Director of Commercialization & Corporate Partnerships

ABOUT NEW ENERGY NEXUS New Energy Nexus (NEX) is a not-for-profit organization that supports clean energy entrepreneurs with funds, services, and networks. Our vision is a 100% clean energy economy where innovation and communities thrive. As part of NEX’s global network, the New Energy Nexus California Chapter (NEX CA) is accelerating California’s clean energy transition by championing entrepreneurs, commercializing technologies, and co-designing strategies that scale innovation, build trust, and grow industries. With 20+ years of experience guiding entrepreneurs through the early stages of technology development into validation and scale-up, the NEX CA team focuses on the full lifecycle of entrepreneur support and technology commercialization. ABOUT THE ROLE & OPPORTUNITY NEX CA is seeking an experienced, market-driven leader to spearhead commercialization pathways across our long-standing portfolio of programs. These programs include CalSEED, which provides grant funding and wraparound services for the earliest-stage entrepreneurs; CalTestBed, which pairs startups with experts within universities and national labs to validate technologies; and PowerForward, which awards large grants to scale up battery manufacturing with partnerships for workforce development and community benefit. In total, these programs have supported 200 entrepreneurs across California over the past decade. The Director of Commercialization & Corporate Partnerships will lead the development of a new program offering within the California portfolio, focused on connecting startups with major customers that will accelerate their path to commercialization. The Director will lead the strategic mapping of clean energy sectors, and most critically, build high-value relationships and secure tangible engagement with “next-level partners” – including utilities, corporate off-takers, manufacturers, developers, and procurement agencies. They will oversee the design and execution of curated commercialization tracks that will include corporate clinics, reverse pitches, curated matchmaking, and demo days designed to drive pilots, joint development agreements, and commercial transactions. This is a pivotal point in the evolution of NEX CA programs as regulatory, market, and funding landscapes shift rapidly in the clean energy space. This role will help prepare clean energy entrepreneurs for the path ahead by connecting them with the customers and partners that will allow them to commercialize at scale. POSITION DETAILS Term: This is a limited-term position through June 2028 , with an opportunity for extension pending funding availability and programmatic need. Reporting Relationship: The Director will report to the Head of Programs and may oversee at least one direct report. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES Commercialization Program Development • Market mapping and partner outreach • Lead landscape analysis across major technical areas within the NEX CA startup portfolio to map target customer segments and off-taker challenges • Build and secure high-value relationships with “next-level partners,” including utilities, corporate off-takers, manufacturers, developers, and procurement agencies. • Conduct structured outreach and interviews with “next-level partners” (utilities, corporate engineering and venture units, OEMs) to assess need and interest in working with portfolio startups • Translate outreach insights into structured program tracks for startups and next-level partners • Curated partner and portfolio engagement • Oversee curation and content for program events, including corporate adoption clinics, industry roundtables, reverse pitches, and demo days • Match portfolio companies with corporate leads based on readiness levels and enterprise needs • Facilitate buyer roundtables and corporate clinics to prepare startups for commercial deal structures • Commercial pipeline and ecosystem facilitation • Track and measure commercial outcomes (pilots, commercial contracts, follow-on revenue) stemming from partner interactions • Serve as the primary thought partner for NEX CA programming that accelerates portfolio company commercialization across California and the U.S., including representing the organization at meetings, conferences, and other events Program Management • Oversee program execution, ensuring that deliverables owned by this role are met according to schedule and within budget • Oversee the development of tools, resources and network access that will increase impact for program beneficiaries • Manage relationships with deliverables-related contractors and vendors • Establish and maintain policies, procedures, and standards for programs within the role’s scope. • Monitor program performance against established metrics, analyze data, and implement corrective actions as needed • Ensure compliance with all applicable regulations, funding requirements, and organizational policies • Ensure quality of program reporting and completion in a timely manner to internal and external stakeholders • Prepare and submit timely, accurate, and high-quality program reports to internal and external stakeholders Team Leadership and Management • Set up and manage teams for new and developing programs, ensuring they are adequately resourced to successfully deliver program outcomes while fostering a collaborative and motivated team environment. • Recruit, hire, train, and supervise program staff who report to this position • Provide ongoing coaching, feedback, and professional development to program staff, including 1:1, goal setting, and performance evaluations, fostering a positive and productive work environment. • Promote staff development and professional growth opportunities • Address employee relations issues in accordance with HR policies and procedures RELEVANT EXPERIENCE Candidates are not expected to meet every qualification below. However, successful candidates should bring a strong combination of relevant experience across seve