CHIEF PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT OFFICER
Texas leads the country in its unprecedented commitment to catalyze discovery and progress in
preventing cancer and researching and developing innovative technologies to detect, treat, and cure
cancer. Created by the Texas Legislature and approved by two statewide votes in 2007 and 2019, the
Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) directs the state’s $6 billion cancer
initiative. To date, the agency has awarded more than $3.9 billion in grants to Texas research
institutions and organizations through its academic research, prevention, and product development
research programs, resulting in a significant increase in intellectual property and knowledge
related to cancer treatments, cures, and prevention best practices.

General Position Summary
The Chief Product Development Officer position manages the entire lifecycle of CPRIT’s product
development research program. The position requires considerable experience and familiarity in
biotechnology and commercialization sectors, which may include previous positions in venture
capital, device, diagnostic, or therapeutic firms, university commercialization offices, or related
entities. This is a results-driven individual with a commitment to the values of translational
research and product development for the benefit of the public.

The Chief Product Development Officer oversees CPRIT’s product development research portfolio,
including all aspects of strategy and planning, project management, investment risk analysis,
performance measurement, monitoring of grant recipients’ progress in meeting contractual
milestones, and developing CPRIT investment policies for consideration by the Oversight Committee.
The position is also responsible for managing the product development grant review process,
recruiting members of the expert review panels, negotiating proposed project budgets, goals, and
milestones, presenting the award recommendations, and communicating with grant applicants regarding
review panel decisions.

The Chief Product Development Officer reports directly to the Chief Executive Officer and advises
CPRIT’s Oversight Committee, a public sector governing board with members appointed by the Texas
governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the house of representatives, and implements
priorities established by the board. He or she works collaboratively with other program chiefs to
fulfill CPRIT’s mission.

The Chief Product Development Officer works under minimal supervision with extensive latitude for
the use of initiative and independent judgment. CPRIT currently offers teleworking as an option to
employees. Ideally, the Chief Product Development Officer will be located in
Houston, Dallas, or Austin, Texas, with frequent travel to these locations to as necessary.

Salary Range: $180,453 – $265,592/year

Closing Date: July 3, 2025

Experience and Education
Must have at least eight (8) years’ experience in any combination of the following areas: Business
development, product development, technology transfer, negotiating licensing deals, or related
experience. Biotech early-stage company experience, especially in the cancer field, preferred.

An advanced degree from an accredited four-year college or university with major course work in
finance, business administration, science, technology, or a related field is required.

Knowledge and Abilities
Extensive knowledge of science, life sciences, or medicine.

Willingness to champion and promote CPRIT’s portfolio of product development companies.

History of forming or working with early-stage biotech companies, corporate venture capital, big
pharma, or biotech family offices.

Experience in company strategic planning, especially in product development and commercialization.

Knowledge of the product development and regulatory processes, with an emphasis on technical
aspects and establishing milestones for funding.

Practice in developing commercial products, including identifying the optimum indication,
reimbursement, unmet need, pricing, and marketing research.

Proficiency in explaining complex subjects to both professional and nontechnical audiences and
comfort with managing diverse and conflicting opinions and input.

Familiarity with negotiating product licensing and/or corporate acquisition deals, executing
intellectual property agreements, identifying value inflection points, and equity interest matters.

Ability to conduct comprehensive evaluations; to comply with ethical standards and professional
codes of conduct; to communicate effectively both orally and in grammatically concise and precise
writing; to demonstrate attention to details and process; and to plan, assign, and/or supervise the
work of others.

Disposition for operating in a public-facing environment with exacting standards of disclosure,
accountability, and transparency.

EXAMPLES OF WORK PERFORMED
Develop annual programmatic and agency priorities under the direction of the Oversight Committee
and champions those priorities once adopted.

Articulate, support, and direct product development grant initiatives and support services in line
with the Institute’s strategic vision.

Manage the Institute’s product development operations, recommend and implement product development
program strategies, and advise on the allocation of Institute funding for product development
projects.

Oversee the product development grant review process, including recruiting members of the expert
review panels, negotiating proposed project budgets, goals, and milestones, presenting the award
recommendations for Oversight Committee consideration, and communicating with grant applicants
regarding review panel decisions.

Evaluate financial information including business plans, financial statements, and other associated
financial documents; report on the overall performance of the Institute’s product development
company award portfolio; and recommend corrective action as appropriate.

Develop and implement internal controls to monitor the product development grant award progress and
grant recipients’ use of Institute funds.

Work with CPRIT’s general counsel and other staff to negotiate intellectual property and revenue
sharing agreements with grant award recipients.

Engage in networking/public speaking opportunities to inform the state and national life science
community about the Institute’s product development priorities.

Application Instructions
If you meet the qualifications, complete and submit a State of Texas application online via the
WorkInTexas.com portal https://www.workintexas.com.

You may also mail a State of Texas application to Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of
Texas, Human Resources, P.O. Box 12097, Austin, Texas 78711. You may hand deliver or send by overnight delivery the State of Texas application to Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of
Texas, Human Resources, 1701 N. Congress Avenue, Ste. 6-127, Austin, Texas, 78701.

You may obtain a State of Texas application from https://cprit.texas.gov/about-us/employment-
opportunities/. CPRIT will accept a résumé only if you submit the résumé together with a complete
state of Texas application. CPRIT may disqualify incomplete applications at the agency’s
discretion. CPRIT will not accept faxed or emailed applications.

Additional Information
CPRIT is a non-smoking office; the agency is in the Capitol Complex of Austin, Texas. CPRIT is an
equal opportunity employer. You may find additional information regarding the
Institute’s history and operations on the agency’s website at https://cprit.texas.gov/