Director of Corporate Partnerships
About The Position
The Director of Corporate Partnerships leads university-wide strategy to research, identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward corporate partners in support of Rice University’s institutional priorities. This role develops high-level partnerships that generate philanthropic and strategic support, positioning Rice as a premier research, innovation, and talent partner, while providing strategic guidance, cross-campus coordination , and oversight of corporate partnership and engagement efforts. The ideal candidate is a strategic relationship builder who can translate academic excellence into compelling partnership opportunities for corporations. They are comfortable engaging senior leaders, faculty, and external executives, and can manage complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives. The candidate also provides leadership and mentorship to Corporate Relations Officers, guiding the execution of strategic engagement plans and ensuring alignment with institutional priorities.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree
- Four or more (4+) years of experience in fundraising, corporate relations, business development, or strategic external engagement
- Ability to develop and execute strategic engagement plans
- Advanced problem-solving and analytical skills
- Strong verbal and written communication skills, including proposal development
- Ability to manage multiple high-priority projects and deadlines simultaneously
- Strong organizational and time management skills
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office and fundraising/prospect management systems
- Strong data analysis and reporting skills
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively across diverse stakeholder groups
- Demonstrated experience with fundraising or external partnership development in higher education or a comparable environment
- Strong client service orientation and attention to detail, with the ability to quickly understand and remember details about alumni, donors, and assigned projects
Nice To Haves
- Master’s degree or advanced degree in business, public administration, communications, or a related discipline
- Demonstrated success in securing substantive philanthropic support from corporations
- Experience cultivating relationships with senior corporate executives
Responsibilities
- Develops and manages comprehensive strategies for corporate engagement aligned with institutional priorities
- Provides strategic leadership to a team of Corporate Relations Officers, providing mentorship, guidance, and oversight
- Cultivates, solicits, and stewards a portfolio of high-level prospects, including research, strategy development, meetings, and proposal preparation
- Builds and maintains productive relationships with faculty, deans, and school-based development officers to align funding opportunities with academic priorities
- Organizes events, meetings, and campus visits for corporate representatives, faculty, and staff
- Oversees the creation of written communication for internal and external audiences, including proposals, letters of inquiry, and reports
- Assists with university-wide coordination and communication regarding corporate engagement
- Performs all other duties as assigned
- Contributes to development of internal processes and tools that support corporate engagement across campus
- Supports stewardship efforts including reports, impact communications, and ongoing relationship management
- Represents Rice University at external meetings, conferences, and industry events to advance corporate partnerships
- May supervise staff or student workers
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Director
Number of Employees
501-1,000 employees
