Commercialization Manager, Beck Venture Center

Engineering a world of possibilities

This role shapes how ideas move forward at Mines.

As Commercialization Manager, you will help determine which technologies become startups, how founding teams come together, and how early companies access the capital they need to get off the ground. You are helping convert research into real companies and real impact, while building the connective tissue between discovery, entrepreneurship, and investment at one of the nation’s leading STEM institutions.

If you love structure, clarity, and momentum and if you enjoy being the person who makes complex systems actually produce outcomes, this role sits at the center of something powerful.

The Commercialization Manager is a core operating role at the Beck Venture Center, responsible for running the front end of the commercialization pipeline at Colorado School of Mines and helping translate the strongest opportunities into new startup companies.

This role owns the systems, processes, and coordination required to identify which ideas and technologies have real commercial potential, ensure that time, capital, and IP resources are deployed thoughtfully, and support the transition from validated idea to formed startup. The Commercialization Manager sits at the intersection of faculty, Technology Scouts, investors, entrepreneurs, and internal Mines partners, turning a steady flow of raw ideas into clear commercialization and company-formation decisions.

This is not a traditional tech transfer licensing role. It is a business analysis, prioritization, and execution role focused on early signal detection, structured evaluation, disciplined follow-through, and startup launch readiness.

Responsibilities:

Idea Intake & Portfolio Management

• Manage the Idea Bank, Beck’s centralized database for capturing and tracking early-stage ideas from faculty, Technology Scouts, and the broader Mines community
• Ensure consistent, high-quality intake of ideas, including basic market context, technical readiness, and commercialization hypotheses
• Maintain visibility into the full portfolio of ideas under consideration, from first capture through startup formation or other downstream outcomes

Technology Scout Coordination

• Coordinate and support up to seven part-time faculty Technology Scouts
• Provide clear processes, tools, and expectations to help Scouts identify, document, and advance promising ideas in their domains
• Organize regular check-ins and structured review sessions to keep idea flow active and aligned

Commercial Review & Ecosystem Engagement

• Organize and facilitate regular idea review sessions with Technology Scouts, investors, entrepreneurs, faculty experts, and other partners
• Help synthesize feedback and surface clear recommendations around next steps, prioritization, and resource allocation
• Track and manage Beck’s informal network of investors, entrepreneurs, and domain experts who contribute to commercialization evaluation

Startup Formation & Early Company Support

• Support the startup formation process for technologies selected for commercialization
• Help match scientists and Mines-owned IP with appropriate entrepreneurs, founding executives, and early investors
• Coordinate with internal and external partners to support corporate formation, early capital structuring, and initial ownership considerations
• Assist new startups in identifying and accessing relevant non-dilutive funding, including grants and government programs
• Help connect early-stage companies to venture capital, strategic investors, and other funding sources as they become investor-ready
• Ensure startup formation activities remain aligned with IP strategy, institutional priorities, and long-term commercialization goals

Systems, Tools & Process Ownership

• Serve as system administrator and internal expert for the software platforms used to manage the Idea Bank and Beck’s expert and investor networks
• Continuously improve commercialization and startup-formation workflows, documentation standards, and review cadence
• Ensure that information is accurate, current, and accessible to authorized stakeholders

IP Timeline & Decision Support

• Maintain close awareness of IP-related timelines tied to disclosures, patents, and licenses
• Flag upcoming deadlines and decision points to ensure commercialization and startup priorities are addressed in a timely and informed manner
• Support leadership in making disciplined, data-informed choices about where to invest limited patenting and commercialization resources

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Technology, Engineering, or a closely related field
• Exceptional attention to detail without losing sight of the bigger picture
• A systems mindset and a genuine love of clean processes that actually work
• Proven ability to coordinate smart, busy stakeholders in complex environments

Preferred Qualifications:

• Five or more years of experience in venture capital, finance, technology transfer, startup operations, or a closely related field
• Hands-on exposure to startups or early-stage companies
• A track record of operating effectively inside higher education, government, or other large, complex organizations

About Mines & Golden, CO 

When the world looks for answers, the world looks to Mines. 

Colorado School of Mines is a top-ranked public university solving the grand challenges facing our society, particularly those related to the Earth, energy and the environment. Founded in 1874 with specialties in mining and metallurgy, Mines’ scope and mission have continually expanded to meet the needs of industry and society. Today, we are the No. 38 public university in the nation, recognized for our innovation and undergraduate teaching in science, technology engineering and math (U.S. News and World Report, 2023). 

Mines graduates are change makers, boundary breakers and problem solvers. Since our earliest days, a Mines education has been and continues to be a transformational opportunity, with one of the strongest returns on investment out there for talented STEM students of all backgrounds.  

At the same time, Mines faculty members are pushing their fields in new directions, whether that’s manufacturing, space resources, quantum engineering, carbon capture or more. Mines was recently classified as a R1 “Very High Activity” research institution by Carnegie, a notable feat for any university but particularly one of our size. 

Are you looking for an inspiring, mission-driven workplace where you can contribute to solving the world’s problems and educating the next generation of change makers? Are you an individual who values a diverse and inclusive community, where our different perspectives, experiences and cultures enrich the educational and work experience?  

Look to Mines. 

Annual Rate 

$77,000 to $88,000

Mines takes into consideration a combination of candidate’s education, training and experience as well as the position’s scope and complexity, the discretion and latitude required in the role, work location, and external market and internal value when determining a salary level for potential new employees. 

In addition to the amazing benefits mentioned below, Mines continues to show its dedication to its employees by offering an 11% employee contribution through our Mines Defined Contribution Plan and an incredible 12% employer contribution with immediate 100% vesting for our Administrative Faculty positions!

Colorado School of Mines offers a robust portfolio of benefits for all employees.

For this role, that includes: 

• Flexible health and dental care options 

• Generous sick/vacation time: 13 paid holidays per year – including a week-long winter break for entire campus. 

• Fully vested retirement plan on first day of employment, with generous employer contribution 

• Tuition benefits (6 credits per year for employees, 50 percent discount for dependents) 

• Free RTD Ecopass 

All Mines employees also have access to discount programs through the State of Colorado and free tickets for Mines Athletics home games, as well as access to the state-of-the-art Recreation Center (fitness classes and training, swimming pool and more) and equipment rentals through the Outdoor Rec Center. We are proud to have recently opened an on campus daycare center. For more details about benefits at Mines, visit mines.edu/human-resources/benefits. 

How to Apply 

Interested applicants should apply online as soon as possible but before Wednesday, April 1, 2026 . If you submit your application after this date, it may or may not be considered.  Applicants will be asked to complete an online application and upload a resume. References will not be collected or contacted until later in the selection process and the candidate will be informed before that contact is made.

Contact Dorie Gelber, Human Resources, at dorie.gelber@mines.edu with any questions about this opportunity. 

Additional Information and Reasonable Accommodation Requests
It is the intent of Mines to comply with the applicable requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act of 2008, and their implementation rules and regulations, in support of equal opportunities for qualified applicants with disabilities. To meet this goal, Mines will make reasonable accommodations during the employment selection process and within our working environment.

If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran, you may request a reasonable accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to access job openings or apply for a job on our site as a result of your disability. You can request a reasonable accommodation by contacting our Human Resources team at hr@mines.edu or 303.273.3250 for assistance.

Successful completion of a background investigation is required for this position.

Equal Opportunity

Colorado School of Mines is committed to equal opportunity for all persons. Mines does not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, gender (including gender identity and gender expression), ancestry, creed, marital status, race, ethnicity, religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, genetic information, veteran status or current military service. Further, Mines does not retaliate against community members for filing complaints regarding or implicating any of these protected statuses.

Mines’ commitment to nondiscrimination, equal opportunity and equal access is reflected in the administration of its policies, procedures, programs and activities and in its efforts to achieve a talented student body and workforce.

Through its policies, procedures and resources, Mines complies with federal law, Colorado state law, administrative regulations, executive orders and other legal requirements to prevent discrimination (including harassment or retaliation) within the Mines campus community and to address potential allegations of inequality or concerns for safety.

Colorado's premier engineering and applied science university for 150 years and counting