Director of Commercialization & Corporate Partnerships

ROLE

• Lead development of a new program connecting startups with major customers to accelerate commercialization.
• Conduct market mapping and landscape analysis across clean energy sectors to identify target customer segments and off-taker challenges.
• Build and secure high‑value relationships with utilities, corporate off‑takers, manufacturers, developers, and procurement agencies.
• Conduct structured outreach and interviews with partners to assess interest in working with portfolio startups.
• Translate outreach insights into structured program tracks for startups and partners.
• Oversee curation and content for program events, including corporate adoption clinics, industry roundtables, reverse pitches, and demo days.
• Match portfolio companies with corporate leads based on readiness levels and enterprise needs.
• Facilitate buyer roundtables and corporate clinics to prepare startups for commercial deal structures.
• Represent NEXCA at meetings, conferences, and other events as the primary thought partner for commercialization.
• Oversee program execution, ensuring deliverables are met on schedule and within budget.
• Develop tools, resources, and network access to increase impact for program beneficiaries.
• Manage relationships with contractors and vendors related to deliverables.
• Establish and maintain policies, procedures, and standards for programs within scope.
• Monitor program performance against metrics, analyze data, and implement corrective actions.
• Ensure compliance with regulations, funding requirements, and organizational policies.
• Prepare and submit accurate, high‑quality program reports to internal and external stakeholders.
• Set up and manage teams for new and developing programs, ensuring adequate resourcing.
• Recruit, hire, train, and supervise program staff reporting to this position.
• Provide coaching, feedback, and professional development to program staff, including performance evaluations.
• Promote staff development and address employee relations issues in accordance with HR policies.

REQUIREMENTS

• 8+ years of experience in climate‑tech commercialization, corporate open innovation, venture development, or enterprise sales in energy/industrial sectors.
• Experience structuring pilots, joint development agreements, procurement deals, or similar commercial engagements between startups and enterprise buyers.
• Established relationships or ability to build networks with innovation leaders across clean‑energy corporates, electric utilities, OEMs, procurement agencies, or comparable organizations.
• Strong understanding of technology adoption, market readiness, and commercialization hurdles for hardware solutions.
• Experience working within accelerator/incubator ecosystems, venture capital platforms, or comparable innovation environments.
• Demonstrated dedication to New Energy Nexus’s mission and alignment with organizational goals.
• Experience in climate, clean energy, entrepreneurship, and emerging‑technology scale‑up.
• Proven ability to map processes, develop and implement policies and procedures, and streamline organizational workflows.
• Track record of successfully managing programs from inception through completion and renewal.
• Experience with budget management and development.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent problem‑solving skills with proactive anticipation of needs.
• Ability to work both collaboratively as a team player and independently.
• Adaptability to change and fast‑paced environments, with ability to prioritize, multitask, and meet competing deadlines.
• Strong interpersonal, tolerance, flexibility, and collaboration skills.

BENEFITS

• Competitive compensation of $165‑185K annually.
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Flexible paid time off and paid holidays.