Position Title:
Biobased Chemicals Platform Chief Technology Officer

Appointment Type:
Contract

Job Description:

Summary of Duties and Responsibilities

The Chief Technology Officer (CTO) will lead efforts to identify and accelerate the development of new technologies and innovations with strong commercial potential in the biobased products platform and related areas. This person will also serve as a driver for developing interfaces between the University and industry in this area to facilitate technology development and supporting collaborations. The CTO will possess and/or develop a deep understanding of innovations being developed within universities and across industry in the biobased products platform space with commercial potential. The CTO will also work closely with BioConnect staff to vet and prioritize opportunities for commercial development in Iowa. The CTO and BioConnect partners will provide ongoing oversight of prioritized ventures.

The CTO will:

• Understand the technologies/innovations being developed within the universities and scout for relevant innovations across Iowa.

• Serve as a focal point at Iowa State University for industry to partner with and collaborate with researchers in this area.

• Lead technical vetting and prioritizing of innovations as potential commercial opportunities.

• Provide ongoing technical product development guidance to prioritized ventures, ensuring that timely progress is made against commercial development milestones.

• Understand University resources and expertise that could be of value for any developing ventures in the biobased products platform and, with BioConnect staff, develop and manage processes through which these resources can be accessed.

• Serve as a member of the Biobased Product platform leadership team.

• Serve as a partner with the NSF RuralSTAMINA Engine on Biomanufacturing.

In partnership with BioConnect staff, the CTO will:

• Develop and implement strategies for translating innovations in Biobased Product platform to commercial products.

• Vet and prioritize for ongoing Biobased Product platform support, technologies/innovations based on their combination of technical potential and commercial viability.

• Guide prioritized ventures towards commercial development.

• Build and maintain relationships among platform researchers at the universities and with industry partners and coordinate (as well as conceive) joint activities and projects.

• Serve as primary contacts into their assigned platform.

​Required Minimum Qualifications

• Master's degree or equivalent industrial experience in a relevant scientific discipline with at least 10 years of experience developing bioscience technical innovations for commercial application.

• Demonstrated ability to create and work towards a technological vision.

• Excellent interpersonal skills and proven collaborative leader. Will be required to work and elicit cooperation across a diverse range of stakeholders.

• Results‐driven, creative, commercially oriented leader with demonstrated ability to set and manage priorities.

• Understanding of project management discipline, with demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• PhD or equivalent industrial experience in a relevant scientific discipline with at least 10 years of experience developing bioscience technical innovations for commercial application.

• Experience working in industry, particularly in a product development and/or entrepreneurial role.

• Experience in the biobased products area.

About

Iowa is adopting a more aggressive, formalized approach to organizing for economic development in the bioscience sector, focusing on four technology platforms: biobased products, precision and digital agriculture, vaccines and immunotherapeutics, and medical devices. To coordinate this effort, BioConnect Iowa was established within the state’s public-private economic development partnership. Success will require an evergreen pipeline of commercially-oriented innovations. Universities will play a vital role filling this pipeline, and this position at Iowa State University will be central to that effort, focusing specifically on the biobased products platform.

Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. on an ongoing basis without sponsorship. Immigration sponsorship is not available for this position.

Application Instructions:

To apply for this position, please click on “Apply” and complete the Employment Application. Please be prepared to enter or attach the following:

• Resume/Curriculum Vitae
• Letter of Application/Cover Letter

If you have questions regarding this application process, please email [redacted], or call [redacted] or toll-free: [redacted].

Proposed Start Date:
October 1, 2026

Number of Months Employed Per Year:
12 Month Work Period

Time Type:
Full time

Pay Grade:
Contract

Original Posting Date:
August 27, 2026

Posting Close Date:
September 10, 2026

Job Requisition Number:
R19809

General ISU compensation information can be found on the University Human Resources website. Please note that this is only a list of ranges and individuals will be paid commensurate with qualifications.