About CvilleBioHub

CvilleBioHub is a nonprofit organization building Charlottesville into a leading hub for life sciences innovation. We support early-stage biotech companies, connect industry and academic partners, and build the infrastructure, capital, and community a thriving biotech ecosystem needs. Through accelerator programming, mentorship, and strategic partnerships, we help founders turn scientific innovation into scalable, fundable ventures.

Position Overview

CvilleBioHub is seeking an entrepreneurial, execution-oriented VP of Commercialization to lead and scale our founder-facing programming. This is a high-impact leadership role for someone who has built or operated inside startups, thrives on project management and organizational rigor, and knows how to build the relationships that make an entrepreneurial ecosystem work. You'll own our advisory group, our accelerator and portfolio company support, and the partnerships that bring capital, mentorship, and opportunity to our founders.

The ideal candidate has walked in a founder's shoes, understands what it actually takes to build a company, and wants to help others do the same. Life sciences and biotech exposure is a strong plus, but we'll seriously consider top candidates from technology and other high-growth startup backgrounds who bring exceptional entrepreneurial and program leadership experience.

This role owns CvilleBioHub's entrepreneurship and advisory function end-to-end, including the EIR/advisory network and leads the advisory team who support it. On founder-facing events and programming, you'll shape content and topics in close collaboration with our events and programs team, who own execution and logistics. On sponsor and member partnerships, you'll contribute an entrepreneurship lens and collaborate closely, without owning those relationships directly.

Key Responsibilities

Commercialization Strategy & Program Leadership

Design, lead, and continuously sharpen CvilleBioHub's commercialization programming, BioAccelerator, EIR, and founder support.

Set the strategic direction for how we identify, support, and grow early-stage companies across the ecosystem.

Define and track success metrics for portfolio companies, advisory engagement, and program outcomes.

Bring your own startup experience to coaching founders through fundraising, go-to-market, hiring, and scaling.

Advisory Group Oversight

Recruit, onboard, and manage the Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EIR) and advisory network.

Match advisor expertise to founder and company needs for high-quality, consistent engagement.

Lead, and keep improving, the cadence of advisory touchpoints, office hours, and check-ins.

Build a scalable framework for growing the advisory bench alongside the portfolio.

Investor, Partners & Pipeline Development

Operate comfortably and credibly across investors, corporate innovation and industry leaders, and university/research partners, leveraging these relationships to create opportunities for portfolio companies and strengthen CvilleBioHub’s commercialization network.

Build and manage the startup pipeline, from sourcing companies through onboarding.

Represent CvilleBioHub externally as a credible, connected voice in the entrepreneurship and venture community.

Cultivate relationships that create real opportunity for portfolio companies, capital, customers, talent, visibility.

Collaborate with sponsor and member partnerships, making sure entrepreneurship priorities are represented.

Budget & Advisory Compensation Management

Manage the annual EIR and advisory compensation budget.

Report budget utilization to leadership on a regular cadence.

Program & Project Management

Bring strong project management discipline to multiple concurrent programs, timelines, and stakeholders.

Build and maintain the systems, CRM, tracking, and reporting that keep engagement, milestones, and outcomes visible.

Partner with the President and leadership team on board reporting, grant deliverables, and organizational strategy.

Manage and mentor staff supporting entrepreneurship programming, including oversight of the events and programs function.

Ecosystem & Community Leadership

Serve as a visible, trusted leader in the regional entrepreneurial and life sciences ecosystem.

Partner closely with the events and programs team on topics and content for founder-facing workshops and convenings (e.g., BioDiscovery Summit, BioSpark), they own execution and logistics.

Advance CvilleBioHub's mission to build a thriving, connected innovation economy in Central Virginia.

Qualifications

5+ years working directly in or with life sciences/medical innovation startups, as a founder, early operator, venture team member, or accelerator/program leader.

Proven excellence in project and program management across multiple workstreams.

Track record building and managing advisory, mentor, or partner networks.

Strong relationship-building and communication skills, with ease operating across founders, investors, and senior stakeholders.

Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree or equivalent startup/operating experience welcome.

Experience managing a budget and making compensation or vendor-rate decisions within approved parameters.

Life sciences, biotech, or healthcare exposure a strong plus.

Exceptional candidates from technology or other high-growth startup backgrounds are encouraged to apply, even without direct life sciences experience.

Who Should Apply

Life sciences professionals with entrepreneurial or startup experience seeking a leadership role in ecosystem development.

Leaders with strong project management and advisory chops who are excited to grow into a life sciences context.

What Success Looks Like

Founders and portfolio companies report strong, consistent, high-value outcomes (funding raised, jobs created, etc.).

The advisory group is well-matched, well-managed, and engaged.

The startup pipeline is healthy, well-tracked, and growing.

New partnerships translate into real capital, mentorship, and opportunity for founders.

CvilleBioHub is recognized as a premier destination for entrepreneurial support in the region.

Why Join CvilleBioHub

Lead and shape a growing commercialization program at a pivotal moment for the organization.

Work alongside founders, investors, and industry leaders across a dynamic regional ecosystem.

Bring your own startup experience full circle by helping the next generation of founders succeed.

Be part of a mission-driven organization building a thriving innovation economy in Central Virginia.

Pay: $130,000.00 - $150,000.00 per year

Benefits:

401(k)
Dental insurance
Flexible schedule
Flexible spending account
Health insurance
Health savings account
Life insurance
Paid time off

Education:

Bachelor's (Preferred)

Experience:

life sciences entrepreneurship: 5 years (Required)

Work Location: In person

Charlottesville BioHub jobs

VP of Commercialization

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