The Wisconsin Crop Innovation Center (WCIC) at the University of Wisconsin–Madison is seeking an experienced Plant Scientist to serve as the Center’s scientific and business ambassador. The WICIC Business Development Director will leverage technical expertise, professional networks, and industry presence to establish partnerships and expand externally funded projects. They will develop and maintain strategic relationships with biotechnology companies, academic researchers, non-profits, and industry partners to generate new business opportunities and service contracts. Additionally, they will attend and present at scientific conferences and industry events to promote organizational capabilities and expand client engagement. The Business Development Director is also responsible for moving opportunities through to executable projects by developing project scopes, technical approaches, timelines, and associated budgets.

Key Responsibilities

• Serves as a unit liaison to internal stakeholder groups to foster cross-unit partnership efforts regarding research programs and activities

• Collaborates with project directors and the full range of clients whose knowledge and expertise varies

• Manages large research projects for a center or program

• Serves as a consultant to project directors and provides technical expertise to research and operational personnel

• Exercises supervisory authority, including hiring, transferring, suspending, promoting, managing conduct and performance, discharging, assigning, rewarding, disciplining, and/or approving hours worked of at least 2.0 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees

• Assists with planning, implementation, and management of strategic initiatives for a center or program

• Determines unit personnel needs and the unit personnel resource allocation plan

• Leads business development activities by cultivating relationships with academic and industry partners, representing the organization at conferences and trade events, identifying emerging opportunities, and securing new research and service contracts

Required Qualifications:

• Experience in plant biotechnology techniques and workflows
• Experience supervising, leading, or mentoring staff in a collaborative environment (e.g., coaching, assigning priorities, coordinating workflows)
• Demonstrated experience managing budgets and financial resources, including project costing, expense monitoring, and/or fiscal planning

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience preparing grant proposals, service proposals, sponsored research agreements or contracts
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects and priorities in a fast-paced environment
• Experience developing and maintaining collaborative relationships with academic, industry, and/or non-profit partners
• Experience presenting scientific or technical information at conferences, industry meetings, or client-facing events