Chief Innovation Officer

The Chief Innovation Officer will provide lead and executive oversight of enterprise-wide activities that support innovation and technology commercialization at Cottage Health. They will provide direct oversight of the Innovation Program and work collaboratively with other institutional leaders to support an environment that facilitates the identification and development of opportunities for a broad range of innovations in healthcare. The Chief Innovation Officer ensures the commercialization function at Cottage Health executes effective evaluation, marketing, protection, and out-licensing of its intellectual property portfolio. Furthermore, the Chief Innovation Officer is responsible for providing an entrepreneurial approach to the system's commercialization efforts by generating and advancing strategic partnerships with industry, local and state political and economic development resources, and the venture capital community, and promoting an environment of professional and effective commercialization.

MAJOR ACCOUNTABILITIES

Strategic Planning: Development and implementation of a strategy and plan to accelerate innovation capability across the enterprise. Refine and advance commercially viable innovations and accelerate them through a commercialization process. Enable and support Innovation Program leadership to ensure that the program serves as an effective bridge to potential industry partners, facilitating both inside-out and outside-in innovation. Work and coordinate with executive leadership from various aspects of the Cottage Health system to ensure that innovation activities are aligned with the mission of the hospital while also advocating for support and cooperation on strategic innovation-related opportunities for Cottage Health. Identify and develop professional relationships with investors, co-development entities and other commercialization and technology transfer organizations that could collaborate with Cottage Health on development and commercialization opportunities.

Operational Management: Lead Cottage Health initiative and workshops, and guide key projects through development and deployment. Lead development of an IP disclosure process to collect innovative ideas from internal sources as they are developed. Maintain Cottage Health's patent portfolio and IP database in collaboration with Cottage Research Institute. Provide direct management, guidance and supervision to the Innovation Program, including budget development, individual and service line performance measurement, policy formulation and regulatory compliance.

Problem Solving: Implement and operate a programmatic infrastructure for selecting, funding, and developing high-potential technologies with the purpose of increasing their commercial potential to be out-licensed or be the basis for a new venture. Continuously improve systems, processes, and tools to systemize and structure innovation across the enterprise.

Education & Training: Coordinate enterprise-wide training to support innovation processes and tools and to accelerate capability among innovation practitioners. Build a culture to leverage an innovation toolkit across the enterprise to accelerate ability, rapidly capture opportunities, and resolve problems. Identify and execute various informational programs that support the development of a knowledge base around creative thought opportunities for education, collaboration and development of ideas.

Financial/Budget: Responsible for budget development and execution, financial forecasting and demonstrating excellent project management skills, with successful delivery of projects on time, in line with budget expectations and strategy. Support monitoring of performance for dollars Cottage invests in Private Equity, Economic Development or other uses of funds to support innovation and commercialization.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Education:

• Minimum: Advanced degree (Master's level is business, law, or a related field) is required or significantly demonstrated successful experience required.

Years of Related Work Experience:

• Minimum: Work requires a minimum of 10 years' related experience to include experience in some or all of the following: business management, innovation, strategic venture and program development, patent preparation/review and licensing agreements. Minimum of 5 years in a leadership role.

Technical Requirements:

• Minimum: Experience leading or working in/with technology corporations. A strong understanding of intellectual property management and commercial translation of early-stage asset portfolios. Experience developing and negotiating strategic partnership initiatives at the organizational level. Experience negotiating licenses and commercialization agreements in a healthcare, academic or industry setting.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Problem Solving and Decision Making: Strong technology background, enabling an easy, respected interface into innovation communities. Ability to prioritize multiple projects in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment and meet deadlines with consistently high-quality results. Creative thinker with an open mind to learn and explore new areas and opportunities
• Interpersonal Skills: Strong leadership qualities, motivated, self-starter.
• Communication Skills: Excellent interpersonal skills, client counseling skills with excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Other: Industry relationships