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Management Professional Supervisory
Penn State Job Catalog
Technology Commercialization Specialist – Principal Professional (PSU2573)
Job Summary and Representative Duties
The Technology Commercialization Specialist is responsible for supporting the advancement of early-stage innovations toward market readiness by managing technology development projects, facilitating partnerships, and guiding innovators through commercialization pathways; plays a critical role in bridging research, innovation, and industry collaboration to maximize the real-world impact of new technologies; brings a mix of project management experience, technical or scientific knowledge, and a strong understanding of innovation ecosystems, particularly in academic, nonprofit, or research-driven environments.
- Provide operational support and project coordination to teams developing technologies with commercial or societal potential
- Assist in developing roadmaps for technology readiness, including de-risking, prototyping, and scaling
- Coordinate meetings, resources, and documentation to keep projects on track and aligned with goals
- Support innovators in navigating internal systems (i.e., technology transfer, compliance) and accessing external expertise or resources
- Collaborate with the Office of Technology Transfer to pursue the appropriate intellectual property protection process required for commercialization
- Identify, engage, and manage relationships with internal and external partners across academia, industry, government, and nonprofit sectors
- Serve as a point of contact for consortiums, advisory groups, or collaborative initiatives
- Plan and coordinate meetings, engagement events, and/or workshops to facilitate knowledge sharing and relationship-building
- Support internal and external communications, including drafting updates, managing web content, and developing promotional content, such as fact sheets, brochures, articles, newsletters, and social media
- Coordinate with communications teams to ensure visibility and alignment with institutional branding and messaging
- Maintain records, track deliverables, and support program reporting
- Identify and catalog innovation resources, such as labs, testbeds, mentors, or funding opportunities that support technology development
- Collaborate on strategies to expand access to tools and services that accelerate innovation
- Participate in professional networks and conferences to stay informed on best practices in commercialization, innovation management, and entrepreneurship
- Represent the program in collaborative forums, innovation communities, and stakeholder meetings
Level Matrix
- Level:
- – Principal Professional
- Base Description:
- – Completes activities, tasks, and/or projects of a functional nature.
- Level Summary:
- – Displays mastery of defined skill areas/applications, principles, theories and practices. Evaluates and enhances existing practices. Recognizes emerging trends in area of expertise. Works independently on complex or strategic assignments. Directs and delegates appropriate tasks to others. Implements strategies to ensure achievement of initiatives. Prepares written and/or verbal presentations or proposals on complex issues and deliver to broad audiences. Identifies and implements innovative solutions to important, highly complex strategic and/or operational issues.
- Supervisory Responsibilities:
-
– Indirect supervisor for other full–time employees
– May serve as direct supervisor for part–time, student, and/or temporary workers, volunteers, or a full–time employee
- Fiscal Responsibilities:
-
– Validates and pays invoices
– Monitors and tracks budgets and funding
– May plan and forecast budgets
- Problem Solving:
-
– Encounters complex and novel problems
– Applies policies, practices, specialized knowledge, and skills to resolve problems
– Understands benefits, limitations, and impact of potential solutions
– Anticipates potential problems and recommends possible solutions within general guidelines
- Independence of Action:
-
– Works independently on complex or strategic assignments
– Uses existing practices as guidelines as well as working knowledge to determine specific work methods
– Carries out work activities independently, with supervisor available to resolve problems
– Reviews work of others to verify technical soundness
- Communication and Collaboration:
-
– Communicates with both internal and external audiences
– Collaborates closely with team members and area leads across the University
– Prepares written and/or verbal presentations or proposals on complex issues and delivers to a broad variety of audiences
– Establishes and maintains networks to facilitate successful communication among units
Salary Structure
- Comp Grade – 15
- Minimum – $109,300.00
- MidPoint – $136,600.00
- Maximum – $164,000.00
Critical Skills
- Branding
- Data management
- Data reporting
- Event planning
- Innovative thinking
- Market analysis
- Networking
- Operational planning
- Project Management
- Relationship Management
- Stakeholder engagement
- Technical acumen
FLSA Exemption Status
Exempt
Minimum Education
Master's Degree
Minimum Experience
8+ years of relevant experience
Equivalency
An equivalent combination of education and experience accepted
Job Profile last updated on 2025-08-27