Business Development Manager

Overview

Fraunhofer USA, Inc. is a non-profit organization affiliated with Europe's largest applied R&D organization. Fraunhofer USA bridges the gap between basic research and industry by facilitating applied research and development projects aiming to accelerate technology development resulting in faster market penetration. We work closely with our clients from academia, government and industry addressing opportunities to the mutual benefit of all stake holders involved. Fraunhofer USA's Center Midwest, located on the campus of the Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan, focuses on next generation materials for a variety of markets including automotive, energy, environment, and health. The Center's technology portfolio includes additive manufacturing, coatings, plasma sources, diamond materials and laser applications.

Fraunhofer USA Center Midwest is seeking a highly motivated, reliable and technically competent individual to join our team as a Business Development Manager. The Business Development Manager will have an integral role in advancing strategic goals such as establishing the Center, in combination with Fraunhofer USA as a whole, as a national Center of Excellence. You will be tasked to work with our current customer base to expand our partnerships and to identify new business opportunities with a focus on industry and government customers.

This is a salaried position offering benefits including health and dental insurance, paid vacation, life insurance and pension plan. The business core working hours are between 8:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. with an average working week of 40 hours. Project dependent work hours may be shifted outside of the core working hours.

Position Summary

The Business Development Manager is a strategic and outward-facing role responsible for driving industry engagement, technology transfer, and partnership development for a cutting-edge research center. As the interface between engineering/science teams and external clients, this individual will lead efforts to commercialize intellectual property, facilitate licensing and collaborative agreements, coordinate high-impact events, and serve as the first point of contact for industry and external inquiries. This role will also oversee the center's marketing and outreach efforts, including generating technical marketing content, identifying outreach platforms, and organizing events to strengthen industry engagement. In additional, the manager will proactively pursue new clients and funding opportunities, identify and pre-negotiate technical and budget project scopes, and support proposal and quotation development. The ideal candidate is a dynamic communicator with experience in technology-to-market transitions, strong familiarity with advanced diamond materials, thin film coatings, additive manufacturing, and/or laser process technologies, and a strong grasp of both scientific innovation and business development.

Key Responsibilities

Business Development & Industry Engagement

• Serve as the initial point of contact for external industry inquiries and partnership opportunities.
• Analyze market trends and organizations of relevance to our core competencies.
• Develop commercialization strategies for a diverse portfolio of IP (e.g., diamond materials; thin film coatings, additive manufacturing and laser process technology)
• Cultivate relationships with industry stakeholders, startups, and prospective partners.
• Lead efforts to transition technologies from laboratory to market, in close coordination with Center PIs and MSU Foundation.
• Represent CMW at conferences, exhibitions, and networking events.
• Identify opportunities for industrial collaboration and applied research engagement.
• Work with center principal investigators to prepare market-facing materials (e.g., slide decks, summaries) to support outreach and commercialization.

Event Planning & Outreach

• Plan, coordinate and execute Center participation in exhibitions, conferences, seminars, workshops, and open houses.
• Work collaboratively with Fraunhofer USA business development and marketing teams.
• Work collaboratively with faculty and staff to maximize event impact and visibility.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• B.S. in Business, Marketing, Integrated Business & Engineering Degree / Applied Engineering, or related fields or equivalent experience. MBA a plus.
• A minimum of 4 years of prior industry experience in Material Science, Chemical Engineering, Physics, Chemistry, Biotechnology or related engineering or science fields
• A minimum of 4 years of prior experience in technology commercialization, business development, corporate partnering, or business acceleration in a corporate or academic setting
• Skilled at forming and reviewing complex contracts
• Strong presentations skills, communicating complex technical and business objectives in a simple manner
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Motivated self-starter with excellent interpersonal and organizational skills
• Able to work independently, collaboratively and effectively with different technology groups
• Able to set priorities and adapt to changing needs as well as the flexibility to function well in a fast-paced environment
• Ability to work in an interdisciplinary, diverse, and international team

Preferred Qualifications

• B.S. in Material Science, Chemical Engineering, Physics, Chemistry, Biotechnology or related engineering or science fields.
• Proven experience in business development, tech transfer, or IP commercialization in a scientific or engineering setting.
• Strong negotiation skills and familiarity with licensing agreements.
• Background in event coordination or external engagement.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and interact effectively with academic, industry, and administrative partners.

Nice to Have

• Experience with research contracting or sponsored programs processes.
• Experience working with some of the following technology fields; additive manufacturing, coatings, plasma sources, diamond materials and laser applications.
• Experience with laser process technology such as welding and additive manufacturing
• Familiarity with university-affiliated commercialization ecosystems.
• Project management certification or equivalent experience.

Fraunhofer USA is an equal employment opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, gender, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, genetic information, military and veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other classification protected by applicable laws.

Candidates must be authorized to work in the U.S.