AgriNovus - Senior Director, Innovation

Senior Director, Innovation

Organization Overview

Agri Novus Indiana, an initiative of the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP), strengthens Indiana’s competitiveness by advancing one of the nation’s most dynamic agbioscience economies — where agriculture, food, biology and technology converge. Anchored by global industry leaders, research institutions and an expanding innovation community, Indiana is uniquely positioned to lead the next generation of growth across the bioeconomy. Agri Novus serves as coordination infrastructure for this ecosystem, aligning industry, research and capital to accelerate innovation, attract investment and expand economic opportunity across the state.

• Business Growth
• Entrepreneurial Acceleration
• Public Education + Awareness

Agri Novus Indiana is seeking a proven leader to join its team to accelerate commercial innovation and company creation. The ideal candidate is driven by a purpose to make a positive impact on the industry and has demonstrated ability leading innovation challenges, partnerships and creating new approaches to use technology to reimagine systems. As a member of the organization’s leadership team, you will also serve a critical role in building coalitions across industry, academia, capital providers, governments, non‑profits and donors to increase awareness of the need for agbioscience innovation and the positive momentum building across the state.

• Lead and execute the Agri Novus Innovation Challenge (Velocity), the organization’s flagship innovation accelerator and primary engine for engaging startups and founders. Work with industry leaders to identify the most emergent needs for innovation across the agbioscience economy and manage a challenge that helps startups and innovators develop technology‑driven solutions for the agbioscience economy.
• Manage the development of commissioned research projects aligned annually with Velocity, ensuring all are rooted in industry need and applied to shape industry‑advancing programs and projects.
• Assist the organization’s economic development projects that are in the start‑up stage in collaboration with partners across state and local government, industry, academia and non‑profit partners.
• Create and manage business‑case ROI tools quantifying the value Agri Novus can deliver through partnership and new engagements with companies, universities, investors and governmental entities.
• Identify and prioritize the opportunities for new agbioscience technologies and global industry trends.
• Support Agri Novus’ engagement with strategic investment initiatives, including Crossroads Health Ventures, as opportunities align with organizational priorities.
• Evaluate Agri Novus’ innovation programs to ensure they deliver measurable results and continuously refine strategies to maximize impact.
• Develop close relationships and alignment with key industry stakeholders, community partners and Agri Novus team members.
• Collaborate with fellow Central Indiana Corporate Partnership initiatives (Ascend Indiana, Bio crossroads, Conexus and TechPoint) to develop cross‑industry programs and engagement to fuel agbioscience innovation.
• Work as a member of the Agri Novus team to cultivate financial support from partners across industry, academia, government and charitable interests to fund innovation challenges and operations.
• Leverage and engage your external network to ensure innovators, companies and potential partners are aware of the agbioscience innovation in Indiana.

• BA/BS business degree or a related discipline
• Minimum 8+ years of experience in innovation, venture, startup, corporate innovation, economic development, or related high‑growth environments.
• Strong preference for additional experience raising venture capital, building a startup or leading innovation challenges.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to combine rigorous analysis and creative problem solving to translate ideas into actionable initiatives.
• Ability to translate vision into requirements and execute go‑to‑market programs and events.
• Entrepreneurial self‑starter with demonstrated ability to operate with…