Assistant Vice President for Innovation and Commercialization

For more than 50 years, Kennesaw State University has been known for its entrepreneurial spirit and sense of community. A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State is located just north of Atlanta, and combines a suburban setting on two metro-Atlanta campuses in Kennesaw and Marietta. As one of Georgia's largest universities, Kennesaw State offers undergraduate and graduate degrees, including a growing number of doctoral programs to over 43,000 students. Our high-impact research, and Division I athletics also draw students from throughout the region and across the globe. A member of the University System of Georgia, Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2) committed to becoming a world-class academic institution positioned to broaden its academic and research missions and expand its scope on a local, regional, and national level.  

Our vibrant culture, career opportunities, mission and values and rich benefits make us an employer of choice. As part of the University System of Georgia, Kennesaw State exemplifies the power and promise of a student-centered, research-driven university.  Our institutional values are student-inspired, promise-fulfilling, elevational, open and impact-generating, and being true to ourselves. In addition, Kennesaw State supports the University of Georgia's core values of accountability, excellence, integrity, and respect.  For more information, visit kennesaw.edu . 

Our Kennesaw campus is located at 1000 Chastain Road NW, Kennesaw, GA 30144. Our Marietta campus is located at 1100 South Marietta Parkway, Marietta, GA 30060.

Kennesaw State University is accepting applications for an accomplished and collaborative faculty member with a record of innovative research productivity, entrepreneurial activity, and substantial network reach as a tenured Associate Professor or tenured Professor and to serve as its Assistant Vice President for Innovation and Commercialization (AVP-IC) wit a preferred start date of October 1, 2024. This is a twelve-month contracted position. This position is for work to be performed in the state of Georgia.

• Report to and work closely with the Vice President for Research (VPR).
• Serve as the representative of the Office of Research (OoR) in the areas of innovation, entrepreneurship, and technology transfer.
• Lead KSU's Innovation & Commercialization Office which has university-wide responsibility for fostering connections between KSU inventors and entrepreneurs with prospective external collaborators, as well as facilitating the transfer of university discoveries to the market.
• Enhance strategic research alliances with private-sector and public-sector partners looking to innovate and enhance knowledge translation that leads to commercialization of faculty discoveries and inventions.
• Play a vital role in KSU's aspirations to grow its impact in the local, regional, and national ecosystem by bolstering research translation and economic impact.
• Work with other offices throughout the University engaged in external relations to further corporate/industry engagement and research-oriented partnerships.
• Function in a highly collaborative fashion, working with college and university leadership to effectively meet the growing needs of KSU's innovation and commercialization programs and activities.
• Oversee intellectual property development, technology licensing, faculty entrepreneurship, and incubation services.  
• Coordinate with external affairs, advancement, athletics, and other relevant offices to further holistic industry engagement with the university, emphasizing expansion of research partnerships.  
• Develop relevant metrics designed to measure efficiency, effectiveness, and growth, which can be used for reporting and strategic purposes. 
• Ensure a responsive and engaging process that links faculty researchers with opportunities and the needs of potential partners in government, industry, national labs and academic sectors.  
• Operate effectively with faculty researchers, senior managers, administrators, and research staff members to facilitate communication, resolve problems, and enhance working relationships. 
• Ensure the involvement of stakeholders in policy and operational decision making, as influence, not authority, is most frequently required.  
• Build strong working relationships with key internal partners through open, direct, and transparent communication.  
• Negotiate licensing, contracting, and sponsorship of KSU technology.  
• Engage in relevant ecosystem organizations to represent KSU and bring awareness to KSU research, technology, and innovations.  
• Support the pursuit of Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR), Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR), and Venture Development funding for KSU faculty and Kennesaw State University Research Foundation (KSURSF) affiliated startups.  
• Pursue institutional level funding to support innovation and commercialization activities (e.g. NSF I-Corps).

Teaching assignments will be based on earned degrees and SACSCOC Faculty Credentials Guidelines.
 

• An earned doctorate, or the foreign equivalent, in any discipline is required with an academic background and appropriate credentials to be a tenured Associate Professor or tenured Professor in a KSU academic department or school.
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills needed to partner effectively with university and college leaders, faculty and staff, and numerous external funding partners. 
   

• Prior success in obtaining extramural funding
• Doctorate in a research-intensive, relevant discipline

1. CV 
2. Cover Letter 
3. Unofficial Transcripts (Official Transcripts and Official International Course-by-Course Evaluations Due Upon Hire) 
4. Names, phone numbers, and email addresses of at least 3 references

Incomplete applications will not be considered.
 

Review of applications will begin immediately.  For full consideration, please apply by July 15, 2024.

For questions about this faculty opening, please contact Karin Scarpinato, [email protected] .

For technical support or assistance completing a job application, please contact the Shared Services Center at (877) 251-2644 or [email protected] .

For questions about a specific job posting at Kennesaw State University, please contact the search chair listed under the contact information section on each posting. For general questions about faculty jobs please email [email protected] .

The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 26 institutions of higher education and learning as well as the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 8.2.18.1.2 and can be found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section8/C224/#p8.2.18_personnel_conduct .

Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in Board Policy 6.5 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section6/C2653 .

Kennesaw State University is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. The University is committed to maintaining a fair and respectful environment for living, work and study. To that end, and in accordance with federal and state law, Board of Regents policy, and University policy, the University prohibits harassment of or discrimination against any person because of race, color, sex (including sexual harassment, pregnancy, and medical conditions related to pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, ethnicity or national origin, religion, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran or military status by any member of the KSU Community on campus, in connection with a University program or activity, or in a manner that creates a hostile environment for members of the KSU community.
For additional information on this policy, or to file a complaint under the provisions of this policy, students, employees, applicants for employment or admission or other third parties should contact the Office of Institutional Equity at English Building, Suite 225, [email protected] .

Per the University System of Georgia background check policy, all final candidates will be required to consent to a criminal background investigation.  Final candidates may be asked to disclose criminal record history during the initial screening process and prior to a conditional offer of employment.  Applicants for positions of trust with screening results which confirm a disqualifying criminal history will be immediately disqualified from employment eligibility.

All applicants are required to include professional references as part of their application process.  Some positions may require additional job-based screenings such as motor vehicle report, credit check, pre-employment drug screening and/or verification of academic credentials.  

https://www.usg.edu/hr/assets/hr/hrap_manual/HRAP_Background_Investigation_Employment.pdf