Texas Tech University has retained UI Collab to lead the search for an accomplished Industry & Innovation Director to lead industry engagement and commercialization for CASFER, a $51 million NSF Engineering Research Center. The Director will play a pivotal role in building an industry consortium and sustainable revenue model focused on fertilizer and agribusiness audiences, while developing strategic partnerships that connect CASFER’s research and technologies with industry needs and market opportunities. This senior leadership opportunity sits at the intersection of research, industry engagement, business development, and technology commercialization, with responsibility for growing industry participation, advancing sponsored research and commercialization opportunities, and strengthening the Center’s long-term financial sustainability.

About Texas Tech University

Founded in 1923, Texas Tech University began with a mission to serve the needs of West Texas, but its impact has always reached far beyond. Today, Texas Tech, located in Lubbock (pop. 300,000+), is home to a vibrant community of more than 42,000 students.Texas Tech’s 1,800-acre campus showcases Spanish Renaissance architecture and is home to one of the country’s largest public art collections. Its 13 colleges include a prestigious School of Law and a distinguished School of Veterinary Medicine.

These programs equip students with the skills and knowledge needed to excel in their respective fields. Built on the values of West Texas, hard work, grit and authenticity, the university graduates students who are deeply engaged in service to their communities and well-positioned to succeed in the world.

Texas Tech is committed to achieving research and scholarly accomplishments that compare favorably to the member institutions of the Association of American Universities (AAU). For more than 100 years, Texas Tech has been a premier destination for those seeking a world-class education and a unique, personalized experience as a member of the Red Raider family.

About CASFER

CASFER (the NSF Engineering Research Center for Advancing Sustainable and Distributed Fertilizer Production) and the Institute for Sustainability and Circular Economy (ISCE) at Texas Tech University seek an Industry and Innovation Director to lead the Center’s Innovation Ecosystem, industry partnerships, and commercialization strategy. This is a senior leadership role at the intersection of cutting-edge research, technology translation, and business development, operating in a collaborative environment of university, industry, and government partners.

The Industry and Innovation Director is responsible for the growth and financial sustainability of CASFER’s Innovation Ecosystem. The Director develops and executes the Center’s industry engagement and sustainability strategy, drives new industry membership and sponsored-research revenue, leads the Center’s business plan and technology-transfer strategy, and builds the mechanisms through which CASFER research reaches commercial deployment. This role serves as a strategic partner to and force multiplier for the Center Director: it is expected to operate independently, anticipate needs, and lead, not require day-to-day direction, owning outcomes across membership growth, revenue, commercialization pathways, and the technology-compliance knowledge base the Center depends on to bring its products to market.

Position Description

Directs, plans, coordinates, and supervises the operations and activities of a specialized unit or small department; develops and implements policies and procedures, administers the budget, organizes tasks, and sets priorities. Serves as liaison with university personnel and the community at large. Works under general supervision with broad latitude for initiative and independent judgment.

Essential Functions

• Sustainability & Revenue Leadership. Lead execution of CASFER’s Sustainability Plan for the Innovation Ecosystem, with accountability for achieving approximately $1M/year in industry membership and member-sponsored research. Develop and execute a growth plan with quarterly targets, a qualified pipeline, measurable activity funnel, and regular progress reporting to Center leadership.
• Industry Membership Growth. Grow and retain CASFER’s industry membership by recruiting new IPAB member companies, maintaining at least 80% member retention, converting in-kind members to paid membership, and building a qualified prospect pipeline through research, partner institutions, and leadership relationships.
• Strategic Industry Development. Engage priority sectors aligned with CASFER and CASFER 2.0, including fertilizer and agribusiness, wastewater utilities, manufacturing/OEM and deployment partners, and AI, data-platform, and circular-economy organizations. Present CASFER’s value proposition to executive and technical decision-makers.
• Business Planning & Commercialization. Lead CASFER’s business plan and commercialization strategy, including membership models, member-sponsored research, licensing, and the CASFER 2.0 platform framework. Contribute to diversified revenue through grants, services, pilot projects, licensing, and membership.
• Technology Transfer & Commercialization. Develop and lead the Technology Transfer Strategic Plan. Maintain working knowledge of commercialization requirements, technology readiness levels (TRLs), regulatory pathways, and validation milestones needed for market adoption. Lead commercialization and partner discussions while coordinating with researchers.
• Proposal Development. Identify funding opportunities and lead or significantly contribute to proposals, including industry sponsorships, commitment letters, non-core research funding, and collaborative federal proposals in coordination with Center leadership.
• Industry Membership & IPAB Management. Serve as the primary contact for prospective members, manage IPAB membership agreements in compliance with TTU and NSF requirements, organize IPAB meetings, and ensure appropriate separation between NSF-funded research and company-sponsored projects.
• Technology Marketing & Partnerships. Promote CASFER technologies through presentations, demonstrations, lab tours, testbeds, and industry events. Coordinate with testbed teams to support technology evaluations and deployment opportunities.
• Technology Transfer & Intellectual Property. Serve as liaison among inventors, partner technology commercialization offices, and IP counsel. Support licensing activities and maintain the Center’s intellectual property portfolio and database across partner institutions.
• Metrics, Reporting & Compliance. Manage CRM systems and innovation metrics, maintain membership records, dues, and invoicing, prepare NSF innovation and industry reports, and ensure compliance with NSF requirements.
• Workforce Development. Collaborate with the Research Team Science and Education & Workforce Development teams to connect students with industry through internships, fellowships, career placement, and translational research opportunities while mentoring students in industry engagement.
• Center Leadership & Outreach. Participate in Executive Committee and research thrust meetings, lead industry engagement initiatives, and collaborate with the Media Coordinator to develop marketing materials and outreach content.

Salary

Because this role combines industry-network development, commercialization expertise, and significant revenue responsibility within a higher-education environment, we are conducting confidential market outreach to better understand the compensation parameters necessary to attract the right leader. We welcome an open conversation about expectations and fit, and do not want compensation assumptions to prevent a potentially valuable discussion.

Work Location

The position may be performed remotely for the right candidate. Given the role’s significant focus on industry engagement, partnership development, and commercialization, approximately 50% travel is expected to Texas Tech University, industry partners, research collaborators, and other stakeholder locations.

About Lubbock, Texas: From its humble beginnings to earning the nickname “Hub City,” Lubbock has grown into the thriving center of West Texas. With more than 260,000 residents and 7,000 businesses, Lubbock has evolved into a dynamic and growing community with a strong entrepreneurial spirit and a distinctive identity. The city offers a vibrant mix of arts, culture, entertainment, dining, and outdoor activities, providing an exceptional quality of life and a breadth of experiences rarely found in a community of its size.

Required Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in engineering or a STEM-related field required, plus five years of progressively responsible management experience. Additional education may substitute for experience on a year-for-year basis.

This position is designated as involving access to critical infrastructure systems and/or research, as defined by Texas Executive Order GA-48. As such, candidates must successfully complete a comprehensive background check prior to employment. Employees are required to comply with all applicable state and federal regulations related to the protection of critical infrastructure. Ongoing employment is dependent upon maintaining eligibility for access and successfully passing periodic security and compliance reviews.

Preferred Qualifications

• PhD in science, engineering, or a related STEM field.
• Demonstrated success in business development, industry partnership growth, and membership or sponsorship revenue generation, including a track record of recruiting and retaining industry partners and closing agreements.
• Experience leading business planning and technology-transfer or commercialization activities, ideally within a university research center, NSF ERC, or comparable innovation environment.
• Working knowledge of technology commercialization pathways, TRL frameworks, IP and licensing processes, and regulatory/compliance considerations relevant to agriculture, wastewater, or advanced manufacturing markets.
• Demonstrated proposal-writing ability and success contributing to competitive federal or industry-sponsored funding.
• Familiarity with CRM platforms (e.g., HubSpot) and pipeline management.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including the proven ability to present technical and business materials to executives, investors, and technical audiences in a concise and professional manner.
• Ability to work independently and lead strategically with minimal direction, functioning as a self-directed partner to Institute and Center leadership.

How to Apply

• Interested candidates are encouraged to apply using the Apply to this Position icon.
• The application takes approximately 7–10 minutes to complete.
• A résumé is required, and a cover letter is optional.