Business Development Manager - Computational Social Science Lab - Penn Engineering

University Overview

The University of Pennsylvania, the largest private employer in Philadelphia, is a world-renowned leader in education, research, and innovation. This historic, Ivy League school consistently ranks among the top 10 universities in the annual U.S. News & World Report survey. Penn has 12 highly-regarded schools that provide opportunities for undergraduate, graduate and continuing education, all influenced by Penn’s distinctive interdisciplinary approach to scholarship and learning. As an employer Penn has been ranked nationally on many occasions with the most recent award from Forbes who named Penn one of America’s Best Large Employers in 2023.

Penn offers a unique working environment within the city of Philadelphia. The University is situated on a beautiful urban campus, with easy access to a range of educational, cultural, and recreational activities. With its historical significance and landmarks, lively cultural offerings, and wide variety of atmospheres, Philadelphia is the perfect place to call home for work and play.

The University offers a competitive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare and tuition benefits for employees and their families, generous retirement benefits, a wide variety of professional development opportunities, supportive work and family benefits, a wealth of health and wellness programs and resources, and much more.

Posted Job Title

Business Development Manager - Computational Social Science Lab - Penn Engineering

Job Profile Title

Manager Research Project B

Job Description Summary

The Computational Social Science Lab (CSSLab) at the University of Pennsylvania is a pioneering interdisciplinary research lab dedicated to applying computational methods and large-scale data to some of the most pressing challenges facing society. Founded and led by Duncan Watts, Stevens University Professor and Penn Integrates Knowledge Professor, the CSSLab is producing research and building tools with the potential to reshape how the public, policymakers, and institutions understand and engage with information, each other, and their communities.

The Business Development Manager will play a central role in bringing the CSSLab’s groundbreaking research into the world, translating academic innovation into real-world impact through strategic commercialization and partnership development. This is a rare opportunity to work at the intersection of cutting-edge computational social science, artificial intelligence, and public benefit, helping to ensure that transformative tools reach the organizations, institutions, and communities that need them most.

The CSSLab’s commercialization portfolio includes projects that directly address urgent societal needs:
The Media Bias Detector uses AI, machine learning, human-in-the-loop raters to track and classify the top news articles from major news publishers in almost real time, examining tone, partisan lean, topic selection, and fact usage at an unprecedented level of granularity. The tool offers a near real-time, high-stakes environment to observe and analyze how media outlets present and potentially skew the same news event, revealing editorial choices and publisher patterns, and providing a foundation for informed democratic participation.

The Deliberation Lab is an open-science platform that enables researchers to conduct large-scale experiments in small-group deliberation, the kind of structured conversation through which people learn from one another, build mutual respect, and solve collective problems. Kickstarted by the Templeton World Charity Foundation, this platform can run more experimental trials in a single afternoon than traditional conversation studies achieve in a year, systematically mapping what makes deliberation succeed or fail across different populations, topics, and demographic compositions. In a world of growing polarization and eroding civic discourse, the Deliberation Lab offers a science-backed path toward more productive dialogue and stronger democratic engagement.

NOMAD (Network for Open Mobility Analysis and Data) is an infrastructure project designed to democratize access to large-scale GPS mobility data and standardize the analytical tools necessary for human mobility science and epidemiology. By dismantling the barriers that currently limit researchers’ and policymakers’ ability to access and then use mobility data effectively, NOMAD advances equity, enabling research by smaller and diverse institutions globally, and supporting applications in historically data-poor regions. From pandemic response planning to urban design and public health, NOMAD has the potential to transform how societies understand the movement of people and use that intelligence to answer impactful research questions.

For Penn and its alumni network, the commercialization of these projects represents an extraordinary opportunity to demonstrate that world-class academic research can drive meaningful change beyond the university’s walls. Each partnership, licensing agreement, and market engagement this role develops will extend Penn’s reputation as a leader not just in research, but in translating knowledge into tools that serve the public good. This position offers the chance to be at the forefront of that mission, connecting Penn’s most innovative research with the partners, organizations, and communities positioned to amplify its impact.

Job Description

Job Responsibilities

The Business Development Manager (BDM) is responsible for driving the commercialization and market adoption of the CSSLab research efforts. The BDM develops and implements strategic business development plans in alignment with broader CSSLab and University goals, identifying and cultivating relationships with current and prospective partners across industry, policy, and research sectors. The BDM leads go-to-market strategy development and execution, manages the development of pitch materials, proposals, and RFP responses, and oversees sponsorship and outreach activities in collaboration with relevant university communications teams. The BDM works closely with CSSLab researchers, Penn's Center for Innovation, and the Office of General Counsel and other departments to develop sustainable partnerships and revenue streams through licensing agreements, sponsored research contracts, and data access partnerships. Additional responsibilities include maintaining a pipeline and tracking system for monitoring opportunities and timelines, managing stakeholder engagement, and synthesizing intelligence on emerging market trends to position the lab's tools competitively.​

• Develop, implement, and regularly review strategic business development plans; maintain a rolling pipeline and tracking system to monitor opportunities, forecast targets, and measure progress across all lab commercialization initiatives; and adjust strategies in response to new opportunities or shifts in the external environment.

• Identify and cultivate partnership opportunities; work with relevant partners and internal stakeholders to negotiate and complete licensing agreements, sponsored research contracts, and data access partnerships that generate sustainable revenue streams; and manage the compilation, development, and maintenance of relevant database contacts and mailing lists to support outreach efforts.

• Lead go-to-market strategy development and execution for the lab’s commercialization efforts, including building and maintaining target lists, conducting market and competitive research to identify high-value use cases and target segments, and developing pitch materials, proposals, and RFP responses for prospective partners.

• Lead efforts to identify relationships and build awareness of Lab research with relevant organizations and external groups; represent the lab at conferences, events, and meetings; and serve as a market-facing ambassador to mobilize commercialization efforts.

• Manage internal stakeholder development, coordination, and communication across university offices to align priorities and advance business development efforts; and participate in research and partnership meetings to help identify and pursue new business development opportunities with targets and existing relationships.

The Manager Research Project C will work with a greater degree of independence and autonomy in carrying out responsibilities.

Qualifications

Manager Research Project B: Bachelor's degree and 5 -7 years of experience in business development, technology commercialization, partnerships, or a related field or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Demonstrated experience developing and executing strategic plans and managing complex, multi-stakeholder relationships. Strong written and verbal communication skills, including experience developing pitch materials, proposals, and partnership agreements. Ability to work independently, exercise sound judgment, and manage multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously. Experience working within academic, research, or mission-driven organizations is a plus. Familiarity with licensing agreements, sponsored research contracts, or data access partnerships preferred. Knowledge of the media, policy, or technology sectors is desirable.

Manager Research Project C: Master's degree, MBA preferred, and 5 - 7 years of experience in business development, technology commercialization, partnerships, or a related field or an equivalent combination of education and experience. In addition to the qualifications listed above for the Manager Research Project B, must be self-directed with the ability to perform all duties with a high degree of independence and autonomy.

Job Location - City, State

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Department / School

School of Engineering and Applied Science

Pay Range

$66,000.00 - $105,000.00 Annual Rate

Salary offers are made based on the candidate’s qualifications, experience, skills, and education as they directly relate to the requirements of the position, and in alignment with salary ranges based on external market data for the job’s level. Internal organization and peer data at Penn are also considered.

Equal Opportunity Statement 

The University of Pennsylvania is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates are considered for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, creed, national origin (including shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics), citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status or any class protected under applicable federal, state or local law.

Special Requirements 
Background checks may be required after a conditional job offer is made. Consideration of the background check will be tailored to the requirements of the job.

University Benefits

• Health, Life, and Flexible Spending Accounts: Penn offers comprehensive medical, prescription, behavioral health, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits to protect you and your family’s health and welfare. You can also use flexible spending accounts to pay for eligible health care and dependent care expenses with pre-tax dollars.

• Tuition: Take advantage of Penn's exceptional tuition benefits. You, your spouse, and your dependent children can get tuition assistance here at Penn. Your dependent children are also eligible for tuition assistance at other institutions.

• Retirement: Penn offers generous retirement plans to help you save for your future. Penn’s Basic, Matching, and Supplemental retirement plans allow you to save for retirement on a pre-tax or Roth basis. Choose from a wide variety of investment options through TIAA and Vanguard.

• Time Away from Work: Penn provides you with a substantial amount of time away from work during the course of the year. This allows you to relax, take vacations, attend to personal affairs, recover from illness or injury, spend time with family—whatever your personal needs may be.

• Long-Term Care Insurance: In partnership with Genworth Financial, Penn offers faculty and staff (and your eligible family members) long-term care insurance to help you cover some of the costs of long-term care services received at home, in the community or in a nursing facility. If you apply when you’re newly hired, you won’t have to provide proof of good health or be subject to underwriting requirements. Eligible family members must always provide proof of good health and are subject to underwriting.

• Wellness and Work-life Resources: Penn is committed to supporting our faculty and staff as they balance the competing demands of work and personal life. That’s why we offer a wide variety of programs and resources to help you care for your health, your family, and your work-life balance.

• Professional and Personal Development: Penn provides an array of resources to help you advance yourself personally and professionally.

• University Resources: As a member of the Penn community, you have access to a wide range of University resources as well as cultural and recreational activities. Take advantage of the University’s libraries and athletic facilities, or visit our arboretum and art galleries. There’s always something going on at Penn, whether it’s a new exhibit at the Penn Museum, the latest music or theater presentation at the Annenberg Center, or the Penn Relays at Franklin Field to name just a few examples. As a member of the Penn community, you’re right in the middle of the excitement—and you and your family can enjoy many of these activities for free.

• Discounts and Special Services: From arts and entertainment to transportation and mortgages, you'll find great deals for University faculty and staff. Not only do Penn arts and cultural centers and museums offer free and discounted admission and memberships to faculty and staff. You can also enjoy substantial savings on other goods and services such as new cars from Ford and General Motors, cellular phone service plans, movie tickets, and admission to theme parks.

• Flexible Work Hours: Flexible work options offer creative approaches for completing work while promoting balance between work and personal commitments. These approaches involve use of non-traditional work hours, locations, and/or job structures.

• Penn Home Ownership Services: Penn offers a forgivable loan for eligible employees interested in buying a home or currently residing in West Philadelphia, which can be used for closing costs or home improvements.

• Adoption Assistance: Penn will reimburse eligible employees on qualified expenses in connection with the legal adoption of an eligible child, such as travel or court fees, for up to two adoptions in your household.

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To learn more, please visit: https://www.hr.upenn.edu/PennHR/benefits-pay