Vice President, Entrepreneurship and Innovation

Job Title and Level: Vice President, Entrepreneurship and Innovation

City/County: Lansing/Ingham (Hybrid/Remote)

Type of Employment: Full-Time

Pay Grade and Annual Salary: Pay Grade 8: Grade 8 begins at $134,235 annually. Additional consideration may be given based on relevant skills, education, and experience.

Brief Job Description:

At MEDC, we help Michiganders prosper by investing in our businesses and communities, enabling the growth of good jobs, and promoting Michigan’s reputation as a world-class business location and travel destination. By joining our team, you will play an integral role in directly supporting Michigan’s success, where you work, live and play. Come be part of the team as the Vice President, Entrepreneurship and Innovation.

The Vice President, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, is responsible for the operational leadership and execution of programs that advance Michigan’s entrepreneurial ecosystem and increase access to risk capital for startups and scaling businesses. Reporting directly to the Chief Innovation Ecosystem Officer (CIEO), this role translates strategic vision into actionable outcomes, ensuring the effective deployment of resources and alignment of initiatives with statewide economic development objectives.

This position oversees the delivery of programs supporting entrepreneurship and innovation, and may consult to the capital access team, including SSBCI and equity capital initiatives, while fostering relationships with grantees, ecosystem partners, and financial stakeholders. This position ensures measurable results by driving program performance, maintaining accountability, and building a thriving ecosystem for Michigan’s entrepreneurs, innovators, and investors.

Click here to view the full position description. 

This position may work a hybrid (remote/in-office) schedule. Selected candidates who have been approved to work a hybrid schedule must complete that work within Michigan. Candidates should confirm work location and schedule at the time of interview.   

Business Unit: Small Business, Innovation & Ecosystems

Supervisor: Ben Marchionna, Chief Innovation Ecosystem Officer

Minimum Education Required:

This position requires a Bachelor’s degree (B.A.) from a four-year college or university in any related field; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Minimum Experience Required:

This position requires a minimum of eight to ten years of progressive experience in technology businesses or innovation-focused roles, including at least 5 years in economic development, technology commercialization, or equivalent. Position requires experience effectively working with early-stage tech companies, demonstrating successful outcomes such as scaling, fundraising, or exits.

Preferred candidate will have strong background in stakeholder management, including government agencies, private investors, and academic institutions. Deep experience engaging with university programs in science, engineering, or business, with a strong understanding of technology transfer and commercialization processes, and experience in fostering partnerships with accelerators, incubators, and venture capital firms to drive ecosystem growth is also highly preferred.

How to Apply:

If you believe that your qualifications meet the listed requirements and are interested in this opportunity, please submit a cover letter, resume and completed Employment Application by e-mail to [email protected]

Note: A completed application is not required for current MEDC employees who apply.

If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate in the application or selection processes, please contact [email protected] .

*Adobe Acrobat Reader (download here) is required to complete the application.

Deadline for Response: Jan 2, 2025