Job Details

Director of Fund Operations - Nucleus

Position Number: 6265624
Location: Salt Lake City, UT
Position Type: Economic and Business Development

Director of Fund Operations - Nucleus

Job Summary

We are seeking a Director of Fund Operations to manage day-to-day operations of the Utah Innovation Fund, under the direction of Nucleus. UIF is a 40-million-dollar state-backed fund created to invest in technology and research coming out of Utah's Higher Education Institutions. Our fund is focused on investing in deep tech including AI, energy, cyber, life sciences, defense, aerospace, and emerging technologies. We invest at the pre-seed stage.

In this role you will manage and train 20-30 student analysts from around the state, directing them on the diligence process for deals. This role will also manage ongoing portfolio support after investment. Other responsibilities include audit and compliance reporting, supporting ecosystem events and developing a venture network. This role reports to the Associate Commissioner of Innovation, Commercialization and Economic Development.

Responsibilities

Independently evaluates the commercial potential by identifying new uses, markets, market size, competing technologies through the use of personal knowledge of emerging technologies, information gleaned from University partners, experts and on-line databases.
Collaborate with professors, students and industry partners to identify research projects that have commercial potential.
Understand and stay up-to-date with university research and industry trends.
Independently develops a strategy for each of the selected technologies or opportunities.
Prepare weekly, monthly and quarterly reports for presentation to the Associate Commissioner and Executive team to outline potential opportunities, fund or commercialization progress or success.
Work with venture capital firms to generate deal flow for the Utah Innovation Lab Fund, provide qualitative data to the Associate Commissioner and Executive team as requested.
Conduct due diligence on potential investment opportunities and present findings to the investment committee.
Proactively identifies potential problems with inventors, sponsors, and potential licensees.
Proposes, promotes and/or helps to negotiate solutions or agreements
Assist in the management of operations of the Utah Innovation Lab Fund, including preparing reports, creating presentations, tracking investments made, working with accounting/ legal and coordinating meetings.
Assist in the creation the Utah Future Report, which focuses on new and exciting developments in Utah's schools and the Utah ecosystem. This includes understanding what cutting edge research is being developed and commercialized, what is being funded by venture capital that is tied to Utah, what new entrepreneurial businesses are being created, and what new policy and State efforts are being developed to support innovation. This will also include creating the report and supporting events to promote the report.
Assist in design thinking and system thinking efforts including workshops, presentations and creation of systems for Innovation efforts.
Participation on committees or industry associations as speaker, workshop leader, committee member, officer, etc. as requested by the Associate Commissioner.

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

DISCLAIMER
OCHE has reviewed this job description to ensure that essential functions and primary duties
have been included. It is intended to provide guidelines for job expectations and the employee's
ability to perform the position described. It is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of
all functions, responsibilities, skills, and abilities. Additional functions and requirements may be
assigned by supervisors as deemed appropriate. This document does not represent a contract of
employment, and OCHE reserves the right to change this job description and/or assign tasks for
the employee to perform, as OCHE may deem appropriate.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in related field required; preference will be given to applicants with a Masters degree in a related field.
2-4 years of full-time relevant work experience in industry supporting innovation, commercialization, and venture capital.

Preferences

Entrepreneurial, communication and interpersonal skills are critical for success in this position; demonstrated ability to effectively communicate, build relationships with professors, students and venture capital firms required.
Strong analytical skills and the ability to conduct due diligence on potential investment opportunities.
Strong organizational and systems thinking expertise and the ability to manage multiple projects at once.
A passion for innovation and the ability to identify new opportunities for growth.
All other job duties or projects as assigned by the Associate Commissioner of Innovation.
Preference will be given to applicants with previous commercialization, technology transfer, university administrative or research experience, and venture capital efforts around commercialization.

Special Instructions

Requisition Number: PRN42055B
Full Time or Part Time? Full Time
Work Schedule Summary: Monday - Friday8am - 5pm
Department: 01379 - USHE Commissioner
Location: Campus
Pay Rate Range: $100,000-$120,000 DOE
Close Date: 7/30/2025
Open Until Filled:

To apply, visit https://utah.peopleadmin.com/postings/183289