Departmental Overview

The Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research (VCRO) has overall managerial responsibility for Berkeley's research enterprise. Within the VCRO, and under the Office of the Chief Innovation & Entrepreneurship Officer, UC Berkeley's Life Sciences Entrepreneurship Center (LSEC) is a unique "center of centers" that fosters life sciences entrepreneurship by coordinating and building upon existing campus resources.

Position Summary

The Executive Director (ED) is responsible for running, scaling, and ensuring the long-term sustainability of the Life Sciences Entrepreneurship Center (LSEC). Operating as a unique "center-of-centers," created in 2021, LSEC connects and catalyzes UC Berkeley's world-class life sciences and entrepreneurship ecosystems-including Berkeley SkyDeck, Bakar Labs, the Innovative Genomics Institute (IGI), the Bakar Fellows Program, the Molecular Therapeutics Institute, Berkeley Haas, and others.

The Executive Director operates with a high degree of autonomy and consensus-building skill, managing complex, unprecedented collaborations across organizational boundaries. A prime example includes leading and coordinating high-profile, multi-entity initiatives like the Berkeley Bio Startup Showcase at the annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference. This role requires a balance of high-level external relationship management, fundraising, and board governance, paired with a disciplined, execution-focused approach to managing and optimizing LSEC's established portfolio of academic and startup programs.

The Executive Director's mandate spans five core strategic and operational areas:

• Internal Ecosystem Coordination & Development: Facilitates seamless collaboration across previously uncoordinated campus entities. The ED must work fluidly across institutional boundaries, identifying and designing innovative programmatic connections that add collective value to the UC Berkeley ecosystem.
• Board Management: Directly leads and engages LSEC's Board of Advisors and its broader network of industry experts, serving as the primary liaison to align board expertise with the center's goals.
• External Relationship Management: Manages and generalizes external industry and donor relationships, ensuring LSEC complements rather than disrupts existing campus partnerships, while maximizing the mutual value generated for both the campus and external partners.
• Financial Model & Sustainability: Leads the transition of LSEC from its initial five-year "term" startup capital toward a self-sustaining financial model. The ED is responsible for identifying new capital pipelines, revenue models, and donor opportunities to fund high-value, emerging initiatives.
• Academic Program Design & Optimization: Oversees the delivery, design, and iterative improvement of LSEC's programs. These programs catalyze Berkeley's innovation ecosystem and include startup creation support (Venture Grant Program), the Entrepreneur-in-Residence program, market-needs workshops (I-Corps @ LSEC), graduate career pathway development (LSEC-Nucleate Venture Fellows), and high-profile public-facing showcases.

Application Review Date

The First Review Date for this job is August 24, 2026. For full consideration, please apply on or before the first review date.

Responsibilities

Program & Event Execution - 20%

• Directs the day-to-day operations, logistics, and execution of LSEC's signature programs (e.g., Venture Grant Program, Entrepreneurs in Residence, Nucleate Venture Fellows, I-Corps @ LSEC, and the J.P. Morgan Berkeley Bio Startup Showcase), ensuring high-quality delivery, project management, and operational excellence.

Interdisciplinary Collaboration - 20%

• Facilitates joint efforts across diverse campus departments, managers, and external constituencies to drive interdisciplinary collaboration. Uses exceptional consensus-building and team-building skills to connect disparate organizational silos.

Financial Management & Sustainability - 20%

• Leads advanced program budgeting and accounting processes. Focuses on transitioning LSEC's operational infrastructure to a self-supporting, financially sustainable model.

Program Assessment & Optimization - 20%

• Continually assesses the effectiveness of LSEC's programs. Uses data-driven metrics to measure impact, recommends strategic policy or content changes, and leads the implementation of those optimizations.

Board & External Relationship Management - 10%

• Manages LSEC's Board of Advisors and expert network. Coordinates external relations in a way that respects existing campus relationships while identifying opportunities for broader ecosystem alignment.

Funding & Revenue Generation - 10%

• Identifies, pursues, and secures diverse funding opportunities, corporate sponsorships, grants, and revenue streams to fuel new and existing programmatic initiatives.

Required Qualifications

• In-depth knowledge of business development concepts, best practices, and functions.
• Advanced analytical, critical-thinking and problem solving skills to assess complex issues and develop solutions.
• Advanced planning, project management, change management, process improvement skills.
• Advanced interpersonal skills to lead and work collaboratively and effectively with multi-disciplinary, cross-functional teams.
• Advanced written and verbal communication skills, including ability to positively interact with executives, providers, and staff at all levels.
• Advanced ability to develop comprehensive reports and presentations.
• Advanced proficiency in standardized business software and database applications (Microsoft Office, Google Workspace).
• Demonstrated leadership skills to motivate and influence others.
• Ability to achieve measurable results in a diverse stakeholder landscape balancing competing and conflicting interests.
• Academic background and experience in selected areas of research.

Preferred Qualifications

• STEM Background: Advanced degree or academic background within a life sciences, biotech or STEM field.

Education / Training

• Bachelor's degree in related area and / or equivalent experience / training. (Required)
• Advanced degree in a life sciences, biotech or STEM field. (Preferred)

Salary & Benefits

For information on the comprehensive benefits package offered by the University, please visit the University of California's Compensation & Benefits website.

Under California law, the University of California, Berkeley is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role and should not offer a salary outside of the range posted in this job announcement. This range takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions, including but not limited to experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, analysis of internal equity, and other business and organizational needs. It is not typical for an individual to be offered a salary at or near the top of the range for a position. Salary offers are determined based on final candidate qualifications and experience.

The budgeted annual range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position is $150,000.00 - $190,000.00. The full pay scale for this classification is $115,800.00 - $220,400.00.

• This is an exempt, monthly-paid position.
• This is an 18-month, full-time (40 hours/week) contract position eligible for UC benefits.

How to Apply

To apply, please submit your resume and cover letter.

Other Information

• This position is eligible for up to 25% or 10 hours/week remote work within the United States. Exact arrangements are determined in partnership with your supervisor to meet role responsibilities and department needs and are subject to change.
• This is not a visa opportunity. This position does not include sponsorship of a new consular H-1B visa petition that would require payment of the $100,000 supplemental fee.

Conviction History Background

This is a designated position requiring fingerprinting and a background check due to the nature of the job responsibilities. Berkeley does hire people with conviction histories and reviews information received in the context of the job responsibilities. The University reserves the right to make employment contingent upon successful completion of the background check.

Misconduct

As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts a conditional offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; received notice of any allegations or are currently the subject of any administrative or disciplinary proceedings involving misconduct; have left a position after receiving notice of allegations or while under investigation in an administrative or disciplinary proceeding involving misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of misconduct with a previous employer.

Misconduct means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, discrimination, dishonesty, or unethical conduct, as defined by the employer. For reference, below are UC's policies addressing some forms of misconduct:

UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy

UC Anti-Discrimination Policy

Abusive Conduct in the Workplace