Venture Studio Manager- Division Health Solutions

Department: NIHSI-Division Health Solutions

Campus Location: Wichita, KS - WSU Main Campus

Hire Type: Full Time

Pay: Range starts at $85,500/yr, adjusted based on qualifications

Work Schedule: General business hours but required outside of typical hours regularly; work is performed on-site and in person.

Export Compliance Requirement: No export control requirement.

Job Story

The National Institute for Health Systems Innovation (NIHSI) is seeking a dynamic and entrepreneurial leader to guide health innovations and technologies from concept to commercialization. This position is at the intersection of research, business development, technology, and industry to identify promising innovations and build a path toward commercialization.

Reporting to the Executive Director, this role serves as an Entrepreneur-in-Residence. Working closely with NIHSI leadership, university researchers, technology commercialization teams, industry partners, and entrepreneurs, the position will guide multiple innovation projects from initial evaluation through commercialization planning. Essential roles will be to help assess technical and market viability, shape business development and funding strategies, cultivate strategic partnerships, and coordinate the intellectual property and commercial agreements that help move promising technologies forward. You'll help assess technical and market viability, shape business development and funding strategies, cultivate strategic partnerships, and coordinate the intellectual property and commercial agreements that help move promising technologies forward.

At NIHSI, you'll help strengthen a growing health innovation ecosystem and accelerate the journey from research to real-world application. You understand that commercialization takes more than enthusiasm. It takes market insight, persistence, sound judgment, strategic networking, and the willingness to work through uncertainty. You can engage credibly with technical experts while also thinking about customers, industry needs, funding, partnerships, and the business case. Your work will help determine which opportunities are worth pursuing, bring the right people together, and create pathways for promising technologies to reach the organizations and people who can benefit from them.

Job Summary

This senior role operates similarly to an entrepreneur-in-Residence and is responsible for guiding early-stage technologies from idea intake through commercialization. Reporting to the Executive Director of NIHSI, the VSM collaborates closely with university leaders in technology commercialization, industry engagement, and research. The position supports the identification, evaluation, and development of propitious projects while fostering strategic partnerships. Responsibilities also include managing projects, facilitating collaborations, and overseeing intellectual property and commercial agreement processes.

Essential Functions
• Lead and manage multiple early-stage health innovation projects, overseeing commercialization strategy, project operations, budgets, timelines, resources, and stakeholder engagement.
• Evaluate technologies for technical merit, market potential, readiness, and alignment with NIHSI priorities, and develop roadmaps to guide advancement and investment decisions.
• Support funding and commercialization efforts by preparing pitch materials, business cases, grant proposals, and strategies for industry partnerships and startup formation.
• Build and maintain relationships with entrepreneurs, investors, industry partners, peer institutions, and other stakeholders to expand NIHSI's innovation ecosystem and opportunities.
• Collaborate with university leadership to develop business evaluation processes, agreement templates, and commercialization procedures, while facilitating project evaluations and contractual discussions.
• Ensure approved agreements are executed in compliance with university policies and provide ongoing project management, risk tracking, documentation, and progress reporting across active initiatives.

Required Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in biology, chemistry, engineering, health economics, business, or related field
• Four (4) years 4+ years in relevant roles (venture studio/capital, startup operations, research and development, and product management), with demonstrated experience operating entrepreneurially and independently in an early-stage or startup-like environment

Required License/Certifications/Training:

None

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Knowledge of technology commercialization, entrepreneurship, and innovation ecosystems.
• Understand markets involved and data associated with said market.
• Ability to evaluate emerging technologies and develop strategies for commercialization and growth.
• Strong project management, business development, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Ability to build partnerships and collaborate effectively with researchers, industry leaders, investors, and entrepreneurs.
• Excellent communication, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Proficient in managing multiple priorities and drive initiatives to completion.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Advanced degree in a STEM, health sciences, business, or related field. Particular consideration may be given to candidates with scientific or technical graduate training combined with education or demonstrated experience in entrepreneurship, technology commercialization, product development, or business.
• 1. Previous experience in clinical trials, or other health-related innovation and/or experience and knowledge in the FDA regulatory environment for device, biologics, and/or pharmaceuticals is highly desired.
• 2. Experience collaborating with diverse stakeholders such as researchers, industry partners, government agencies, and academic groups is preferred.

Physical Requirements:

Ability to operate a computer and other office equipment including but not limited to phone, printers, copiers, and calculators. Frequent 60-90%
Ability to communicate with others and accurately exchange information. Frequent 60-90%
Ability to remain in a stationary position. Frequent 60-90%
Ability to interpret effectively, accurately and impartially, both receptively and expressively. Frequent 60-90%

Additional Physical Requirement: