The Starts Principal executes on the international and market access strategy of the Medical Alley’s Starts program. This role is responsible for expanding Medical Alley’s global footprint through partnerships with international trade hubs, innovation agencies, and healthcare clusters—positioning Minnesota as a world-class destination for health tech market entry, investment, and innovation exchange. The Principal is responsible for designing and delivering economic trade and market access delegation visits—both public and private—connecting global companies, investors, and government stakeholders to the U.S. healthcare ecosystem.

The Starts Principal leads the programming of Medical Alley’s Innovation Garage, including sponsor-aligned learning and workshop series that create high-impact opportunities for education, collaboration, and innovation. This role is also responsible for curriculum design and delivery for the U.S. Market Access Accelerator program, along with related global programs, ensuring world-class execution for foreign startups entering the U.S. Healthcare market.

Global Platform Strategy & Expansion

• Lead the development and execution of Medical Alley’s global engagement strategy, strengthening partnerships with international trade organizations, accelerators, and innovation hubs.
• Develop and manage scalable global partnership frameworks that deliver measurable value for startups, partners, and the State of Minnesota.
• Drive international startup recruitment and ensure a high-quality experience across all global market access programs.
• Advance Medical Alley’s global brand visibility and position it as a preferred partner for health innovation and U.S. market entry.

Program Design, Delivery & Operations

• Design, manage, and continuously improve the U.S. Market Access Accelerator curriculum and delivery model, ensuring strong product-market fit and execution.
• Lead programming for the Innovation Garage and Medical Alley Academy, including sponsor-aligned workshops, learning series, and experiential programming.
• Plan and execute global programs and initiatives from concept through delivery, maintaining accountability for timelines, quality, and outcomes.
• Build and maintain a curated network of speakers, mentors, site visits, and cultural experiences to support accelerator cohorts and delegations.
• Implement structured program management processes, including SOWs, KPIs, and performance tracking, to ensure consistency and quality across global engagements.

Business Development & Revenue Accountability

• Drive business growth by prospecting, selling, closing, and delivering programs, products, and services that meet or exceed annual revenue targets.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with new and existing companies, partners, and sponsors to expand participation and long-term engagement.
• Manage all prospecting, partner, and client activity in HubSpot (CRM), ensuring accurate tracking of leads, contacts, and opportunities.
• Generate and present regular pipeline and performance reports, including conversion activity and progress toward revenue goals.
• Secure partner commitments through consistent follow-up and formal enrollment processes.

Ecosystem Development & International Relations

• Plan and execute international trade and market access delegations, overseeing itineraries, logistics, meetings, site visits, and hosted events.
• Build and maintain strategic relationships with global trade partners, foreign governments, academic institutions, and economic development agencies.
• Strengthen Minnesota’s ecosystem readiness to host global delegations through partnerships with consulting, academic, healthcare, and corporate stakeholders.
• Facilitate foreign direct investment (FDI) opportunities through Medical Alley’s market access programs.
• Expand program offerings to include services such as regulatory guidance, IP commercialization support, clinical trial access, and venture capital introductions.

Leadership & Collaboration

• Collaborate closely with internal teams to ensure alignment across Starts platform goals, organizational mission, and partner success.
• Serve as a primary global liaison across internal and external stakeholders to ensure seamless coordination and delivery.
• Contribute to a world-class innovation culture rooted in learning, inclusivity, accountability, and international collaboration.

Skills & Competencies

• Deep understanding of global health innovation ecosystems, startup acceleration, and international market access.
• Proven experience in program design, partnership development, and cross-cultural stakeholder engagement.
• Strong program management, curriculum development, and facilitation skills.
• Strategic, outcomes-driven thinker with the ability to represent Medical Alley globally with professionalism and cultural fluency.

Relationships Owned (CRM / HubSpot)

• Global Trade Hubs
• International Startups
• Economic Development Agencies
• Academic & Research Institutions | Sponsors
• Ecosystem Partners for Accelerator Visits

As part of a cohesive team, you may take on additional tasks that support our mission and shared goals.

Qualifications/Requirements:

• 5-7 years of professional experience in healthcare, economic development, or managing complex projects with varying deadlines.
• Must possess a high level of comfort and social skills to interact with individuals and groups, engaging at all levels of an organization, particularly at the C-suite level.
• Strong oral and written skills.
• Awareness and sensitivity to diverse cultures, foreign culture’s approach to business, ability to gain trust and manage confidential information.
• Lead from the front by taking initiative, paying close attention to detail, and committing to a delivery of service that is beyond expectations.
• Self-motivated with bias to action; accountability standards and personal/professional ethics.
• Strong interest in fields such as healthcare, biological sciences, medical devices, manufacturing, and/or digital health.
• Ability to effectively prioritize and manage multiple projects and deadlines with minimal supervision.
• Strategic thinker and continuous learner who demonstrates the willingness and ability to disseminate complex information.
• Ideal candidate will possess a drive to win, achieve goals, and accelerate the growth of the team.
• Experience in international business preferred.
• Foreign language skills preferred.
• MBA, MPH, or similar degree preferred.
• Grant writing, grant management skills desired.
• A valid passport is required.

Position Details

• Full-time, Exempt employee. This position is in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN. Hybrid schedule with required in-office days on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
• Competitive benefits package that includes medical, life and disability coverage with many optional programs, 401k, PTO program plus thirteen paid holidays.
• Must have reliable transportation. Flexibility to work weekends or evenings, as required.

Organizational Summary

Medical Alley has more than 800 partner organizations in the healthcare industry around the world, a network working to make this region The Epicenter of Health Innovation and Care®. Medical Alley does this by influencing policy at state and federal levels, delivering actionable intelligence that informs decision-making, connecting members to other industry professionals, providing resources, industry training, and knowledge. We are proud to have been named on of the 100 Best Companies to Work for by Minnesota Business Magazine and one of the Best Places to Work honorees by Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal.

At Medical Alley, diversity, equity and inclusion are at the core of who we are and who we represent. Our commitment to these values is unwavering – across all our work around the world. They are central to our mission and to our impact and support our vision to be The Epicenter of Health Innovation and Care®.

Medical Alley is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Reasonable accommodations will be made for qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and any other applicable federal, state, or local laws.

Please note: Medical Alley is not certified with the U.S. Department of Labor for immigration sponsorship.