Business Engagement Officer

University of Wisconsin Madison•Madison, WI

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Business Engagement Officer reports to the Director of the Office of Corporate Relations in the College of Engineering at UW-Madison. The role leads existing and prospective interactions with industry and national and international laboratory partners, and executes business development strategies for selected College of Engineering consortia, institutes, and centers to support their growth and sustainability. The position also develops partnerships between national and international laboratories and College of Engineering departments and faculty. The officer leads and manages industrial consortia and national laboratory collaborations connected to UW research, including strategy, communications, event planning, member engagement, and recruiting. The role monitors portfolio activity and market share, evaluates strategies, recommends program enhancements, and proposes and implements operational policies and procedures. It also plans and directs staff in delivering outreach events, programs, communications, and research activities. The position is hybrid after an initial three-month training period that requires five days per week onsite. After training, the anticipated schedule allows up to two remote days per week and three onsite days. The position requires continuous eligibility to work in the United States; employer sponsorship is not available for F-1 OPT STEM Extensions.

Requirements

Proven track record of driving cross-functional initiatives and influencing multidisciplinary teams without direct authority to deliver high-impact results.
Experience crafting and delivering clear presentations to leadership, advisory boards, faculty, or external stakeholders.
Professional experience identifying, developing, or expanding corporate partnerships, joint initiatives, or revenue-generating opportunities.
Bachelor’s degree in engineering or business.
Continuous eligibility to work in the United States on or before the effective date of appointment; employer sponsorship is not available for F-1 OPT STEM Extensions.

Nice To Haves

Demonstrated experience taking complex programs or projects from concept through execution in a dynamic, fast-paced setting.
Significant experience networking, cultivating, and maintaining critical internal and external partnerships to support business objectives.
Considerable problem-solving skills and the ability to quickly learn complex, unfamiliar domains, synthesize incomplete information, and execute effective solutions.
Degrees in both engineering and business; MS or MBA.
Energetic, action-oriented approach; ability to influence without direct authority; demonstrated history of driving results; ability to develop broad networks and contacts; excellent verbal and written communication; comfort speaking in groups and large forums; ability to negotiate, persuade, and influence; willingness to learn without complete prior knowledge.

Responsibilities

Lead existing and prospective interactions with industry and national and international laboratory partners.
Execute business development strategies for selected College of Engineering consortia, institutes, and centers to support growth and sustainability.
Develop partnerships between national and international laboratories and College of Engineering departments and faculty.
Lead and manage industrial consortia and national laboratory collaborations connected to UW research, including strategy, communications, event planning, membership engagement, and member recruiting.
Evaluate existing strategies and recommend program enhancements to unit leadership.
Identify, propose, and implement new or revised unit operational policies and procedures.
Monitor portfolio activity and market share, and share updates with leadership and appropriate entities.
Plan and direct staff implementation of business outreach events, programs, communications, and research activities.