Associate Vice President for Economic Development & Innovation

The Opportunity:

The University of Central Florida (UCF) is seeking a dynamic and visionary leader to serve as the Assistant Vice President (AVP) for Economic Development and Innovation. This senior-level position, based in the Office of Research, will play a central role in advancing UCF's impact through strategic economic development initiatives, technology transfer, research commercialization, and innovation ecosystem building.

The AVP will work collaboratively with internal and external partners-including the Office of Government Affairs and Community Relations, the Corporate Partnerships team, faculty researchers, entrepreneurs, and regional economic development organizations-to grow the UCF innovation ecosystem, turning ideas into impact and driving innovation-led growth for UCF and the Central Florida region.

Responsibilities:

Strategic Economic Development Leadership:

Develop and implement a forward-looking strategy to position UCF as a leader in regional and statewide economic development. Represent the university in major initiatives that support job creation, talent development, and industry growth.

Technology Transfer and Commercialization:

Oversee and strengthen UCF's technology transfer operations, including the assessment, protection, and licensing of intellectual property (IP). Promote the successful transition of research innovations into commercial ventures through licensing, startups, and partnerships.

Innovation Ecosystem Development:

Lead initiatives to build and expand UCF's innovation infrastructure, such as incubators, accelerators, and innovation districts. Cultivate a culture of entrepreneurship and innovation among faculty, students, and partners.

Partnership and Stakeholder Engagement:

Collaborate with the Office of Government Affairs and Community Relations and the Corporate Partnerships team to align economic development efforts with institutional priorities. Engage with industry leaders, government agencies, funding entities, and other stakeholders to grow UCF's innovation network.

Support for Faculty and Research Enterprise:

Work closely with faculty and researchers to identify opportunities for commercialization, provide guidance on intellectual property protection, and connect them with market resources.

Communication:

Serve as an ambassador for UCF's research and innovation portfolio. Work with the UCF Communications team to develop compelling narratives and strategies to communicate the institution's economic and technological impact to local, state, national, and global audiences.

Team and Operations Leadership:

Direct and develop a team responsible for economic development, tech transfer, and innovation support. Foster a collaborative, responsive, and service-oriented team culture.

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor's or Master's degree and 12+ years of relevant experience with at least 5+ years of leadership experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience pursuant to Fla. Stat. 112.219(6).

Preferred Qualifications:

• Knowledge of the research enterprise and university-industry relations.

• Understanding of the innovation cycle, patent process, copywriting, trade marketing and intellectual properties laws.

• Expertise in interacting with a broad range of internal and external constituents to build and promote programs.

• Familiarity with federal and state research funding mechanisms, economic development incentives, and commercialization grants (e.g., SBIR/STTR).

• Experience in developing and managing strategic initiatives in complex organizations, with the ability to synthesize data for innovative commercial opportunities.

• Knowledge of Florida's innovation economy and UCF's institutional mission.

• Demonstrated success in forging partnerships between academia, government, and industry.

• Excellent communication, negotiation, and stakeholder engagement skills.

Special Instructions to the Applicants:

If you are selected as the final candidate for an employment opportunity here at UCF, both your position and salary will be significantly based upon the information that you have provided in your application for employment. We urge you to please take the time to complete the application in its entirety.

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 13 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.

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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.

If an accommodation due to a disability is needed to apply for this position, please call 407-823-1336 or email onac@ucf.edu.

For general application or posting questions, please email talent@ucf.edu.