Program Director, Quantum Initiative

The Innovation Institute at the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative (MassTech) works closely with industry, academia, nonprofit, finance and entrepreneurs on building a vibrant ecosystem for technology and innovation in the Commonwealth.  One of the key priorities of the Innovation Institute is to support growth in the state’s quantum technology and innovation ecosystem.  The Innovation Institute has completed an assessment of the state’s quantum ecosystem, hosted the first Quantum Massachusetts Conference, and is making public investments in key quantum infrastructure intended to strengthen the state’s quantum sector. 

The Innovation Institute is currently leading the establishment of the Massachusetts Quantum Innovation Engine (MQIE); an economic development initiative intending to galvanize a transformative interdependent quantum ecosystem to secure the critically important US-based supply chain for quantum, unlock groundbreaking quantum applications with access to a world-leading open-source research community, develop a robust workforce pipeline to meet employer demands and to maintain US quantum supremacy in a competitive global market.  MassTech is pursuing key elements of the MQIE strategy while anticipating continuing to pursue federal funding to more aggressively scale these efforts. A 68 member Pioneer Valley Quantum Innovation Hub Consortium has been organized and a 12 members Advisory Council, launched in 2023, has been meeting quarterly, with affiliated working groups also developing technical requirements and a programmatic strategic plan for a quantum supply chain accelerator.

Role & Responsibilities

The Innovation Institute at MassTech is seeking a Program Director to oversee and support the full spectrum of the organization’s quantum ecosystem development activities.  The focus of these efforts is to further Massachusetts’ position as a global leader in emerging quantum markets and technologies.

The Innovation Institute Quantum Director will be responsible for furthering a statewide quantum ecosystem development strategy and for building and leading the centerpiece of this strategy – the Massachusetts Quantum Innovation Engine (MQIE), a Springfield-centered engine for growth in quantum.  The Director will work in partnership with Innovation Institute and MassTech leadership and staff, along with thought leaders across Massachusetts and New England to ensure the effective design and implementation of quantum programs, services and investments intended to strengthen and support growth in the region’s quantum ecosystem.

Partnership maintenance and growth are key priorities of this role; as such, the Director will mature existing and establish new relationships with research, traditional and non-traditional industry, education and workforce development, and the academic organizations to strengthen the region’s quantum technology and innovation.

The Director will occasionally travel to attend offsite meetings/meetings as required, often inaccessible by public transit

High Priority Skills and Experience

Strategy and Vision

• A proven leader adept at collaborating across industry, academia, and government to define long-term strategic vision and translate that vision into near-term execution across a networked organization structure.
• Passion for service and recognition of the urgency to establish the region as a global hub in the emerging quantum ecosystem.
• Understanding of the complexities of technology and innovation-based economic development, including, but not limited to research, dual-use pathways, commercialization, manufacturing and fabrication, talent and workforce development, public/private funding, and start-ups.

Knowledge and Experience

• Current knowledge of the national quantum ecosystem with experience working directly in the region; including an understanding of current business, technology, manufacturing and academic trends.
• Ability to assess and anticipate the impact of the broader macroeconomic outlook and emerging technology in the quantum industry ecosystem.
• Strong technical knowledge in the key technology area of Quantum Information Science and Engineering (QISE), including quantum sensing (sitting between quantum matter and device fabrication), photonics, and RF/microwave technologies.
• Familiarity with the federal landscape in quantum technologies with an awareness of federal acquisition regulations, policies, DFARS, and contract vehicles.
• Preferred to also have experience funding/managing external research or projects with academia, small to medium sized enterprises, and start-ups.
• Successful track record of federal grant proposal development and awards.
• Experience with technical membership trade associations preferred.

Management and Collaboration

• The Quantum Director will work in partnership with Mass Tech Collaborative personnel, including members of the cross-agency cluster development team, workforce development team, Northeast Microelectronics Coalition (NEMC) Hub program team along with MassTech legal, IT/Cybersecurity, and finance teams.
• Collaborate with key stakeholders to build a diverse talent pipeline that meets industry needs and increases access to jobs in quantum and quantum supporting technologies among populations historically underrepresented in the innovation economy.
• Identify and support efforts to ensure opportunities in the quantum sector are broadly inclusive of the state’s residents, with attention to both currently unrepresented populations and regions.
• Engage across ecosystem workstreams to identify opportunities for technical and programmatic support and synthesize that learning into actionable initiatives.
• Able to relate well to a broad base of stakeholders across industry, academia, and government in an open constructive manner that inspires collaboration and engenders mutual trust.
• Develop written communications, presentations, summary documents, talking points, stakeholder communications, project briefs and other materials as needed.
• Track and evaluate the programmatic and contractual metrics for the purpose of communicating impact and implementing future process improvements or targeted interventions.

Requirements

10+ years of professional experience in research, development and/or industry. A combination of working in academia, federal research labs, and industry and/or advance degree in science, engineering or business.

** PLEASE NOTE: THIS POSITION REQUIRES CANDIDATES TO BE ABLE TO WORK IN EITHER BOSTON OR WESTBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS AT LEAST TWO DAYS PER WEEK. THIS IS NOT A FULL-TIME REMOTE POSITION. **

Benefits

MassTech offers a hybrid work schedule and a competitive total rewards package.