How to Apply

A cover letter is required for consideration for this position and should be attached as the first page of your resume. The cover letter should address your specific interest in the position and outline skills and experience that directly relate to this position.

Job Summary

The Department of Biomedical Engineering (BME) is a joint academic department with reporting lines to the College of Engineering and the Medical School. The dual-school environment includes a growing faculty roster within both schools, a large and increasing collaborative research portfolio, multi-building research facilities, innovative instructional programs at all academic levels, and a focus on research translation and entrepreneurship. BME is pursuing strategic goals to establish enhanced connections within and beyond both schools. By launching shared facility cores to enable faculty success in research and providing an educational experience for undergraduate students through Ph.D. candidates, BME strives to best prepare graduates for the multitude of career options at the interface of engineering, life sciences, and medicine.

The Mission of the Coulter Translational Research Partnership is to translate early-stage biomedical innovations from faculty at the College of Engineering (CoE) and the University of Michigan Medical School (UMMS) towards commercialization and patient impact. This position, the Coulter Managing Director (CMD), is housed within the Department of Biomedical Engineering (BME), a joint department of the CoE and UMMS, and reports to the Department Chair of BME. The Coulter program works to identify technologies and projects with high commercial potential that may not move forward without translational funding and commercialization support to further their development. This position works closely with Innovation Partnerships (Office of Technology Transfer), which manages the University9s intellectual property portfolio from initial protection, marketing and licensing to existing companies as well as new startup companies. Significant goals for this position include working to identify promising translational projects, working with project teams and other partners to develop strategies for translating technologies, working with the Coulter Oversight Committee to select projects for funding, managing projects for progress, and facilitating the movement of promising technologies to the clinic and working with Innovation Partnerships on licensing such technologies.

Responsibilities*

1. Outreach, Partnerships, and Ecosystem Development

• Outreach/partnership building with Engineering and Clinician faculty, department chairs, other U-M translational programs, and Innovation Partnerships to identify viable project leads for Coulter funding.
• Develop and implement strategies to foster collaborations with the University of Michigan Law, Business, Medical and Dental Schools.
• Maintain a working knowledge of other translational and gap funding programs both within the university and in the local community that can assist with the advancement of Coulter funded projects.
• Serve as a resource for the BME Industry Liaison and BME educational programs to facilitate relationships between industry and the BME Department.

2. Project Development and Translational Support

• Assist faculty with project proposal preparation and their execution, including milestone optimization, revision and completion, relative to translational goals.
• Coordinate internal and external commercialization resources including prototype development, access to testing facilities, and external business consulting firms.

3. Commercialization, Intellectual Property, and Industry Engagement

• Build and maintain strong working relationships with the University of Michigan9s Innovation Partnerships to advance project intellectual property, pre-license and license negotiation activities.
• Build relationships with medical device industry leaders and business development executives, venture capitalists, and Coulter Oversight Committee members to generate feedback and opinions on projects under evaluation and secure guidance and exit leads for funded projects.

4. Program Leadership, Strategy, and Sustainability

• Work with Chair on vision setting and strategic planning for Coulter program direction and annual goals for project advancements and progress towards metrics.
• In collaboration with the Department Chair, sustain a leadership role for the Coulter Program at the University of Michigan and in the broader local business environment to ensure visibility and sustainability. Foster relationships with Oversight Committee members, and external industry advisors to garner participation and support.

5. Program Governance, Oversight, and Reporting

• Serve as primary contact with the Coulter Oversight Committee.
• Prepare progress and performance reports as necessary for administrative oversight of the program.
• Budget planning for the $1M+ program budget for annual translational research funding cycle and program operations. Timeline development for project solicitation, assessment, selection, and reviews.

6. Financial and Resource Management

• Manage oversight of program funds, including those designated to assist with commercialization strategy development (patent landscape, market assessments, product development resources, etc.).
• Develop, direct use of, and monitor annual and expenditures, including oversight for funded research projects.
• Manage resources and resource allocation, including financial management and budget preparation, facilities, grant administration, technology transfer, human resources, etc.

Required Qualifications*

• Advanced degree in medicine, sciences, engineering, or other STEM fields.
• 5+ years of professional experience in biomedical product development or project management in industry, or in commercializing technology (industry, academia, or government).
• In-depth understanding of current strategies, requirements and implementation practices for technology adoption and entrepreneurial development in a life sciences related market.
• Demonstrated experience in strategy planning and execution.
• Exceptional project management, relationship building, and public relations skills.
• Excellent organizational and communication skills.
• Demonstrated supervisory skills.
• Demonstrated history of attention to detail, results-oriented mindset, ability to prioritize and to work well independently.
• Strong network of industry contacts.
• Demonstrated history of success working with and leading teams and positive relationship-building with stakeholders at all levels.
• Demonstrated success interacting with individuals from diverse sectors (academia, industry, the general public, government, international collaborators, etc.).
• Experience developing proposals, preparing and delivering technical presentations, and overseeing grant and contract budgets.
• High energy, enthusiastic and self-motivated professional. Maturity, poise and ability to exercise sound judgment and decision making.

Desired Qualifications*

• Advanced degree (PhD, MBA).
• General knowledge of intellectual property law, licensing practices, and regulatory affairs is desired.
• Knowledge of compliance principles, terminology, and regulatory requirements that impact the research endeavors of academic research institutions.
• Work experience in a higher education research environment.
• Familiarity with U-M systems, M-Pathways, policies and procedures related to research administration (including, but not limited to, accounting, purchasing, personnel, and regulatory compliance).

Modes of Work

Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes .

Application Deadline

Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days. The review and selection process may begin as early as the eighth day after posting. This opening may be removed from posting boards and filled any time after the minimum posting period has ended.

Job Detail

Job Opening ID

282960

Working Title

Coulter Managing Director

Job Title

Associate Director

Work Location

Ann Arbor Campus

Ann Arbor, MI

Modes of Work

Hybrid

Full/Part Time

Full-Time

Regular/Temporary

Regular

FLSA Status

Exempt

Organizational Group

College Engineering

Department

CoE Biomedical Engineering

Posting Begin/End Date

9/17/2026 - 10/01/2026

Salary

$135,000.00 - $158,000.00

Career Interest

Administration