|
Our firm has been retained to recruit the Director of University Research Parks for a prominent Midwestern university. Our client is a four-campus research system with extension and distance learning services, an extensive health care network, 23,500 faculty and staff, and a total enrollment of more than 63,000 students. The Office of Research and Economic Development was established to link research across the four campuses with emerging and existing firms across the state and around the world.
Reporting to the Vice President, Research and Economic Development, the Director, University Research Parks will manage and oversee the operations of the University’s science and technology park(s) and incubator facilities. The University owns, develops, markets and manages its research parks. This position directly manages two research parks and a technology park and is actively engaged in consulting on a business, technology, and research park and an innovation park.
Detailed responsibilities of the Director include:
• developing an effective protocol for identifying preferred business types for the research parks and promoting participation in the protocol development with key, University constituents thus gaining their long-term commitment;
• leading the development of tenant qualification processes including focused areas of research, affiliation and tenant support;
• researching and initiating contact with individuals, groups, and existing and start-up businesses fitting the preferred business description; promoting the benefits of locating on University property, and closing a property lease contract;
• overseeing the development and execution of marketing programs that sustain a level of visibility consistent with department’s mission; activities include maintaining good tenant relations, preparation of marketing materials, and written and oral presentations to business, industry, community and government;
• planning and managing site development projects at the park, including determining the highest and best use, land planning, infrastructure planning and design, and site development construction;
• representing park facilities and the University in interactions with various institutional divisions, as well as externally to media, government agencies, funding agencies, students, the general public, and local community;
• developing and maintaining supportive working relationships with outside economic development agencies and appropriate governmental agencies, Boards and organizations;
• developing strategic relationships with the surrounding scientific communities to proactively position all facilities within their science and research network;
• developing and administering an annual budget for park facilities; may perform periodic cost and economic performance analyses; recommending operating capital and general funding adjustments in response to financial/budget needs.
Key qualifications include:
• at least five years experience in economic development programming and related business services; knowledge of and previous experience in regional planning is desirable expertise; candidates with economic development experience in university research settings will be advantaged;
• compelling leadership; the ability to create and sustain excitement and momentum and to influence others through words and actions; a strategic vision for growing a research parks in a competitive marketplace;
• strong relationship and partnering skills with the universities, real estate developers, present and future tenants, elected officials, investors and entrepreneurs, community leaders, and other research parks;
• solid familiarity with master planning, real estate development, and property management;
• proven ability to negotiate and manage cost effective contractual arrangements; previous experience in high technology start-ups as either owner, manager, or facilitator is desirable.
If you have thoughts of knowledgeable sources or potential candidates, please contact me by email resume4@sockwell.com.
|
