Managing Director, Activate Houston Managing Director, Activate Houston Activate Global Houston[]

Activate empowers scientists to reinvent our world and address climate change by bringing their research to market. We partner with leading funders and research institutions to offer the Activate Fellowship, providing the funding, technical support, networking, community, and time that scientists need at the outset of their entrepreneurial journey.

Activate Fellows have launched 106 new companies since 2015. These companies have raised more than $1B in follow-on funding, created more than 1,100 U.S.-based high-tech jobs, reached scientific breakthroughs, and defined new market categories. Activate supports fellows in Berkeley, CA; Cambridge, MA; New York, NY; and across the U.S. through Activate Anywhere.

Activate exists to create a better future, for all. In service of this purpose, we are building a foundation of equity and inclusivity across our business, including our operations, our fellowship, our partnerships, and our brand.

Position Summary

Activate is looking for a Managing Director to mentor a community of Activate Fellows in the Houston area by serving as their primary advisor. This role will drive key fellowship programmatic efforts and connect the Houston community of fellows with resources, support, and each other to enable their entrepreneurial success. This role will be responsible for designing and deploying customized program elements to best leverage the local ecosystem and for representing the Houston fellow community to the larger Activate Global team and external stakeholders across academia, industry, finance, and government.

The Managing Director will report to the Executive Managing Director and build and lead a programmatic team focused on supporting the Houston fellow community. Join us as we work to create the world's leading entrepreneurial fellowship supporting the earlier stages of science entrepreneurship!

Primary Responsibilities

Serves as Managing Director and primary advisor for a cross-disciplinary community of entrepreneurial fellows.

Drives successful outcomes for each individual fellow, providing mentorship, support, network connectivity, and resources.

Oversees core elements of the fellowship, including review and selection of fellows, goal setting, advisory board formation, 1:1 mentorship, quarterly board meetings, and weekly educational programming.

Supports ongoing design and management of the program and organization.

Establishes and/or manages partnerships with research institutions and laboratory partners.

Builds collaborative, cross-functional relationships with staff and partners to ensure the program operates effectively and efficiently.

Represents Activate at an executive level with public- and private-sector stakeholders across the technology innovation ecosystem.

Engages with current and potential government and philanthropic sponsors.

Leads and develops their program team to provide best-in-class support to the fellows.

The Ideal Candidate…

Has an advanced degree in the physical or biological sciences and a minimum of 10 years experience in research, development, management, and commercialization of science-driven technologies, with entrepreneurial experience as the leader of a new company or business unit.

Has led high-performance technical teams and has demonstrated a commitment to nurturing talent through mentorship.

Has a strong network and reputation among stakeholders across the innovation ecosystem (academia, industry, finance, and government) and in the Houston area.

Strongly exhibits objectivity, empathy, and inclusiveness in leadership.

Is an excellent communicator and collaborator.

Can manage a complex, dynamic portfolio of projects and stakeholders.

Believes in the power of science innovation to combat climate change and create a sustainable, resilient, and equitable global economy.

Has debated the merits of venture capital as a source of funding for early-stage hard-technology companies and is supportive of a broad range of finance and business models for advancing hard-tech to market.

Would be excited to wake up each day asking the question, "what can I do to make our fellows successful?"

Our Team: Culture and Benefits

Activate's culture is built around the following values:

We put people first through mutual support, respect, and continuous improvement

We live in trust, acting with authenticity, integrity, and a presumption of good intention

We appreciate experimentation, using data to improve, and accepting that failure and discomfort are necessary for growth

We create value through connection and building community

We are guided by intention and are purpose-driven to improve society

This is a full-time position with a competitive salary and a comprehensive suite of benefit offerings. This position will be located in Houston (TX).

Encouraging Applications from All Backgrounds

We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to age, race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, or disability status. We will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics. Activate Global, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Activate empowers scientists to reinvent our world and address climate change by bringing their research to market. The Activate Fellowship provides the funding, technical support, networking, community, and time that these scientists need at the outset of their entrepreneurial journey. Our team brings a diversity of experience and a deep ...