Job Title: Director Of Innovation And Industry Engagement
The role holder will be responsible for driving innovation and industry engagement strategies aligned with the Institute's mission and strategy.
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Key Responsibilities:
Leadership and Oversight:
The role holder will provide leadership and oversight of all aspects of Tyndall’s innovation and entrepreneurship strategy and delivery, including the creation of spin-outs, support for start-ups, IP commercialisation, externally funded initiatives, ecosystem development activities, and entrepreneurial culture and capability.
Industry Engagement Strategy:
The role holder will lead the development and maintenance of strategic industry partnerships with large enterprises, development of the Irish semiconductor sector and support for SMEs, business development across the Institute, and support for research teams seeking industry partners.
Major Externally Funded Activities:
The role holder will ensure the success and sustainability of major externally funded activities such as the EU I-C3Chips Competence Centre and Tyndall’s EU Chips Act Pilot Line Activities and the MCCI Technology Centre.
Partnership Delivery:
The role holder will have executive responsibility for our partnership and mission delivery for relevant State Agencies such as Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland.
Collaboration:
The role holder will close coordinate and partner with relevant units of University College Cork (UCC), particularly UCC Innovation and the wider Office of the Vice-President for Research and Innovation, and with the wider higher education ecosystem in Ireland.
International Engagement:
The role holder will engage with international research organisations in relation to strategic cooperation for innovation and development to the global semiconductor industry.
Strategic Planning:
As part of the Tyndall ELT, the role holder will ensure the development and delivery of the forthcoming Tyndall 2030 Strategic Plan with direct responsibility for delivery of relevant theme(s).
Team Management:
The role holder will direct line manage all senior managers within the Innovation and Industry engagement portfolio including all relevant hosted centres.
Additional Duties:
The role holder will carry out any additional duties as may reasonably be required given the executive-level nature of the post.
Essential Criteria:
A primary degree in engineering, science or technology (or related field) and an MBA or other relevant postgraduate qualification.
Required Skills and Qualifications:
Ability to develop, implement and lead innovation and industry engagement strategies aligned with the Institute's mission and strategy and the Silicon Island Semiconductor Strategy.
Strong knowledge of the semiconductor value chain and ecosystem trends, particularly in the context of the EU Chips Act and industrial research and development.
Proven senior-level commercial management experience ideally in the ICT sector with broad technical knowledge of the market for specialist ICT technologies and new venture development.
Successful business unit leadership in a similar management role within industry or a research organisation.
Experience in managing strategic partnerships, fostering long-term collaborations and client relationship development, negotiating major bids, and high-value contract negotiation.
Demonstrable leadership capability to influence, inspire, motivate and manage an experienced team in a high-technology international business.
Skilled in structured processes and governance, with experience in large corporates or entrepreneurial environments.
Excellent communicator, able to articulate vision and value propositions clearly.
Experience in the management, transfer and licensing of technology within the public or private sectors.
Experience operating at executive or board level and collaborating effectively across multidisciplinary teams, with the ability to influence senior stakeholders across academia, government, and industry.
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