Industry Outreach Program Manager Position Opening

08.03.19 10:04 PM By Jennie Hempstead

Wright Brothers Institute (WBI) is a cutting-edge innovation and technology commercialization center for the Air Force Research Laboratory, with facilities located just outside of WPAFB in Dayton, OH. We drive fast, agile innovation that enables successful technology development to solve the Air Force’s most complex challenges by leveraging resident experts, unique facilities, disruptive innovation processes and extensive networks.

WBI is looking to identify an Industry Outreach Program Manager to work with the Air Force Research Lab personnel to identify and build industry partners and industrial technological networks for collaborations that leverage AFRL technologies, intellectual property, capabilities, and research interests for commercial development, and strengthen WBI’s customer engagement, problem identification, and innovative problem exploration and solutions. The incumbent will work closely with other WBI personnel and AFRL Technology Transfer personnel (ORTAs); AFRL scientists, engineers and program managers; as well as businesses, universities, and regional and state-funded economic development programs.


Activities and Responsibilities of the incumbent may include, but are not necessarily limited to the following:

  • Develops and implements a strategic marketing plan to recruit and retain industry members as part of a WBI-AFRL commercialization network. Elements of the strategic marketing plan may include such activities as initializing outreach efforts to industry leaders, facilitating meetings between industry leaders and AFRL researchers, organizing workshops as recruitment events, attending key conferences/trade shows, and co-authoring newsletters, annual reports, and promotional materials with other WBI staff;

  • Serves as the Technology Commercialization Service Team’s primary point of contact between WBI and industry representatives for technology development and commercialization activities;

  • Develops and updates a list of potential conference and tradeshow opportunities, dates, locations, target audiences, and costs;

  • Works with WBI, AFRL, and personal business contacts and uses research resources (on-line databases, literature, and other information sources) to identify potential collaborators, decision makers, and to conduct market analysis;

  • Assists in the analysis and management of AFRL inventions including assessing technical merit, patentability, and commercial feasibility;

  • Works with regional partners, such as The Entrepreneur Center in Dayton, to develop or convey commercialization programs to support AFRL;

  • Identifies and tracks entities with processes, funding support, and technology/manufacturing/commercialization capabilities to assist in AFRL technology transfer and commercial development of AFRL technology;

  • Assists, on an as-needed basis, the WBI team, AFRL scientists and engineers, and AFRL Technology Transfer personnel by providing advice or connections toward commercially-relevant applications or contacts;

  • Assists WBI and AFRL in setting IP licensing strategies and plans, and work toward facilitating improved patent license administration; and,

  • Provides other outreach support to WBI, as required.

Qualifications:

Applicants should have an undergraduate degree in a science, technology, or engineering discipline, or otherwise demonstrate technical understanding in areas that align with AFRL research areas (e.g. mechanical, electrical, chemical, biomedical, or aeronautical engineering, computer science, and material science). An MBA or directly related industry experience in business development, technology licensing, or corporate partnerships is preferred. The ideal candidate should have a strong working knowledge of federal technology transfer contracting mechanisms and experience working with federal labs. A minimum of three to five years’ experience marketing technologies to businesses and collaboration partners is required.


The successful applicant must have the confidence and competence to work well with senior level internal and external personnel including scientists and engineers, lawyers, business executives, government employees, university administrators, and entrepreneurs. Accordingly, the selected applicant must be personable, a good listener, possess strong verbal and written communication skills, and be capable of working and excelling in a highly diverse, professional environment. Additionally, the selected applicant must have the initiative to identify new opportunities and the capability to manage multiple detailed tasks simultaneously to completion in order to meet deadlines.


The Industry Outreach Program Manager reports directly to the Director of Technology Commercialization Services for WBI. The incumbent must be a U.S. Citizen. The primary place of work is WBI’s Springfield St location in Dayton, Ohio.

What Wright Brothers Institute Offers:

  • An exciting work environment with a great organizational culture and highly engaged employees

  • 25 days paid time off, Medical, Dental, Simple IRA with organizational match

If you have an interest in applying for this position, please send your resume, cover letter, citizenship, and salary history to: commercialization@wbi-innovates.com with subject line of “Industry Outreach Program Manager".

Download the PDF of the job description here.

Wright Brothers Institute provides equal employment opportunity to all individuals regardless of their race, color, creed, religion, gender, age, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by state, federal, or local law.

Jennie Hempstead