Chief Innovation Officer

Texas A&M Innovation (TI)–the System-wide centralized office supporting inventors and commercializing innovations across The Texas A&M University System (TAMUS or A&M System)–invites applications and nominations for the role of Chief Innovation Officer (CINO). The A&M System is a powerhouse of research and innovation, and the CINO will shape and operationalize a bold vision that delivers on the A&M System’s aspirations for leadership in innovation and commercialization.

Few roles combine scale, momentum, and mission as powerfully as this one. As one of the largest systems of higher education in the nation, TAMUS operates on a level of impact that few institutions can match. Through a statewide network of 11 universities, a comprehensive health science center, eight state agencies, and two System-wide applied research campuses (Texas A&M-RELLIS and Texas A&M-Fort Worth), the System educates more than 157,000 students. Its $1.5 billion research enterprise fuels breakthroughs in engineering, agriculture, life sciences, energy, and national defense. With campuses and agencies stretching from the Gulf Coast to the Panhandle, the CINO can marshal a statewide network of investors, incubators, and corporate partners to turn breakthroughs—whether born in College Station, Corpus Christi, or Prairie View—into solutions that improve lives, create jobs, and strengthen Texas’s innovation economy. 

Reporting to the Vice Chancellor for Research for the A&M System, the CINO exercises leadership across all areas of the commercialization pathway, including invention disclosure, IP protection, licensing, startup formation, and industry and investor partnerships. The CINO will serve as a catalyst at a pivotal inflection point—Texas A&M Innovation has posted record patent output, a 25 percent surge in license agreements, and launched new and innovative funding mechanisms to advance early-stage technologies, yet this only scratches the surface of the A&M System’s commercialization potential. The next leader will translate this momentum into a self‑sustaining, best‑in‑class commercialization engine. The CINO will help broaden inventor engagement, accelerate the path from lab to market, raise the A&M System’s profile as a national innovation hub, provide visionary and data-driven leadership, and build a high‑impact team.

The successful candidate will be a proven leader at the intersection of commercialization and academic research. They should bring 10-15 years of hands-on experience transforming early discoveries into commercial success. Experience in a large, complex institution, especially a research-intensive university, is advantageous. The CINO must pair strong business acumen with the ability to excel at forging and sustaining relationships with a wide range of stakeholders—from boards and investors to inventors, faculty, and researchers—and unite them behind a shared vision of innovation. As a persuasive communicator and strategic thinker, the CINO will be adept at outlining clear, data-driven business plans and measurable milestones, ensuring continuous progress towards innovation and commercialization goals.

All inquiries, nominations, and applications should be directed in strict confidence electronically below. 

Andy Lee is leading this search with Raul Bernal and Madeline Fitzpatrick.