Business Development Director I, Florida High Tech Corridor

Florida High Tech Corridor:

The Florida High Tech Corridor is more than an initiative or facilitator; it's a force multiplier. The 23-county region that defines The Corridor is anchored by three of the country's largest research institutions: the University of Central Florida (UCF), the University of South Florida (USF) and the University of Florida (UF). Our mission is to converge and catalyze the capacity of high tech, innovation, and bright minds to generate a global ripple effect that advances the lives of people in the communities we serve. Powered by an ethos of collaboration, we align opportunities and resources in academia, industry, and economic development to unleash our region's exponential potential.

The Opportunity:

The Florida High Tech Corridor is looking for a strategic operator, relationship builder, and innovation leader to help guide the continued growth of Cenfluence.

The Business Development Director I will serve as Deputy Program Director and lead the operational infrastructure behind an ambitious industry-development initiative. You will oversee grant compliance, financial planning, administrative systems, staff performance, program reporting, and stakeholder engagement while helping technology companies and entrepreneurs access the relationships, resources, and opportunities they need to grow.

The ideal candidate brings experience in innovation-driven economic development, technology commercialization, entrepreneurial support, grants, or industry cluster management. They also bring the operational discipline, sound judgment, and collaborative leadership necessary to turn ideas and partnerships into sustainable results.

Responsibilities:

• Support the development and implementation of services and activities to develop industries and entrepreneurs, small, mid-size and enterprise-level businesses for Corridor programs, with a primary focus on the Cenfluence Industry Clustering Initiative.
• Grant Management and compliance: Provide program planning, implementation and support in executing the industry diversification strategy. Provide support in the identification, proposal efforts and execution of relevant funding opportunities that can lead to the growth of business support services. Oversee all aspects of grant administration, including financial tracking, reporting, and compliance with all funding requirements from granting orgs, such as budgeting, execution and fiscal accountability. This includes meeting all requirements of a Principal Investigator (PI) and/or Co-PI, and the requisite engagements and interactions with various appropriate university offices.
• Staff and team supervision: Directly supervise and provide project oversight for cluster managers and other administrative staff as directed, to ensure efficient and effective execution of all program deliverables.Manage and coordinate the ongoing training and development of cluster managers and admin staff, to ensure they have the skills and knowledge needed to effectively execute the requirements of the Cenfluence initiative.
• Engage with Entrepreneurs:Develop strong relationships and an understanding of key needs and opportunities for small and medium sized companies. Maintain regular communication with member companies regarding upcoming activities, program updates, meetings, and other necessary items as needed. Work with the Corridor leadership to understand, anticipate, and proactively address program needs.
  
• Database and information technology management: Manage and maintain the database system used for tracking cluster members, ensuring data security, integrity and generating key performance indicator (KPI) reports for the Cenfluence initiative, providing timely and accurate reports on program performance to stakeholders.
• Administrative systems and tools: Oversee all administrative systems, processes, and tools used by the initiative, identifying and implementing process improvements to increase efficiency.
• Stakeholder Relations, Outreach and Strategic Growth:Represent the Corridor and its programs (including Cenfluence, and others as directed) at local, regional, and national events to existing member companies, potential members, and relevant stakeholders, via the execution of in-person or virtual events, to build innovative businesses via industry clusters and other support to the entrepreneurial ecosystem.Develop and maintain positive relationships with all internal and external stakeholders, as directed, and to support the Cenfluence Strategic Growth Strategy.Work with the project marketing team to maintain public marketing efforts such as social media, website, emails, cluster annual reports and other forms of PR and marketing.
• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor's or Master's degree and 8+ years of relevant experience, including 3+ years of leadership experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience pursuant to Fla. Stat. 112.219(6).

Preferred Qualifications:

• Leadership experience within an entrepreneurial support, economic development, innovation, technology commercialization, or industry-development organization.
• Experience supporting technology transfer, commercialization, industry clusters, or the growth of technology-focused businesses and entrepreneurs.
• Experience managing grant-funded programs, including budgets, compliance, reporting, and fiscal accountability.
• Knowledge of federal funding agencies and institutional grant-management requirements.
• Demonstrated success leading teams and coordinating complex, cross-functional program deliverables.
• Experience developing operational systems, process improvements, databases, and performance-reporting tools.
• Ability to cultivate productive relationships with industry, higher education, government, and economic-development stakeholders.

Special Instructions to the Applicants:

• This position requires regular travel throughout the state of Florida.
• All applicants must be authorized to work for any U.S. employer. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position, and the university cannot accommodate H 1B transfers or employment-based visa processing for individuals currently sponsored by another employer.
• This is a Contracts & Grants (C&G) funded position. Employment is subject to availability of funding and may cease at the time funding for this employment is depleted.

Are you ready to unleash YOUR potential?

As a next-generation public research university and Forbes-ranked top employer in Florida, we are a community of thinkers, doers, creators, innovators, healers, and leaders striving to create broader prosperity and help shape a better future. No matter what your role is, when you join Knight Nation, you'll play an integral role at one of the most impactful universities in the country. You'll be met with opportunities to connect and collaborate with talented faculty, staff, and students across 12 colleges and multiple campuses, engaging in impactful work that makes a positive difference. Your time at UCF will provide you with many meaningful opportunities to grow, you'll work alongside talented colleagues on complex projects that will challenge you and help you gain new skills, and you'll have countless rewarding experiences that go well beyond a paycheck.

Working at UCF has its perks!UCF offers:

• Benefit packages, including Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Flexible Spending, and Employee Assistance Program
• Paid time off, including annual and sick time off and paid holidays
• Retirement savings options
• Employee discounts, including tickets to many Orlando attractions
• Education assistance
• And more...For more benefits information, view the UCF Employee Benefits Guide.

Dive into our Total Rewards Calculator to discover the diverse selection available to you, giving you a glimpse into the benefits that together shape your comprehensive rewards package at UCF.

Unless explicitly stated on the job posting, it is UCF's expectation that an employee of UCF will reside in Florida as of the date the employment begins.

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The University of Central Florida is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment based on any characteristic protected by law. The University maintains programs for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities in accordance with all applicable federal and state laws.

As a Florida public university, the University of Central Florida makes all application materials and selection procedures available to the public upon request.

UCF is proud to be a smoke-free campus and an E-Verify employer.

For general application or posting questions, please email talent@ucf.edu.

If an accommodation due to a disability is needed to apply for this position, please email onac@ucf.edu.