Director, Strategic Partnerships and External Relations, College of Information Science

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Strategic Partnerships and External Relations

Lead, develop, and execute the cultivation of strategic partnerships, managing external relationships in ways that are in line with the College's strategic plan, mission, and goals.

Lead in and engage new strategies for research and teaching program development (e.g., new programs with national labs, other governmental bodies, and businesses; building out new capstone ongoing projects or internship and employment pipelines; negotiate the use of corporate data sets for teaching and research purposes; coordinate grant proposals that work across faculty, students, and partners).

Garner support (i.e., financial and relational) for student projects, sponsorships, capstone experiences and data sets for instructional and research use.

Strategically manage negotiations, memoranda of understanding, and agreements with partners.

Develop a program for student support by engaging with alumni as well as communicating with students about opportunities that external partners provide.

Lead initiatives for college-level events related to strategic partnerships to enhance external visibility.

Produce and oversee funded memberships and meetings for the college advisory council (a board of appointed volunteers drawn from business, industry and governmental contexts).

Build strategy to maintain rapport with partners and to show value of partnership with the College of Information Science.

Conduct market research and feasibility studies to analyze the viability of alternative business development opportunities.

Collect, compile, verify, and analyze financial, competitive, sales, marketing, and other information about potential business partners; new markets, products and services; or other strategic business opportunities.

Develop, maintain, and provide strategic advice about College policies relative to partner engagement.

Communication and Management:

Develop, over time, a team (5-6 employees to include managers and supervisors) to form a partnerships office for the college and manage emerging issues tied to the development of that office.

Create and manage an annual budget for work relative to external partnerships.

Coordinate on- and off-campus visits or trips for the leadership team as needed.

Manage partner/sponsor satisfaction surveys when appropriate, including survey distribution, data analysis, and publication.

Prepare documents and materials (for example, reports, invitations, presentations, information packages) in coordination with the marketing and communications team for meetings and negotiations with potential business partners.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Comprehensive understanding of strategic partnership cultivation and external relations.
• Familiarity with academic research and teaching program development, including collaboration with national labs, governmental agencies, and businesses.
• Knowledge of project sponsorship, internship pipelines, and instructional resource acquisition.
• Expertise in contract negotiations, memoranda of understanding, and partnership agreements.
• Strong knowledge of event planning and engagement strategies for external visibility.
• Excellent relationship management and interpersonal skills to engage and maintain rapport with external partners, alumni, and advisory boards.
• Strong project management skills to oversee strategic initiatives, partnerships, and event planning.
• High-level negotiation and conflict resolution skills to manage agreements and contracts effectively.
• Analytical skills to collect, verify, and analyze financial, competitive, and market data.
• Ability to align external partnership strategies with the college's mission, vision, and goals.
• Capacity to innovate and engage in new strategies for research and teaching program development.
• Adaptability in managing emerging issues and evolving responsibilities tied to partnership development.

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent advanced learning attained through professional level experience required.
• Minimum of 7 years of related work experience, including 3 years of managerial experience, or equivalent combination of education and work experience.

• Experience in cultivating strategic partnerships with measurable outcomes, such as securing sponsorships, managing internship pipelines, or obtaining corporate data sets for academic use.
  
• Experience in leading research and teaching program development, including collaboration with national labs, government agencies, and businesses, as evidenced by the creation or enhancement of at least one program or initiative.
  
• Experience managing and negotiating contracts, memoranda of understanding, or partnership agreements, with a proven track record of successfully formalizing at least three significant agreements.
  
• Experience in market research and feasibility studies, with a history of providing actionable recommendations supported by data analysis for at least one strategic business development.
  
• Leadership experience in managing teams, with a record of successfully building and overseeing a team of at least five employees, including managers or supervisors.
  
• Budget management experience, including creating, maintaining, and overseeing budgets of at least $500,000 for programmatic or operational activities.
  
• Experience in stakeholder engagement and relationship management, with a measurable impact on partner satisfaction, as shown by maintaining or increasing partnership retention rates over a two-year period.
  
• Experience in producing professional communications and materials, such as reports, presentations, or marketing collateral, for external partner meetings and negotiations, with at least three examples of successful deliverables.
  
• Experience in designing and analyzing surveys for partner or sponsor feedback, with a history of at least one project where survey data informed strategic improvements.
  

A resume

A cover letter

In the designated additional document slot, please provide a sample proposal for a new idea. The proposal can be on any topic.