Assistant Director, Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Online applications must be received before 11:59pm on

December 9, 2026

If a date is not listed above, review the Applicant Instructions below for more details.

• Available Title(s): 1157-NN_ADMINPRO - Assistant Director
• Business Title: Assistant Director, Innovation and Entrepreneurship
• Employee Type: Admin. Professional

The Opportunity

The Office of Research at Washington State University (WSU) is responsible for advancing the research enterprise at WSU systemwide. The Office of Research facilitates all aspects of the research from pre-award to compliance, advancement, development, and commercialization. The Office of Research amplifies WSU's land-grant mission by partnering with the university community, industry leaders, and other stakeholders to advance, extend, and grow the positive impact of WSU research for the state, region, and nation.

The Assistant Director, Innovation & Entrepreneurship is a full-time, 12-month position within the Innovation & Entrepreneurship Team in the Office of Research. The position provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for technology commercialization, intellectual property management, entrepreneurship support, industry engagement, and research translation activities across the Washington State University system.

Consistent with WSU's commitment to the President's vision for system-wide integration, the Assistant Director works collaboratively with colleges, campuses, research centers, and external partners to connect discovery, innovation, entrepreneurship, and economic impact across the university.

Reporting to the Assistant Vice President of Innovation & Entrepreneurship, this position is responsible for planning, organizing, and directing activities related to technology management, intellectual property strategy, licensing, startup creation, industry-sponsored research development, translational funding initiatives, and innovation ecosystem partnerships.

The Assistant Director directly supervises technology commercialization personnel and serves as a senior leader responsible for advancing research translation, innovation, entrepreneurship, and economic impact across the WSU system through integrated engagement with academic, industry, government, and community partners.

Percentage Breakdown of Job Functions

• 35% - Administration, Personnel, & Supervision
• 30% - Direct Intellectual Property Management, Technology Commercialization, Industry Partnerships, & Sponsored Research

• 10% - Outreach & Education
• 10% - Budget Management
• 10% - Strategic Planning
• 5% - Other

Additional Information

This is a full time (100% FTE), permanent position. This position is overtime exempt.

Monthly Salary

$7,541.56 - $11,666.67 | Commensurate with experience and qualifications

Pay and benefits

In accordance with RCW 49.58.110, the above salary reflects the full salary range for this position. Individual placement within the range is based on the candidate's current experience, education, skills, and abilities related to the position.

Benefits

WSU offers a comprehensive benefits package which includes paid sick and vacation leave; paid holidays; medical, dental, life and disability insurance package for employees and dependents; retirement; deferred compensation, optional supplemental retirement accounts; training and development; and employee tuition waiver. For additional information, please review the detailed Summary of Benefits offered by WSU for AP staff and Total Compensation.

Required Qualifications

• Positions require a Bachelor's degree in a relevant field and four (4) years of progressively responsible relevant experience, which has included at least one (1) year of managerial experience. A Master's degree in a related field may be substituted for up to one (1) year of the required experience. Any combination of relevant education and professional experience may be substituted for the educational requirement on a year for year basis. Education and experience can be tailored to fit the specific organizational entity/directorial assignment. Positions may require applicable licensure and/or certification.
• Demonstrated effective interpersonal, written and oral communication skills.
• Demonstrated computer software skills, including the ability to use Microsoft Office programs, such as: Outlook, Word, Excel, and Access.
• Demonstrated experience interpreting and applying laws, rules, policies and procedures.

Preferred Qualifications

• An advanced degree (PhD, MBA, JD, MS, or equivalent) in business, engineering or science.
• Experience in marketing, sales, licensing, negotiating and/or business development, and significant record of successful technology transfer in areas of physical sciences, life sciences, engineering, software, devices, and advanced technology sectors.
• An additional two (2) years experience working with intellectual property administration or technology transfer.
• Experience which demonstrates knowledge of policies and procedures relating to intellectual properties within a research university setting.
• Knowledge of intellectual property strategy, patent prosecution, licensing, university-industry collaboration, and entrepreneurship ecosystems.
• Experience which demonstrates knowledge of current trends in university/industry technology transfer.
• Demonstrated success in licensing, startup formation, venture development, industry partnerships, or research translation.
• Experience managing technology commercialization and innovation programs within a research university.
• Experience in strategic planning, formulation, design, implementation and tracking.
• Experience leading innovation ecosystem initiatives or entrepreneurship programs.
• Experience building industry, investor, and community partnerships.
• Experience in translational research funding programs.
• Experience operating in multi-campus or distributed organizations.
• Demonstrated experience advancing research translation, innovation, entrepreneur.

Position Sponsorship Eligibility: Not eligible for work visa sponsorship

Application Instructions

Applicants must upload the following required documents to their online application. Application materials should clearly communicate how the applicant meets all required qualifications and additional requirements.

• Resume
• Cover Letter

External candidates, upload all documents in the "Application Document" section of your application.

Current WSU Employees (internal candidates), before starting your Workday application, please use these instructions to update your education and experience in your worker profile in Workday. Internal candidates, upload all documents in the "Resume/Cover Letter" section of your application.

Documents may be submitted as one file or separate files. Applicants are encouraged to upload as a PDF, if possible.

Reference contact information will be requested later in the recruitment process through Workday.

Background Check

This position has been designated by the department to require a background check because it requires access to children or vulnerable adults as defined by RCW 74.34, engages in law enforcement, requires security clearance, interacts with WSU students in a counseling or advising capacity, has access to personal identifying and/or financial information, unsupervised access to university buildings/property, or other business-related need. A background check will not be completed until an initial determination of qualification for employment has been made.

Time Type: Full time

Position Term: 12 Month

Washington State University encourages all qualified candidates to apply, including members of the military and veterans, and persons with disabilities.

WSU employs only U.S. citizens and lawfully authorized non-U.S. citizens. All new employees must show employment eligibility verification as required by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

Notice of Non-Discrimination

Inquiries about the application of federal and state laws and regulations (including inquiries regarding the application of Title IX, ADA/Section 504, and implementing regulations), as well as reports and complaints of discrimination and harassment, can be made verbally or in writing to WSU's Compliance and Civil Rights, the Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights, or both.