details

Open Date 09/15/2026 Requisition Number PRN46218B Job Title Operations Project / Program Management Working Title Venture Development Manager Career Progression Track M00 Track Level M2 - Senior Supervisor, M3 - Manager FLSA Code Administrative Patient Sensitive Job Code? No Standard Hours per Week 40 Full Time or Part Time? Full Time Shift Day Work Schedule Summary

Monday - Friday

VP Area President Department 00642 - Technology Licensing Office Location Campus City Salt Lake City, UT Type of Recruitment External Posting Pay Rate Range $75,000 - $85,000 Close Date 12/15/2026 Priority Review Date (Note - Posting may close at any time) 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 technologies into successful companies.

The Manager, Venture Portfolio identifies university technologies with strong startup potential and develops the initial strategies needed to move those opportunities toward company formation. This position leads startup viability assessment, initial portfolio prioritization, and early commercialization planning, helping the Technology Licensing Office make informed and consistent decisions about which opportunities should be advanced as startups.

Working closely with faculty inventors, licensing professionals, venture development staff, and industry experts, the Manager evaluates market potential, technology differentiation, commercial risks, and potential business models. The position also co-leads the Startup Design Studio, where initial commercialization strategies are pressure-tested and translated into actionable venture development plans.

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

• Review commercialization assessments and faculty interest to identify technologies with the potential to become successful companies.
• Conduct or coordinate commercial due diligence to outline startup viability, including market assessment, competitive analysis, customer identification, technology differentiation, and commercial pathway evaluation.
• Lead portfolio strategy and prioritization through standardized evaluation frameworks, opportunity scorecards, commercial readiness rankings, decision criteria, and go/no-go recommendations.
• Develop initial commercialization strategies that identify target customers, entry markets, business model hypotheses, key milestones, commercial risks, and strategic priorities.
• Work with faculty inventors to clarify the value proposition and identify the evidence, partnerships, and resources needed to reduce commercial risk.
• Prepare selected opportunities for review through the Startup Design Studio and lead the Startup Design Studio, guiding discussions related to market opportunity, differentiation, business models, startup viability, and commercial risk.
• Maintain startup portfolio data and reporting that provide visibility into opportunity quality, readiness, decisions, and progress through the commercialization pipeline.
• Monitor market and industry trends to identify emerging areas of commercial opportunity across the University's research portfolio.

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: Requires a bachelor's (or equivalency) + 4 years or a master's (or equivalency) + 2 years of directly related work experience.

Manager: 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, market research, management consulting, product strategy, startup development, or a related field.
• Ability to assess markets, competitors, customer needs, business models, and commercialization pathways across multiple technical areas.
• Excellent communication, relationship management, and presentation skills.
• Ability to work effectively with faculty inventors, technical experts, business leaders, investors, and university stakeholders.

Type Benefited Staff Special Instructions Summary Additional Information

The University is a participating employer with Utah Retirement Systems ("URS"). Eligible new hires with prior URS service, may elect to enroll in URS if they make the election before they become eligible for retirement (usually the first day of work). Contact Human Resources at (801) 581-7447 for information. Individuals who previously retired and are receiving monthly retirement benefits from URS are subject to URS' post-retirement rules and restrictions. Please contact Utah Retirement Systems at (801) 366-7770 or (800) 695-4877 or University Human Resource Management at (801) 581-7447 if you have questions regarding the post-retirement rules.

This position may require the successful completion of a criminal background check and/or drug screen.

The University of Utah values candidates who have experience working in settings with students and possess a strong commitment to improving access to higher education.

Veterans' preference is extended to qualified applicants, upon request and consistent with University policy and Utah state law. Upon request, reasonable accommodations in the application process will be provided to individuals with disabilities.

Consistent with state and federal law, the University of Utah does not discriminate based upon race, ethnicity, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, or protected veteran's status. The University does not discriminate on the basis of sex in the education program or activity that it operates, as required by Title IX and 34 CFR part 106. The requirement not to discriminate in education programs or activities extends to admission and employment. Inquiries about the application of Title IX and its regulations may be referred to the Title IX Coordinator, to the Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, or both.

To request a reasonable accommodation for a disability or if you or someone you know has experienced discrimination or sexual misconduct including sexual harassment, you may contact the Director/Title IX Coordinator in the Office of Equal Opportunity and Title IX (OEO). More information, including the Director/Title IX Coordinator's office address, electronic mail address, and telephone number can be located at the: University of Utah Non‑Discrimination page.

Online reports may be submitted at https://oeo.utah.edu

https://publicsafety.utah.edu/safetyreport/ This report includes statistics about criminal offenses, hate crimes, arrests and referrals for disciplinary action, and Violence Against Women Act offenses. They also provide information about safety and security-related services offered by the University of Utah. A paper copy can be obtained by request at the Department of Public Safety located at 1658 East 500 South.

As per University of Utah policy 5-108: Transfer of Benefits Eligible Staff Members, a new hire to the University of Utah who is still serving a 12 month probationary period will not be hired into another University of Utah job (a transfer) until the successful completion of the probationary period.

Posting Specific Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

• • Are you legally authorized to work in the United States?

• Yes

• No

• • Will you now or in the future require sponsorship for employment visa status (e.g., H-1B status)?

• Yes

• No

Applicant Documents

Required Documents

• Resume

Optional Documents

• Cover Letter
• Historical Only - Do Not Use - See Description for More Information - Appropriate discharge document (such as DD-2214) - Veteran Only
• Historical Only - Do Not Use - See Document Description for More Information - Addendum to the University of Utah - Veteran Only