Required Qualifications:

• BA/BS Degree plus at least six years of experience
• Two or more years of experience in technology entrepreneurship, bringing an innovation to market or equivalent business experience
• Exceptional written, oral communication and presentation skills
• Strong organizational skills with demonstrated attention to detail
• Self-starter with ability to set priorities based on program goals
• Proficiency in project planning/management
• Fluency with Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)

Desired Qualifications:

• Masters or Ph.D. in a STEM field
• Familiarity with Lean Launchpad methodologies and customer discovery
• Experience as a participant in an NSF I-Corps program at the local, regional or national level
• Marketing and/or sales experience in either an educational or business setting
• Experience with Customer Relationship Management software such as SalesForce, Zoho, etc.
• Experience with survey design, data analysis, program evaluation and/or outcome reporting
• Adept at collaboration tools such as Google Workspace, Slack, Trello, etc.

The Innovator Outreach and Development Specialist will be a member of the MIN-Corps team, which designs and delivers technology commercialization/entrepreneurship education and coaching to innovators at all levels (student, postdoc, research scientist, faculty) across the University of Minnesota, as well as institutions in the NSF I-Corps Great Lakes Hub. The individual in this position will build innovator awareness of relevant educational opportunities; lead introductory seminars on technology commercialization and entrepreneurship; identify innovators who would be candidates for NSF national I-Corps Teams or other experiential technology entrepreneurship education programs; connect innovators to appropriate resources from the University and business ecosystem; and build innovator readiness for the I-Corps Teams program.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Build innovator awareness of technology commercialization/entrepreneurship education opportunities through email marketing, informational seminars, the MIN-Corps website and social media (15%)
• Develop collaborative relationships with associate deans of research, department chairs, directors of graduate studies, research center directors, STEM student groups, Technology Commercialization Office technology portfolio managers, and other stakeholders to identify opportunities to educate innovators on technology commercialization and entrepreneurship (15%)
• Develop and implement processes to gather and organize information from across the University’s research enterprise to identify innovators who would be candidates for I-Corps Teams or other experiential commercialization education programs (15%)
• Design and deliver informational seminars on market/customer discovery, technology commercialization and entrepreneurship tailored to specific audiences and disciplines (15%)
• Work collaboratively with counterparts at the NSF Regional I-Corps Great Lakes Hub to support the marketing of local, regional and national I-Corps programs at current and potential affiliate institutions (15%)
• Conduct outreach to researchers from multiple disciplines whose gender, race and/or ethnicity is under-represented in order to build a robust, diverse pipeline of innovators primed for technology commercialization/entrepreneurship (10%)
• Connect innovators to appropriate mentoring, University, and business ecosystem resources
• Coach innovators to build readiness for I-Corps Teams, including meeting educational and customer discovery prerequisites, assembling a team that includes an industry mentor, drafting the initial application, and prepping for the applicant screening process (10%)
• Assist with the development, collection, and analysis and reporting of MIN-Corps and I-Corps program metrics (5%)

MIN-Corps is the University of Minnesota hub for technology innovation, entrepreneurship and commercialization.

We provide education and coaching programs that help STEM students, postdocs and faculty develop the skills required to translate innovations into product and services with real-world impact.

MIN-Corps is a joint effort of the Technological Leadership Institute in the College of Science and Engineering, the Holmes Center for Entrepreneurship in the Carlson School of Management, and Technology Commercialization office in the Office for the Vice President for Research.

We are a partner institution in the NSF I-Corps Great Lakes Region Hub. See more of owhat we do below.

MIN-Corps Results

Since 2014, thousands of participants from 22 colleges within University of Minnesota and across the business community have participated in hudreds MIN-Corps academic courses, commercialization bootcamps, value proposition design workshops, seminars and events. The 500+ innovation teams (including 46 startups) have generated over $50 million in commercialization grants and investment funding. In addition, MIN-Corps has successfully nominated 34 teams to the national NSF I-Corps Teams program, with each team receiving a $25,000-$50,000 grant to engage in intense customer discovery and business model design. For more information about the University of Minnesota's participants in NSF I-Corps Teams cohorts, click here.

National I-Corps Teams

Participating in a NSF national I-Corps Teams cohort is seven intense weeks of exhaustion, exhilaration and "ah-ha" moments. The program includes a $50,000 grant to cover grad student/postdoc stipends as well as customer discovery costs. Each participating team emerges with a robust set of customer discovery and technology commercialization skills, as well as an assessment of their innovation's market potential and business model.

What does it take to qualify for I-Corps Teams?

• A university-based innovation emerging from research conducted by students, postdocs, and/or faculty who are motivated to commercialize their innovation
• Third party vetting of that innovation in the form of a patent application, peer reviewed publication, or external grant
• Successful completion of a local or regional I-Corps lean launchpad course, including at least 20-30 customer interviews
• A team composed of a technical lead (typically a faculty PI or grad student/postdoc involved with the technology), an entrepreneurial lead (typically a grad student or postdoc) and an industry mentor

Applications must be submitted online. To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions. You will be given the opportunity to complete an online application for the position and attach a cover letter and resume.

Additional documents may be attached after application by accessing your "My Job Applications" page and uploading documents in the "My Cover Letters and Attachments" section.

To request an accommodation during the application process, please e-mail employ@umn.edu or call (612) 624-UOHR (8647).

The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. To learn more about diversity at the U: http://diversity.umn.edu

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.

Please note: All employees at the University of Minnesota are required to comply with the University’s Administrative Policy: COVID-19 Vaccination and Safety Protocol by either providing proof of being fully vaccinated on their first day of employment, or complete a request for an exemption for medical exemption or religious reasons. To learn more please visit: https://safe-campus.umn.edu/return-campus/get-the-vax

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC)

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC), is among the largest public research universities in the country, offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Located at the heart of one of the nation's most vibrant, diverse metropolitan communities, students on the campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul benefit from extensive partnerships with world-renowned health centers, international corporations, government agencies, and arts, nonprofit, and public service organizations.