Sr. Director, Commercialization

About the role

The Sr. Director, Commercialization will oversee the hands-on execution and partner management of Newlab's flagship programs, with a core focus across our mobility, manufacturing, and industrial partnerships.

This role centers on driving direct program delivery, leading matrixed teams, and managing key government and industry relationships to create commercialization pathways for global startups.

Key responsibilities

Commercialization delivery & stakeholder management

• Lead mobility, manufacturing s & industrial programs: Oversee execution of high-stakes partnerships with automotive and mobility OEMs and tier 1 suppliers, industrial leaders, and government entities to accelerate external technology adoption. Manage key relationship dynamics, direct cross-functional teams of contributors, and serve as the bridge between global startups and industrial partners.
• Expand mobility & industrial programs: Scope, launch, and direct programs that help government and corporate partners leverage global technology innovations to solve complex technical challenges, defend market positions, and expand into adjacencies.
• Drive commercialization outcomes: Ensure programs create clear pathways for startups to scale, secure commercial pilot opportunities, and generate regional job growth.
• Drive program revenue growth: Ensure well-executed programs grow revenue over time by identifying expansion opportunities, extending project scopes, and deepening engagement with existing partners.
• Maintain quality control: Act as the primary accountable leader for delivery execution, partner satisfaction, and deliverable standards across assigned programs.

Financial, resourcing & systems improvement

• P&L & resource management: Maintain full oversight of program P&Ls, staffing models, and resource allocation to ensure healthy project economics and team utilization.
• Systems improvement: Identify operational bottlenecks in real time, anticipating team needs and building better systems and workflows to ensure seamless execution.

Strategic growth & local ecosystem alignment

• Partner with leadership: Collaborate with the Detroit Managing Director, Chief Strategy Officer, and Global Head of Business to engage industry and government partners interested in Newlab Detroit.
• Develop durable partnerships: Translate high-level strategic conversations and incoming global interest into durable partnerships through hands-on scoping, proposal development, and structuring new commercial agreements.

Qualifications

• 6+ years of experience leading complex program delivery, client management, or innovation execution in manufacturing, industrials, or deep tech ecosystems.
• Background in management consulting preferred; educational background in hard sciences or STEM (engineering, physical sciences) helpful, or a demonstrated ability to go deep into complex technologies.
• Proven track record of managing multi-stakeholder programs involving high-level government entities, corporate sponsors, and early-stage technology startups.
• Experience managing cross-functional, distributed teams in a matrixed environment.
• Strong financial literacy with direct experience managing project P&Ls, scoping, and resourcing.
• Outstanding communication, executive presence, and senior partner management skills.

Compensation & benefits

• $160,000 - $190,000 USD base salary
• Performance bonus eligibility
• Comprehensive benefits package with no waiting period
• On-site perks at Newlab Detroit