Job Description

University of Utah Job Description

Job Summary

The Chief Innovation Officer (CIO) is responsible for centralizing, accelerating, and scaling innovation across the university’s academic health system by building an integrated, high-performing Innovation Enterprise (IE) that spans research, clinical care, education, and commercialization.

The CIO will work closely with the Technology Licensing Office (TLO), Utah Venture Hub (UVH), School of Medicine, Health System Executives, Department Chairs, as well as the Vice President of Research (VPR) office to develop and leverage partnerships across the health sciences and main campuses, extramural funding organizations, private and public external companies and University vendors to build a sustainable innovation ecosystem.  This approach seeks to transform clinical care through innovation, increase commercialization across the health system and health sciences, boost industry-sponsored research and build innovation and commercialization into recruitment/retention packages, promotion criteria, education and care delivery.  The CIO will also develop sustainable programs for faculty to form public-private partnerships, develop and commercialize technology and obtain early-stage funding for spin-out companies in the health sciences as well as monetizing the University’s databases through external partnerships. Identification of key health trends at the intersection of technology and is essential.

The CIO will be given significant latitude to identify and centralize resources within the health system as they deem appropriate to achieve the goals and objectives of the role.

Qualifications

• Doctoral degree (e.g., MD or PhD) required
• Minimum of two years’ experience in an Associate Vice President (AVP) level role, equivalent experience in a commercialization role may be considered.
• Academic leadership experience is preferred

Applicants must demonstrate the potential ability to perform the essential functions of the job as outlined in the position description.

Disclaimer

This job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification.  It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees assigned to the job.

Essential Functions

• Establish a Centralized Innovation Office for the health system: Create the Office of Academic Health Innovation reporting directly to the Senior Vice President of Health Sciences (SVPHS) to oversee all commercialization and research innovation activities within the health sciences and expand the impact for society and technology.
• Streamline Data Infrastructure: Centralize existing university databases and develop new EHR, UPDB, data and biobank resources to enable efficient tracking and management of healthcare technology innovations, facilitating commercialization and partnership opportunities.
• Integrate Commercialization and Partnerships: Oversee, centralize and direct commercialization, industry-sponsored clinical trials, and innovation partnerships—including spin-in and spin-out companies—in collaboration with the Technology Licensing Office (TLO) and the Vice President of Research (VPR) office.
• Advance Clinical and Digital Health Innovation: Manage commercialization efforts related to clinical and digital health innovations through a coordinated process aimed at securing industry sponsored research, equity stakes in early-stage ventures and partnering with top-tier vendors.
• Create a Digital Sandbox Environment: Collaborate with the CIO and Chief Medical Information Officer (CMIO) to establish a digital sandbox for faculty and external partners to conduct research and commercial development activities in a controlled, innovative space.
• Establish internal funding mechanisms for innovation to develop company formation: Develop a SVPHS fund focused on supporting health sciences spin-out companies.
• Support Commercialization Funding and Talent Retention: Develop financial models for commercialization funding for departmental initiatives, retention and start up packages in the health sciences, direct and approve their use across the health sciences, and evaluate their effectiveness.
• Integrate and Oversee Key Commercialization Units and Initiatives: Oversee DCC and CMI
• Partner with Health Sciences Leadership on commercialization aspects of digital health initiative, MAGIC, DELPHI, DMRC to build a systems approach for commercialization.
• Expand Partnership Infrastructure: Build a centralized database of health sciences research laboratories to facilitate collaborations and sponsored research partnerships with external companies.
• Expand Health Sciences Late Translational/Commercial Research Portfolio: Collaborate with key stakeholders on efforts to expand health sciences research portfolio, broadening impact and resource alignment, and reducing risk.
• Optimize Biobanking Processes: Centralize and improve biobanking operations across the health system to support research and innovation activities.
• Drive AI Integration: Lead efforts to incorporate artificial intelligence across clinical care and research domains in partnership with the CIO, positioning the health system at the forefront of AI-enabled healthcare in partnership with responsible AI initiative.
• Manage all other projects as assigned by health system executive leadership.

Comments

Skills & Abilities:

• Demonstrate an understanding of federal, state, foundation and industry funding agencies, and have a proven track record of successfully obtaining funds for their own research program.
• Expert level experience in commercialization, tech transfer, intellectual property (IP) protection, accelerators, innovative development programs and research administration.
• Strong organizational, presentation, and communication skills are essential, including the ability to work with faculty, staff and students across campus, external industry partners, and with senior University leaders.
• Demonstrated expertise with non-biomedical and biomedical research and have demonstrated strengths in interdisciplinary research partnerships/relationships.
• Strategic planning and vision.
• Financial management and budgeting.
• Team management and leadership.