The Program Manager for Commercialization (Program Administrator II) holds primary responsibility for the execution of the Tulane Research Innovation and Creativity Summit (TRICS), a joint initiative between the Tulane University Innovation Institute (TUII) and the Office of Research. They serve as a key member of the Tulane University Innovation Institute (TUII), playing a central role in designing, executing, and continuously improving programs that advance innovation, entrepreneurship, and commercialization across Tulane University and the broader New Orleans ecosystem. TUII operates as a catalyst for translating research, ideas, and talent into real-world impact supporting the creation of startups, industry partnerships, and scalable solutions in sectors such as health, energy, and technology. The position reports to the Director of Commercialization Programs within the Robert L. Priddy Innovation Lab within the Institute. The Robert L. Priddy Innovation Lab is led by the Executive Director for Commercialization, who sets strategic direction for TRICS and all portfolio programs. This position assists in planning and executes all tasks related to this signature event, including venue scouting and assessment, vendor relations, administering TRICS-related councils and advisory committees, event promotion for abstract submissions and attendees, and identifying and securing industry sponsors for the event. This position also provides significant support to the Program Director in the Robert. L Priddy Innovation Lab within the Institute, providing execution assistance to other programs like Open MIC Night, PPOC, etc . as required. This position represents The Robert L. Priddy Innovation Lab, TUII, and the Office of Research at meetings, on committees, and other University/ student events to both internal and external constituencies as appropriate to the planning and execution of TRICS.

The role requires a systems-oriented operator who can balance program execution with systems thinking, understanding that TRICS is part of a broader pipeline that moves ideas from discovery to commercialization to startup creation. The Program Manager is responsible not only for delivering programs, but also for tracking outcomes, generating insights, and refining programming based on data and stakeholder feedback to strengthen TUII’s overall impact. In this capacity, the Program Manager will:

• Serve as a program owner and integrator, ensuring that TRICS contribute to TUII’s end-to-end commercialization and talent development goals
• Act as a connector across faculty, students, entrepreneurs, alumni, and community and industry partners, helping to build and sustain a vibrant innovation community
• Support the operational backbone of TUII, including program logistics, financial tracking, data management, and reporting for TRICS and other Robert L. Priddy Innovation Lab programs
Contribute to program storytelling, outreach, and visibility, reinforcing TUII’s role as Tulane’s “front door” for innovation and entrepreneurship

This role requires independent judgment, strong project management capabilities, and the ability to operate in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment. The ideal candidate is both highly organized and mission-driven and capable of executing complex programs while contributing to the broader vision of building a nationally recognized university-based innovation ecosystem.