Connecticut Innovations
Senior Director Corporate Development
Connecticut Innovations, New Haven, Connecticut, us, 06540
Connecticut Innovations provided pay range
This range is provided by Connecticut Innovations. Your actual pay will be based on your skills and experience — talk with your recruiter to learn more.
Base pay range $170,000.00/yr - $200,000.00/yr
Direct message the job poster from Connecticut Innovations
QuantumCT is a public‑private partnership accelerating the adoption of quantum technologies in Connecticut and beyond. QuantumCT, the nonprofit organization that serves as the statewide coordinating body for advancing quantum technologies and convening industry and early‑stage innovators, academia, and the public sector. QuantumCT is the result of a landmark partnership between Yale University and the University of Connecticut that was launched in response to the National Science Foundation’s Regional Innovation Engines program. Yale and UConn are also working in partnership with the state to advance Connecticut’s quantum ecosystem. Home - QuantumCT
In March 2025, Albert Green was appointed Chief Executive Officer at QuantumCT.
Quantum Technology Market The United Nations has designated 2025 the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology, celebrating 100 years since the initial development of quantum mechanics. McKinsey research in 2025 illustrates quantum computing, quantum communication, and quantum sensing could together generate up to $97 billion in revenue worldwide by 2035.
Quantum computing could be worth $28 billion to $72 billion, quantum communication could be worth $11 billion to $15 billion, and quantum sensing could be worth $7 billion to $10 billion—for a total of as much as $97 billion.
McKinsey predicts that by 2040, the total QT market could reach $198 billion.
Quantum Technology will affect many industries; the chemicals, life sciences, financial services, and mobility industries will see the most growth. Private and public investors are increasingly confident that Quantum Technology start‑ups will generate measurable value; in 2024 investors poured nearly $2 billion into Quantum Technology start‑ups worldwide, a 50 percent increase compared to $1.3 billion in 2023.
Connecticut’s Investment in Quantum Technology In November 2025, Governor Lamont announced new investments in Connecticut’s quantum technology infrastructure, workforce, and research capacity – a keystone moment in the state’s plan to fully capitalize on the economic opportunities created by next‑generation technologies. The State of Connecticut pledged $121 million to QuantumCT. The funds will strengthen Connecticut’s already robust leadership in the emerging quantum economy by accelerating technology development, workforce training, and commercialization.
The investment will support the launch of the QuantumCT incubator, a fully functional deep‑tech hub in New Haven. This first‑of‑its‑kind facility will combine co‑working and lab space with engineering and materials characterization capabilities, quantum testbeds, and onsite technical expert.
UConn has embraced quantum research for decades and has added state‑of‑the‑art infrastructure to support its mission. In 2023, UConn opened major facilities aligned with quantum technologies, including the “Science 1” building on the main campus in Storrs. The facility offers highly advanced laboratories, including clean room facilities, needed to advance quantum materials and applied quantum research.
Yale is investing in a new science and engineering complex to support initiatives in quantum science, engineering and materials research, instrumentation development, and the Yale Quantum Institute. The Upper Science Hill Development complex is one of the largest capital commitments in Yale’s history, totaling more than 600 000 gross square feet.
Senior Director, Corporate Development/Engagement QuantumCT is seeking a seasoned, strategic, and highly collaborative Senior Director of Corporate Development/Engagement to serve as the primary architect of the Engine’s industry‑facing activities and as the steward of its most important corporate relationships. This individual will lead all aspects of the Alliance for Innovation—QuantumCT’s signature platform for corporate participation—and will be responsible for ensuring that companies understand the value of engaging with the region’s emerging quantum ecosystem. The role requires someone who can comfortably navigate senior executive environments, translate complex needs into actionable pathways, and weave together the interests of industry, academia, startups, and government. The Senior Director of Corporate Development/Engagement will operate as QuantumCT’s ambassador to the corporate world.
Success in this role will be measured by the depth and quality of industry participation across the Engine; the growth and diversification of Alliance for Innovation membership; the number and strength of pilots, challenge problems, and collaborative research projects involving companies; and the degree to which industry partners become fully embedded in QuantumCT’s broader activities, from workforce development to translation to ecosystem building. Ultimately, the Senior Director of Corporate Engagement will play a pivotal role in shaping Connecticut’s— and the nation’s—quantum future by building the corporate alliances that make the Engine sustainable, impactful, and nationally competitive.
Build long‑term partnerships with industry leaders across Connecticut’s anchor sectors—defense, advanced manufacturing, pharmaceuticals and biotech, financial services and insurance—as well as with companies nationally and internationally that are exploring quantum and quantum‑adjacent technologies.
Cultivate and manage high‑trust relationships with senior executives—Chief Technology Officers, Chief Innovation Officers, research directors, digital transformation leaders, corporate venture teams, and other decision‑makers.
Work with external corporate partners to understand their strategic priorities and identify areas of alignment within the Connecticut innovation ecosystem and the broader regional ecosystem, and guide companies toward clear and productive engagement pathways (i.e., collaboration convenings, shaping challenge problems for use‑inspired research, co‑developing pilot projects with faculty, exploring translation opportunities through the Engine’s incubator and venture studio partners, or engaging with QuantumCT’s workforce programs to build talent pipelines).
Work closely with QuantumCT’s events and marketing staff to deliver convenings that are polished, compelling, and highly valuable to participants, and collaborate with the Senior Director of Technology Deployment to ensure that sessions involving technical pathways are accurate and well‑scoped.
Represent QuantumCT in a wide range of settings, from corporate leadership briefings and industry conferences to national innovation events and federal stakeholder meetings.
Required Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities
Polished executive presence, excellent communication skills, and the confidence to speak on behalf of a high‑profile, publicly funded initiative.
Able to explain the promise of quantum and quantum‑adjacent technologies in accessible terms and articulate the unique advantages of Connecticut’s ecosystem, including its dense concentration of early adopters, world‑class research institutions, testbed investments, strong state support, and expanding startup infrastructure.
Ability to understand corporate innovation cycles, risk, ROI, and pilot development—even without deep technical expertise.
Ability to lead collaboration convenings, workshops, challenge problems, and cross‑sector discussions.
Knowledge of and experience with the State/Federal government procurement process, including how contracts are awarded and what types of procurement methods are used.
Ability to operate in a fast‑moving, ambiguous environment.
Proactive, creative problem‑solver who can balance big‑picture strategy with hands‑on execution and who sees the value of connecting corporate innovation agendas with academic research excellence, startup dynamism, and regional workforce development.
Strategic thinking, assessment, and analytical skills: ability to link industry capabilities with market needs and trends to identify opportunities for innovations and collaborations.
Keen ability to build cross functional and interdisciplinary partnerships and connections with a diverse group of stakeholders.
Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills with demonstrated ability to express and convey complex ideas.
Ability to proactively identify potential challenges and make recommendations to solve them.
Keen ability to influence outside authority.
Collaborative, team‑oriented approach.
High degree of self‑motivation, energy, persistence, and follow‑through.
Excellent interpersonal, organizational, presentation, and communication skills.
A positive attitude with high standard of personal integrity and professionalism.
Required Education And/or Experience
Minimum of ten (10) years of experience in corporate partnerships, business development, innovation strategy, or a related field, ideally in sectors with emerging technology adoption.
Five (5) years of experience partnering with higher education on innovation and tech transfer opportunities.
Track record of building meaningful, high‑value relationships with senior corporate executives and will be comfortable with the ambiguity and fast pace inherent in a new organization that is building national‑scale capacity.
OPPORTUNITY QuantumCT is an equal opportunity employer and we do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, status as a veteran, and basis of disability or any other federal, state, or local protected class. We actively encourage candidates from broad, diverse backgrounds to apply.
Seniority level Director
Employment type Full‑time
Job function Business Development, Strategy/Planning, and Engineering
Referrals increase your chances of interviewing at Connecticut Innovations by 2x
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Base pay range $170,000.00/yr - $200,000.00/yr
Direct message the job poster from Connecticut Innovations
QuantumCT is a public‑private partnership accelerating the adoption of quantum technologies in Connecticut and beyond. QuantumCT, the nonprofit organization that serves as the statewide coordinating body for advancing quantum technologies and convening industry and early‑stage innovators, academia, and the public sector. QuantumCT is the result of a landmark partnership between Yale University and the University of Connecticut that was launched in response to the National Science Foundation’s Regional Innovation Engines program. Yale and UConn are also working in partnership with the state to advance Connecticut’s quantum ecosystem. Home - QuantumCT
In March 2025, Albert Green was appointed Chief Executive Officer at QuantumCT.
Quantum Technology Market The United Nations has designated 2025 the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology, celebrating 100 years since the initial development of quantum mechanics. McKinsey research in 2025 illustrates quantum computing, quantum communication, and quantum sensing could together generate up to $97 billion in revenue worldwide by 2035.
Quantum computing could be worth $28 billion to $72 billion, quantum communication could be worth $11 billion to $15 billion, and quantum sensing could be worth $7 billion to $10 billion—for a total of as much as $97 billion.
McKinsey predicts that by 2040, the total QT market could reach $198 billion.
Quantum Technology will affect many industries; the chemicals, life sciences, financial services, and mobility industries will see the most growth. Private and public investors are increasingly confident that Quantum Technology start‑ups will generate measurable value; in 2024 investors poured nearly $2 billion into Quantum Technology start‑ups worldwide, a 50 percent increase compared to $1.3 billion in 2023.
Connecticut’s Investment in Quantum Technology In November 2025, Governor Lamont announced new investments in Connecticut’s quantum technology infrastructure, workforce, and research capacity – a keystone moment in the state’s plan to fully capitalize on the economic opportunities created by next‑generation technologies. The State of Connecticut pledged $121 million to QuantumCT. The funds will strengthen Connecticut’s already robust leadership in the emerging quantum economy by accelerating technology development, workforce training, and commercialization.
The investment will support the launch of the QuantumCT incubator, a fully functional deep‑tech hub in New Haven. This first‑of‑its‑kind facility will combine co‑working and lab space with engineering and materials characterization capabilities, quantum testbeds, and onsite technical expert.
UConn has embraced quantum research for decades and has added state‑of‑the‑art infrastructure to support its mission. In 2023, UConn opened major facilities aligned with quantum technologies, including the “Science 1” building on the main campus in Storrs. The facility offers highly advanced laboratories, including clean room facilities, needed to advance quantum materials and applied quantum research.
Yale is investing in a new science and engineering complex to support initiatives in quantum science, engineering and materials research, instrumentation development, and the Yale Quantum Institute. The Upper Science Hill Development complex is one of the largest capital commitments in Yale’s history, totaling more than 600 000 gross square feet.
Senior Director, Corporate Development/Engagement QuantumCT is seeking a seasoned, strategic, and highly collaborative Senior Director of Corporate Development/Engagement to serve as the primary architect of the Engine’s industry‑facing activities and as the steward of its most important corporate relationships. This individual will lead all aspects of the Alliance for Innovation—QuantumCT’s signature platform for corporate participation—and will be responsible for ensuring that companies understand the value of engaging with the region’s emerging quantum ecosystem. The role requires someone who can comfortably navigate senior executive environments, translate complex needs into actionable pathways, and weave together the interests of industry, academia, startups, and government. The Senior Director of Corporate Development/Engagement will operate as QuantumCT’s ambassador to the corporate world.
Success in this role will be measured by the depth and quality of industry participation across the Engine; the growth and diversification of Alliance for Innovation membership; the number and strength of pilots, challenge problems, and collaborative research projects involving companies; and the degree to which industry partners become fully embedded in QuantumCT’s broader activities, from workforce development to translation to ecosystem building. Ultimately, the Senior Director of Corporate Engagement will play a pivotal role in shaping Connecticut’s— and the nation’s—quantum future by building the corporate alliances that make the Engine sustainable, impactful, and nationally competitive.
Build long‑term partnerships with industry leaders across Connecticut’s anchor sectors—defense, advanced manufacturing, pharmaceuticals and biotech, financial services and insurance—as well as with companies nationally and internationally that are exploring quantum and quantum‑adjacent technologies.
Cultivate and manage high‑trust relationships with senior executives—Chief Technology Officers, Chief Innovation Officers, research directors, digital transformation leaders, corporate venture teams, and other decision‑makers.
Work with external corporate partners to understand their strategic priorities and identify areas of alignment within the Connecticut innovation ecosystem and the broader regional ecosystem, and guide companies toward clear and productive engagement pathways (i.e., collaboration convenings, shaping challenge problems for use‑inspired research, co‑developing pilot projects with faculty, exploring translation opportunities through the Engine’s incubator and venture studio partners, or engaging with QuantumCT’s workforce programs to build talent pipelines).
Work closely with QuantumCT’s events and marketing staff to deliver convenings that are polished, compelling, and highly valuable to participants, and collaborate with the Senior Director of Technology Deployment to ensure that sessions involving technical pathways are accurate and well‑scoped.
Represent QuantumCT in a wide range of settings, from corporate leadership briefings and industry conferences to national innovation events and federal stakeholder meetings.
Required Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities
Polished executive presence, excellent communication skills, and the confidence to speak on behalf of a high‑profile, publicly funded initiative.
Able to explain the promise of quantum and quantum‑adjacent technologies in accessible terms and articulate the unique advantages of Connecticut’s ecosystem, including its dense concentration of early adopters, world‑class research institutions, testbed investments, strong state support, and expanding startup infrastructure.
Ability to understand corporate innovation cycles, risk, ROI, and pilot development—even without deep technical expertise.
Ability to lead collaboration convenings, workshops, challenge problems, and cross‑sector discussions.
Knowledge of and experience with the State/Federal government procurement process, including how contracts are awarded and what types of procurement methods are used.
Ability to operate in a fast‑moving, ambiguous environment.
Proactive, creative problem‑solver who can balance big‑picture strategy with hands‑on execution and who sees the value of connecting corporate innovation agendas with academic research excellence, startup dynamism, and regional workforce development.
Strategic thinking, assessment, and analytical skills: ability to link industry capabilities with market needs and trends to identify opportunities for innovations and collaborations.
Keen ability to build cross functional and interdisciplinary partnerships and connections with a diverse group of stakeholders.
Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills with demonstrated ability to express and convey complex ideas.
Ability to proactively identify potential challenges and make recommendations to solve them.
Keen ability to influence outside authority.
Collaborative, team‑oriented approach.
High degree of self‑motivation, energy, persistence, and follow‑through.
Excellent interpersonal, organizational, presentation, and communication skills.
A positive attitude with high standard of personal integrity and professionalism.
Required Education And/or Experience
Minimum of ten (10) years of experience in corporate partnerships, business development, innovation strategy, or a related field, ideally in sectors with emerging technology adoption.
Five (5) years of experience partnering with higher education on innovation and tech transfer opportunities.
Track record of building meaningful, high‑value relationships with senior corporate executives and will be comfortable with the ambiguity and fast pace inherent in a new organization that is building national‑scale capacity.
OPPORTUNITY QuantumCT is an equal opportunity employer and we do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, status as a veteran, and basis of disability or any other federal, state, or local protected class. We actively encourage candidates from broad, diverse backgrounds to apply.
Seniority level Director
Employment type Full‑time
Job function Business Development, Strategy/Planning, and Engineering
Referrals increase your chances of interviewing at Connecticut Innovations by 2x
#J-18808-Ljbffr