Job Details

University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus

Industry Partnerships Program Director

Position Number: 6962872
Location: Aurora, CO
Position Type: Economic and Business Development

Industry Partnerships Program Director

Industry Partnerships Program Director - 39151 University Staff Description

University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus Department: CU Innovations

Job Title: Industry Partnerships Program Director

Position #: 00779757 - Requisition #: 39151

Job Summary:

The Industry Partnerships Program Director is responsible for identifying, expanding and managing strategic industry and ecosystem partnerships that advance the commercialization and translational impact of innovations emerging from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. With a strong focus on large, multi-year partnerships with leading healthcare, life sciences, and health technology companies, this role oversees and manages the essential partnerships pivotal to advancing, novel discoveries, clinical trials, sponsored research, digital health, and data and AI collaborations.

The Industry Partnerships Program Director will lead efforts to identify, structure, and execute high-value opportunities across licensing, strategic partnerships, co-development, sponsored research, joint ventures, and new venture creation. While deal execution is a core responsibility, the role is equally focused on building durable, long-term alliances that generate sustained research collaboration, revenue, and institutional impact. Working closely with Innovations leaderships, strategy and licensing teams, the Industry Partnerships Program Director serves as a primary relationship owner for Innovations' top priority industry partners, coordinating closely with internal stakeholders to ensure alignment and performance across the partnership lifecycle.

The Industry Partnerships Program Director will support revenue growth and impact by executing partnership and business development strategies across the Innovations portfolio. This role provides strategy and coordination across business development, licensing, strategy, and operations, ensuring a cohesive and partner-focused approach. The ideal candidate is a strategic, analytical professional with a proven ability to advance complex partnerships while operating effectively as both a leader and individual contributor.

The Industry Partnerships Program Director will help expand Innovations' business through strategic alliances, co-development agreements, sponsored research collaborations, and other partnership models, sourcing and negotiating opportunities that deliver mission-aligned value. This includes accelerating the opportunity pipeline, supporting the translation of medical innovations to market, and leading business development and partnership activities. This position serves as a primary point of contact and front door for CU Anschutz Innovations' highest-priority industry relationships, leading C-suite relationship strategy while remaining hands-on in day-to-day engagement and execution. This role will manage and grow a defined book of business for existing strategic partners, own and advance near-term opportunities already in the pipeline, and work with campus partners to ensure a cohesive, partner-focused approach across business development, licensing, strategy, and operations. Over time, the role will expand to include targeted marketing and outreach efforts that elevate CU Anschutz's innovation and commercialization brand and attract additional strategic partners, while flexing to other duties as team, university, and partner priorities evolve.

The ideal candidate is a strategic, analytical, and externally facing leader with a proven ability to advance complex partnerships, build long-term alliances, and operate effectively as both a leader and hands-on contributor.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership & Business Growth - 30%

Develop and implement business development and partnership strategies that advance Innovations' priorities and support commercialization, and research collaboration.
Identify, prioritize, and execute high-value opportunities across strategic partnerships, licensing, sponsored research, co-development, venture creation, and other collaboration models.
Serve as the primary relationship owner for a portfolio of CU Anschutz Innovations' top strategic partners, including C-suite and senior executive stakeholders, setting relationship strategy while remaining directly involved in day-to-day engagement, planning, and issue resolution.
Ensure partnerships deliver on jointly defined goals, renew successfully, and expand over time, with clear account plans and performance tracking.
Recommend and execute strategies that identify high-value opportunities and drive revenue growth.
Contribute to strategic planning related to the positioning of CU Anschutz assets and external partnerships.
Identify and pursue high-value partnership opportunities aligned with institutional goals.
Evaluate and prioritize opportunities based on strategic fit, partnership potential, and resource requirements.

Opportunity Sourcing, Market Engagement & Pipeline Development - 40%

Identify the Innovations portfolio and collaborate with internal teams to develop partner-facing marketing materials.
Build and maintain a robust pipeline of potential deals for strategic Innovations partnership opportunities.
Cultivate relationships with industry partners across pharma, biotech, med-tech, diagnostics, digital health, and other sectors.
Engage cross-functional stakeholders within partner organizations and gather partner feedback to inform marketing strategies and partnership strategy.
Take ownership of pipeline opportunities from high-potential prospects through to executed agreements, personally driving discovery discussions, internal alignment, proposal development, and closing activities.
Coordinate closely with faculty, clinicians, licensing, and operations teams to translate partner interest into well-structured collaborations that can be executed effectively.
Collaborate with licensing, strategy, and operational teams to identify leading assets in the Innovations portfolio and develop partner-facing materials, value propositions, and commercialization narratives for key assets and capabilities.
Cultivate and expand relationships with industry partners, startups, and innovation ecosystem organizations across pharma, biotech, medtech, diagnostics, digital health, AI, robotics, and related sectors.

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Internal Alignment - 30%

Partner closely with CU Anschutz subject matter experts to support due diligence, opportunity evaluation, and transaction recommendations.
Work with cross-functional teams utilizing a hands-on, collaborative approach.
Provide feedback from industry partners to Licensing, Marketing, and Strategy teams to guide next steps in asset development and commercialization.

Ensure alignment between business development activities and licensing and commercialization processes.
Help strengthen the broader CU Anschutz innovation ecosystem by connecting external partners with campus resources, faculty expertise, innovation programs, and startup resources.
In collaboration with strategy, shape and support a focused, pragmatic marketing and outreach approach that highlights CU Anschutz's innovation strengths, showcases partner successes, and helps attract additional strategic interest, while staying grounded in the needs of the active and near-term portfolio.
Support other projects and responsibilities as assigned, reflecting the evolving priorities of CU Innovations, the university, and key partners-such as special initiatives, process improvements, contributions to events, and other activities that advance the innovation and commercialization mission.

Work Location:

Hybrid - this role is eligible for a hybrid schedule of 4 days per week on campus and as needed for in-person meetings.

Why Join Us:

CU Anschutz Innovations is an integral part of The University of Colorado's Anschutz Medical Campus, a top-tier academic medical institution, collaborating with pioneering researchers, clinicians, staff, and external partners at the University of Colorado, staff at UCHealth and Children's Hospital Colorado. Together, we power innovation by imagining, discovering and commercializing advanced healthcare solutions, including treatments, medical devices, and cutting-edge technologies.

Our mission at CU Anschutz Innovations is driven by the unique collaborative environment we operate in, and our guiding principle is to transform breakthrough discoveries and treatments into realities within an efficient ecosystem that accelerates their availability to patients. This approach not only empowers our partners to have an immediate and meaningful impact but also enhances the quality of life and outcomes for patients now and in the future, at both CU and beyond.

Why work for the University?

We have AMAZING benefits and offer exceptional amounts of holiday, vacation and sick leave! The University of Colorado offers an excellent benefits package including:

Medical: Multiple plan options
Dental: Multiple plan options
Additional Insurance: Disability, Life, Vision
Retirement 401(a) Plan: Employer contributes 10% of your gross pay
Paid Time Off: Accruals over the year
Vacation Days: 22/year (maximum accrual 352 hours)
Sick Days: 15/year (unlimited maximum accrual)
Holiday Days: 15/year
Tuition Benefit: Employees have access to this benefit on all CU campuses
ECO Pass: Reduced rate RTD Bus and light rail service

There are many additional perks & programs with the CU Advantage.

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications:

A bachelor's degree in business, business administration, finance, accounting, education, social sciences, healthcare administration, public administration, communications, information systems, or a directly related field from an accredited institution. Substitution: A combination of education and related technical/paraprofessional experience may be substituted for the bachelor's degree on a year for year basis.
6-8 years of professional level direct life-sciences business development or technology transfer business development experience at a research university, academic medical center, or in industry.

Applicants must meet minimum qualifications at the time of hire.

Condition of Employment:

Some domestic travel is required.

Preferred Qualifications:

JD or MBA or master's degree in a related field.
Experience generating and executing new business ventures and analyzing and reporting on new business opportunities.
Experience in commercial/solution sales in the Pharmaceutical / Biotech industry, with significant achievements and relevant network.
Experience in managing a team.
A successful corporate development and deal-making track record in smaller, entrepreneurial company situations and/or in a large corporate environment, where business skills and knowledge (including relevant strategic, financial, marketing and operational expertise) have been gained is required.

Competencies/Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

Understanding of complex science, including effectively discussing and communicating with an audience that often has MD and/or PhD level education.
Must have ability and confidence to effectively function independently, be a self-starter, and be a team player within a collaborative organization.
Other required skills include creativity, excellent communication (written and oral) skills, strong financial analysis, and strategic and innovative thinking capabilities.
Must have successfully led direct reports or project team members in previous positions.
Must have ability to effectively present to the senior leadership level of internal and external organizations.
High EQ and experience building strong client relationships.
Knowledge of pharmaceutical, cell and gene therapy development.
Ability to understand and communicate effectively about the science behind CU technologies and assets
Relevant business skills and knowledge, including strategic, financial, marketing and operational expertise are preferred.
Collaborative, outgoing disposition with the interest and natural ability to network across various situations and mediums.
Deep understanding of market feedback related to role, what it means and how to interpret it.
Self-starter that is driven to find quality deals, follow-up on those deals while working in tandem with CUI licensing mangers who will be responsible for closing the deal.

How to Apply:

For full consideration, please submit the following document(s):

A letter of interest describing relevant job experiences as they relate to listed job qualifications and interest in the position
Curriculum vitae / Resume
Three to five professional references, including name, address, phone number (mobile number if appropriate), and email address

Questions should be directed to: Amanda Perez, AMANDA.L.PEREZ@CUANSCHUTZ.EDU

Screening of Applications Begins:

Immediately and continues until position is filled. For best consideration, apply by July 31, 2026.

Anticipated Pay Range:

The starting salary range (or hiring range) for this position has been established as $107,819 - $137,146.

The above salary range (or hiring range) represents the University's good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting. This position is not eligible for overtime compensation.

Your total compensation goes beyond the number on your paycheck. The University of Colorado provides generous leave, health plans and retirement contributions that add to your bottom line.

Total Compensation Calculator

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:

CU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. We are committed to creating a workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

ADA Statement:

The University will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities throughout the employment application process. To request an accommodation pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, please contact the Human Resources ADA Coordinator at hr.adacoordinator@cuanschutz.edu

Background Check Statement:

The University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus is dedicated to ensuring a safe and secure environment for our faculty, staff, students and visitors. To assist in achieving that goal, we conduct background investigations for all prospective employees.

Vaccination Statement:

CU Anschutz strongly encourages vaccination against the COVID-19 virus and other vaccine preventable diseases. If you work, visit, or volunteer in healthcare facilities or clinics operated by our affiliated hospital or clinical partners or by CU Anschutz, you will be required to comply with the vaccination and medical surveillance policies of the facilities or clinics where you work, visit, or volunteer, respectively. In addition, if you work in certain research areas or perform certain safety sensitive job duties, you must enroll in the occupational health medical surveillance program.

Application Materials Required: Cover Letter, Resume/CV, List of References Job Category
: Business Services Primary Location
: Aurora Department: U0001 -- Anschutz Med Campus or Denver - 21705 - ADM-CHAN Anschutz Tech Transfe Schedule
: Full-time Posting Date
: Jun 22, 2026 Unposting Date
: Ongoing Posting Contact Name: Amanda Perez Posting Contact Email: AMANDA.L.PEREZ@CUANSCHUTZ.EDU Position Number: 00779757

To apply, visit https://cu.taleo.net/careersection/2/jobdetail.ftl?job=39151&lang=en