Director, Programs - Biomedical Engineering

About The Role:
VentureWell is seeking a Programs Director to partner with our Vice President, Commercialization (VP) and a peer Director to lead the Commercialization Program Vertical, with a special focus on our Commercialization Services, including the RADx, Blueprint, and other similar programs. The Programs Director will directly manage a team of program staff, including Senior Program Officers (SPOs) and Program Officers (POs). The Programs Director will demonstrate operational excellence and a high degree of specialized knowledge related to diagnostic and/or medical device design, development, and/or commercialization. The Director is a skilled and trusted people manager and brings significant relationship management experience and networks to leverage for potential business development opportunities.
This role is remote; however, our funders and partners are mostly East Coast-based. Applicants must be willing and able to be available for meetings on an Eastern Standard Time schedule, with some flexibility. Up to 10% travel may be required, primarily for internal meetings and business development.
Responsibilities:
Strategic Leadership

• Collaborate with other peer Directors and the VP to lead the vertical, including shaping a friendly, high-performing, inclusive culture that reflects the skills and values of the growing team
• Contribute to the organization and field as a thought leader
• Supervise overarching program strategy, including ensuring alignment between funder objectives, partner capabilities, and organizational capacity and resources

Business Development

• Represent VentureWell externally, including giving presentations, networking at industry events, and providing subject matter expertise in commercialization and medtech forums that enhance VentureWell's own credibility and network
• Develop and cultivates relationships, strategic partnerships, and funding opportunities in line with capabilities to support the achievement of development targets and strategic goals
• Identify and manage new opportunities for strategic partnerships or funding and stewards internal and external alignment

Program Oversight and Delivery

• Lead program innovation and oversee the implementation of the commercialization programs, including RADx, Neuro Blueprint MedTech, and similar "innovation funnel" style programs
• Collaborate with internal and external partners on budget development, oversight of time allocation of staff, and tracking spending
• Set up program delivery for success by building relationships and developing processes for collaboration across the organization

Team Management

• Lead remote-based team through direct management and matrixed relationships to develop and deliver excellence in current programs and embody a culture reflecting VentureWell's core values
• Build and maintain a work culture that actively investigates equity, and is imbued with a sense of inclusion and belonging amongst staff (direct reports, indirect reports, matrix relationships)
• With Commercialization leadership team (peer Director and VP), effectively plan for the short and long-term success of the department, including communication with the VentureWell Executive Team

What You Bring:

• Advanced degree required (e.g. MA/MS, MBA, PhD, etc.)
• At least 8 years of work experience, including at least 3 years of managing a team
• At least 5 years of experience managing collaborative teams, ideally in a primarily virtual environment, are preferred.
• Meaningful experience developing, implementing, and/or securing funding for programs related to diagnostic and/or medical device design, development, and/or commercialization is required.
• Track record of successfully managing funder and/or partner relationships, with preferred experience in federal contracting
• Highly adaptable and comfortable working through ambiguity
• Ability to thrive in an environment with vying and emerging priorities and tight deadlines
• Experience (work or lived) with groups identifying as marginalized by racism, sexism, or classism
• Outstanding written and oral communication skills with an ability to articulate and synthesize information in a compelling, organized manner; effective and skilled presenter; comfort and experience speaking on behalf of an organization and/or content related to domain experience online and in person
• Ability to extract key information and data to solve problems, inform decision making, and recommend innovative solutions

Across the Board, VentureWell Staff:

• Are able to succeed and thrive in an environment with competing and changing priorities and tight deadlines
• Have track records of and ability to build solid collaborative working relationships, and are proven team players who enjoy a "customer service" orientation to collaboration
• Are committed to embedding equity in our internal practices and culture and in our programs in order to live and achieve our mission
• Bring openness and engagement to personal, professional, and organization-wide learning on race, class, gender, justice, and equity
• Are curious and committed to issues of environmental sustainability
• Are self-starters with excellent attention to detail and a commitment to delivering high-quality work
• Are active learners who independently learn new tools and work processes quickly
• Have excellent written and oral communication skills

Our Benefits:

• An attractive and equitable compensation package, including:
• Salary range of $130,000-$160,000 commensurate with experience and internal equity
• 403(b) plan with 200% match up to a maximum contribution from VentureWell of 10% when the employee puts it 5% (eligible after one year of service for the match)
• Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance
• $1,000 home office stipend upon hire

• A true focus on work-life balance with work weeks that reflect that
• 20 paid vacation days PLUS the week off between Christmas and New Years
• 12 paid wellness days

What We Offer:

• A culture where people work intentionally and collaboratively in pursuit of our mission
• Values we believe in
• A commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

About VentureWell:
VentureWell supports the cultivation of an emerging generation of science and technology inventors and the innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystems that are critical to their success. Since its founding in 1995, VentureWell has funded or trained over 16,000 science and technology inventors and innovators, resulting in the emergence of over 3,000 ventures with groundbreaking technological advancements in fields like biomedicine and healthcare, sustainable energy and materials, and solutions for low-resource settings. The startups they have supported have raised subsequent funds totaling close to 5.3 billion and are reaching millions of people in nearly 50 countries.
Visit venturewell.org to learn more.