Director, Biotech & Healthcare Innovation Partnerships at University Health Partners of Hawaii

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Full Time

Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

30 Apr, 26

Salary

0.0

Posted On

30 Jan, 26

Experience

10 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

Skills

Biotech, Healthcare, Innovation, Partnerships, Business Development, Entrepreneurship, Intellectual Property, Healthtech, Pharma, Diagnostics, Digital Health, AI, Funding, Startups, Leadership, Collaboration

Industry

Medical Practices

Description

POSITION SUMMARY University Health Partners of Hawaiʻi (UHP) seeks a Director, Biotech & Healthcare Innovation Partnerships to lead the newly created Office of Biotech & Healthcare Innovation (OBHI), a new effort focused on creating investable health ventures from JABSOM and UH Manoa research. The role is centered on company creation and IP development, not on expanding clinical service delivery. The Director will bring deep industry and startup experience to recruit and coordinate entrepreneurial Professors of Practice, shape high-potential technologies into companies, and connect those companies with partners, capital, and state resources—delivering clear benefits to patients and the economy in Hawaiʻi. ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES AND FUNCTIONS Essential functions are primarily directed toward the strategic development of the OBHI venture engine and the cultivation of high-value partnerships. While the position includes necessary administrative and stewardship duties, these tasks are intended to facilitate the achievement of the office’s primary programmatic and innovation outcomes. Build a Professors of Practice–driven venture engine * Recruit and oversee 3–4 Professors of Practice (PoP) who are proven healthtech or biotech entrepreneurs, ideally serial or technical founders with significant development, C-suite leadership, and fundraising experience. * Define PoP roles with a primary focus on originating and advancing new IP into new ventures while working with JABSOM, UH leadership, and the State to ensure clear, practical frameworks for conflict-of-interest management, time allocation between academic and commercial activities, and appropriate use of UHP and UH resources. * Design PoP-led founder workshops, office hours, and small venture studios that give JABSOM faculty and UHP clinicians credible, practical models for turning ideas into companies. Encourage student biotech entrepreneurship through active event engagement and graduate workshops. Develop and manage the health innovation pipeline * Systematically identify and prioritize JABSOM/UHP projects in therapeutics, diagnostics, devices, digital health, AI/data, and care-delivery innovations that can realistically reach prototype, pilot, or early revenue in 2–5 years. * Work with PoP and faculty to refine concepts, clarify IP and freedom-to-operate, and build founding teams with the right mix of scientific, clinical, and commercial expertise. * Coordinate with UH’s Office of Innovation and Commercialization (OIC), OVPRI, and ORS to align disclosure, IP, and contracting steps without overburdening project teams. Lead partnerships, funding, and incubation pathways * Drive business development with pharma, biotech, medtech, digital health, and relevant bioindustrial partners to secure sponsored research, option and license agreements, and co-development deals tied to JABSOM/UHP-originated assets. * Work with Hawaiʻi Technology Development Corporation (HTDC) and related state programs to position UHP/JABSOM ventures for SBIR/HSBIR, accelerator participation, and access to local incubator and lab space. * Engage Hawaiʻi-based and Hawaiʻi-connected investors (including mainland VCs with homes in Hawaiʻi) as advisors and potential future capital sources for selected companies. Deliver value for Hawaiʻi and for UHP * Increase the number and quality of health-related startups headquartered or anchored in Hawaiʻi, creating skilled jobs and retaining IP in the state. * Grow external funding (industry contracts, federal translational grants, non-dilutive awards) flowing to JABSOM/UHP teams. * Demonstrate tangible impact on patient care and health system innovation in Hawaiʻi through pilots and deployments in local clinical environments. * Complies with all legal requirements and company policies. * Performs all other duties as assigned. MINIMUM QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS Education/Training/Experience * Ph.D. or equivalent in a relevant life science or engineering field * 15+ years in industry-academia partnerships/biotech/pharma/healthtech business development and leadership. Skills Knowledge Minimum: * Strong scientific literacy and credibility with faculty and clinicians. * C‑suite or senior BD roles with responsibility for global partnerships, B2B platform sales, and alliance management. BENEFITS * Generous time off benefits 100% employee health and dental coverage and vision * Flexible spending plan * Retirement plan with up to 3% dollar-for-dollar company matching contributions * 100% company paid group Life/AD&D/LTD insurance * Employee assistance program (EAP) * Pet Insurance, Prepaid legal with competitive rates UHP Hawai‘i is an EEO/AAP employer.

Responsibilities

The Director will lead the Office of Biotech & Healthcare Innovation, focusing on creating investable health ventures from research. Responsibilities include recruiting entrepreneurial Professors of Practice and developing partnerships to drive innovation and funding.