Executive Director of the Sullivan Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation

Position Overview

Position title: Executive Director of the Sullivan Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation

Salary range: $185K – $200K (base UC pay scale applies).

Application Window: Open date March 18, 2026; next review date April 20, 2026, 11:59pm Pacific Time; final date May 18, 2026, 11:59pm Pacific Time. Applications after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.

Position Summary

The Academic Coordinator III / Executive Director provides senior‑level academic and administrative leadership for the Sullivan Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (SCEI). The role designs, delivers, evaluates, and continuously improves SCEI’s programming while leading strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, communications, and program sustainability efforts. It reports to the Associate Dean of Programs and works closely with the Assistant Dean of Strategy & External Relations, faculty advisors, and campus partners.

Primary Responsibilities

• Academic Leadership, Program Direction, and Continuous Improvement
  • Lead SCEI’s academic, educational, and training strategies, including development of new program concepts and evolution of existing offerings.
  • Direct the design and delivery of workshops, seminars, accelerators, mentoring programs, and competitions.
  • Establish program goals, success metrics, and assessment approaches; use outcomes data and stakeholder feedback to improve content and strategic objectives.
  • Partner with faculty and academic leadership to align programming with academic priorities and support innovation‑focused education and research translation.
• Strategic Planning and Partnerships
  • Develop and execute periodic strategic plans to expand SCEI’s campus‑wide, regional, and national reach and impact.
  • Foster an environment that attracts and retains innovators, entrepreneurs, industry partners, donors, and investors.
  • Lead the development of partnerships, collaborations, and high‑impact initiatives that strengthen connections across campus and the San Diego innovation ecosystem.
  • Represent SCEI and the Rady School to external stakeholders, advisory groups, and the broader community; increase institutional visibility through conferences, panels, and convenings.
• Program Operations, Budgeting, and Resource Stewardship
  • Provide operational oversight for SCEI’s vision and program delivery, including planning, scheduling, staffing, and resource allocation.
  • Plan and manage program budgets; monitor expenditures; align resources to priorities and program needs.
  • Support fundraising and resource development; collaborate with Development and school leadership on advancement priorities and donor engagement.
• Supervision and Team Leadership
  • Lead the CIID staff (3.5FTE) and affiliated contributors; assign work, set performance expectations, coach, and support professional development.
  • Oversee engagement and involvement of over 100 volunteer mentors, executives, seasoned entrepreneurs, and program affiliates to ensure a consistent, high‑quality participant experience.

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications

• Degree in business, economics, finance, management, law, or related field, or equivalent experience.
• Demonstrated experience designing, building, and leading complex academic or educational entrepreneurial programs, including strategic planning and program assessment.
• Experience collaborating with faculty, staff, students, and external partners; strong relationship‑building and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience building and retaining diverse networks of experts and executives as advisors, content providers, and donors.
• Demonstrated skills with fundraising and resource development.
• Experience with budgeting, resource management, and program administration.
• Previous experience supervising staff, conducting performance appraisals, and redistributing tasks/programs as priorities shift.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience negotiating timelines, deliverables, and partnerships with a broad range of stakeholders.
• Familiarity with university technology transfer and venture creation dynamics and policies.
• Experience advancing innovation and entrepreneurship programming, commercialization, accelerators, venture competitions, mentorship programs, and industry engagement initiatives.
• Familiarity with the San Diego life sciences, sustainability, and technology sectors.
• Advanced degree in a related field (MBA, etc.) or equivalent experience.
• Exceptional communication skills, including presenting to diverse audiences and communicating complex ideas clearly and persuasively.
• Strong organizational and project management skills; ability to lead multiple priorities in a dynamic environment.

Application Requirements

Document Requirements

• Curriculum Vitae – most recently updated C.V.
• Cover Letter
• Statement of Research (Optional)
• Statement of Teaching (Optional)

Reference Requirements

• 3–5 references (contact information only)

Apply via

Help contact:

EEO Statement

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or any other protected status under state or federal law.

Job Location

La Jolla, CA

#J-18808-Ljbffr