Executive Summary

A historic, $110 million gift from the Timashev Family Foundation to The Ohio State University will establish the Center for Software Innovation (CSI), expanding opportunities for students in entrepreneurship and advancing education in software innovation, product management, sales and marketing. The center will bring together the College of Engineering, Fisher College of Business, other colleges and partners. They will work creatively and in new ways, including through the creation of endowed professorships, cutting-edge academic offerings, and hands-on industry experience for students. The Center for Software Innovation aims to catalyze efforts across the region to create a hub for innovation, entrepreneurship and product development.

The Center for Software Innovation will maintain a fund to assist entrepreneurs in software innovation in incubating new ideas and ventures. In addition, the gift provides initial funding for housing the center.

The Executive Director of CSI (Executive Director), reporting to the Provost and Executive Vice-President of the University, is responsible for implementing strategies for carrying out the vision of the Center, overseeing its daily operations, fostering industry partnerships, expanding experiential learning opportunities, and supporting entrepreneurial activities, in collaboration with the software innovation incubator.

The Ohio State University

Founded in 1870 as a land-grant university, The Ohio State University is one of the nation’s finest higher education institutions, with annual research expenditures of over $1 billion. Ohio State’s Columbus campus sits within the nation’s 14th most populous city, which has been recognized not only as the fastest-growing city in the Midwest but also as an emerging hub for high-tech companies and a center for education, healthcare, and the arts. Over 67,700 students attend Ohio State’s main campus and regional campuses in Lima, Mansfield, Marion, and Newark, and the Agricultural Technical Institute co-located with the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center in Wooster. In addition to its regional importance, Ohio State has a national and global impact. Many graduates remain in Ohio, but alumni are found across the world. The Ohio State University boasts 600,000 living alumni, and its endowment stands at $7.0 billion.

The university has an astonishing intellectual range with 15 academic colleges and a wealth of disciplines. All the colleges are on the Columbus campus, which opens the possibility of working across units. The institution has enormous ambition; through its strategic planning efforts, Ohio State aspires to be the absolute model of a 21st-century land-grant university, enabling people from ordinary backgrounds to achieve the extraordinary. Students are exposed to a vast array of ideas, experiences, and cultures at Ohio State; inclusive excellence is a central tenet of the institution.

It might be expected that size would be an impediment to innovation at such a comprehensive institution. Not so at Ohio State. The university is serious about taking innovation in teaching and learning to scale and achieve institutional success through multi-disciplinary and cross-university collaboration and engagement.

Key Responsibilities

40% Provides leadership, coordination, development, and execution of the vision of the Center

30% Foster industry partnerships, expand experiential learning opportunities, and support entrepreneurial activities, in collaboration with the software innovation incubator. Coordinate with CSI faculty director(s) to support curriculum and research project development; support software innovation activities by CSI faculty, students and staff and the OSU community; Foster and support entrepreneurial activities; Grow internship and experiential learning opportunities

30% Oversee the Centers daily operations; set and implement the strategy for a sustainable, effective, well-funded center; recruit key staff, and build a dynamic administrative leadership team; Manage CSI space, facilities, and administrative/operational functions

Required Education and Experience Qualifications Preferred

• Master's degree, or equivalent combination of education and experience in software sales and marketing as either an engineer or manager in software sales, marketing, and innovation.

Qualifications Preferred

• 10+ years of experience in software innovation, preferably with experience in software sales and marketing and/or information technology
• Significant engagement experience with the university and startup communities
• Program management and leadership experience
• Demonstrated entrepreneurial mindset and accomplishments in building new ventures
• Demonstrated ability to foster external partnerships
• Ability to effectively work with multiple stakeholders to realize ambitious vision
• Experience in developing organizations, systems and staffing for newly established and/or growing enterprises
• Excellent oral and written communication, and sales and marketing skills

Columbus, Ohio

• Columbus is one of the fastest-growing major metropolitan areas in the country, with a vibrant blend of arts and culture; inspired culinary, fashion, music, and entertainment scenes; exciting collegiate and professional sports; and an open, entrepreneurial spirit. Its diverse population — 109 languages are represented — makes Columbus a microcosm of America.
• Ohio’s state capital is the 14th most populous city in the U.S. and second in the Midwest behind Chicago, larger than Charlotte, Seattle, Denver, Boston, Nashville, and Baltimore. The population of the greater Columbus metropolitan area is more than two million. At the same time, the cost of living in Columbus is 10 percent below the national average.
• Intelligent Community Forum named Columbus one of the seven most intelligent communities in the world. The city has more PhDs than the national average and the largest concentration in the Midwest, plus there are 56 college and university campuses within the Columbus region.
• Columbus is within 550 miles of nearly half the nation’s population. John Glenn Columbus International Airport, 10 minutes from downtown, offers more than 150 daily nonstop departures to 35 airports. During the work week, the average Columbus commute is just 23.3 minutes and can be significantly less. Learn more about Columbus.

Closing Statement

The Ohio State University is committed to building a diverse faculty and staff for employment and promotion to ensure the highest quality workforce, to reflect human diversity and to improve opportunities for underrepresented groups and women. The university embraces human diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity, affirmative action and eliminating discrimination. This commitment is both a moral imperative consistent with an intellectual community that celebrates individual differences and diversity, as well as a matter of law.

Discrimination against any individual based upon protected status, which is defined as age, ancestry, color, disability, gender identity or expression, genetic information, military status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status, is prohibited.

Applicants should submit the following:

1. A current and comprehensive curriculum vitae

2. A letter of interest describing why you are interested in the role of Executive Director, The Center for Software Innovation (CSI), why you are a good fit for the position based on your experience, why now is a good time for you to consider the opportunity, and an overview of your commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

All inquiries and nominations should be submitted to Kim Lambert at lambert.348@osu.edu. For priority consideration, please submit all application materials as soon as possible.