Director of Commercialization & Corporate Partnerships

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

Requirements

Candidates are not expected to meet every qualification below. However, successful candidates should bring a strong combination of relevant experience across several of these areas, demonstrating comparable depth and breadth in climate tech commercialization, corporate innovation, and/or market development.

• 8+ years of experience in climate tech commercialization, corporate open innovation, venture development, or enterprise sales in energy/industrial sectors
• Experience structuring pilots, JDAs, procurement deals, or similar commercial engagements between startups and enterprise buyers
• Established relationships or demonstrated ability to build networks with innovation leaders across clean energy corporates, electric utilities, OEMs, procurement agencies, or comparable organizations
• Strong understanding of technology adoption, market readiness, and the commercialization hurdles facing hardware solutions
• Experience working within or alongside accelerator/incubator ecosystems, venture capital platforms, or comparable innovation environments

We are interested in the overall combination and relevance of a candidate's experience rather than an exact match against every item above.

Required Skills & Abilities

• Strong dedication to New Energy Nexus's mission, with a demonstrated understanding of and alignment with organizational goals
• Experience in climate, clean energy, entrepreneurship, emerging technology scale-up
• Demonstrated experience in process mapping, developing and implementing policies and procedures, and streamlining workflows at an organizational level
• Proven track record of successfully managed programs from inception to completion and renewal
• Experience with budget management and development
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to proactively anticipate needs
• Team player with respect for others and ability to work independently
• Enthusiasm for and the ability to easily adapt to change
• Strong interpersonal skills, tolerance, flexibility and collaboration skills
• Ability to adapt in a fast-paced work environment, prioritize, multitask, and meet competing deadlines

Working at New Energy Nexus

Working at New Energy Nexus California is an opportunity to make a positive impact in the clean energy industry and be part of a supportive and forward-thinking community. It offers an innovative and collaborative work environment, fostering networking opportunities and providing diverse roles that allow for personal and professional growth.

This is a hybrid position based in the San Francisco Bay Area, with an expectation to work out of our Berkeley office a minimum of two designated days per week (Tuesdays and Thursdays), with additional in-person requirements as needed to fulfill the responsibilities above (such as in-person meetings with next-level partners and traveling to external events). Relocation assistance is not available for this role.

Benefits

Competitive compensation of $165-185K annually plus benefits including, medical, dental, vision, flexible paid time off, paid holidays and 401(k) with employer contribution.

To Apply, Timeline, and Process

Submit your resume and a cover letter describing your interest in the role and relevant experience that would lead to your success. Please treat the cover letter like a writing sample - i.e. as an opportunity to demonstrate your writing skills.

Applications will be reviewed and screened on a rolling basis starting October 1, 2026. The position will remain open until filled.

Qualified applicants will participate in 3-4 rounds of interviews. If you require accommodations during the interview process, please contact us with your request.

New Energy Nexus is an equal employment opportunity employer and does not discriminate against applicants or employees because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, citizenship status, disability status, genetic information, sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression of an otherwise qualified individual, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. New Energy Nexus hires and promotes individuals on the basis of their qualifications for the job to be filled. We strongly encourage diverse applicants to apply.