Director of Industry and Federal Partnerships - National Security institute

Penn State University•University Park, IL

1d•$72,300 - $137,280

About The Position

The Penn State National Security Institute (NSI) seeks an inaugural Director of Industry and Federal Partnerships to advance its external engagement strategy. The role develops and manages relationships with industry, federal sponsors, and other strategic partners that support Penn State's research and outreach missions. It connects external stakeholders with Penn State faculty, capabilities, facilities, and programs to expand sponsored research, translational opportunities, and strategic partnerships in national and economic security. Reporting to the NSI Director, the position develops and executes engagement strategies across the University; represents NSI at conferences, meetings, workshops, site visits, and hosted events; communicates Penn State's research strengths and institute accomplishments to external audiences; and conducts market research and environmental scanning to identify opportunities for collaboration and growth. The Director works with Government and Community Relations, Federal Agency Relations, Corporate Engagement, Sponsored Programs, academic colleges, and research institutes to coordinate outreach and steward external relationships. The role uses AI-enabled tools appropriately to support market intelligence, research trend analysis, communications, and planning. The Director is expected to apply professional judgment to validate information, confirm data accuracy, assess source quality, and support reliable decision-making. The position requires work with Controlled Unclassified Information and may involve export-controlled or other sensitive information. The successful candidate must satisfy and maintain applicable Penn State, sponsor, and project-specific information-access requirements. Depending on project, sponsor, or regulatory requirements, the role may be restricted to U.S. persons. Employment is contingent on required background checks and any additional role-specific verifications. The position is funded for one year; continuation beyond that period depends on university need, performance, and/or funding availability. The position may be filled at either the Industry Relations Coordinator - Advanced Professional level, requiring a bachelor's degree and three or more years of relevant experience or equivalent, or the Industry Relations Coordinator - Senior Professional level, requiring a master's degree and six or more years of relevant experience or equivalent. No certifications are required. The salary range across possible grades is $72,300 to $137,280.

Requirements

For the Advanced Professional level: bachelor's degree and at least 3 years of relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
For the Senior Professional level: master's degree and at least 6 years of relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Ability to satisfy and maintain Penn State, sponsor, and project-specific requirements for accessing, handling, safeguarding, and protecting Controlled Unclassified Information and other sensitive information as applicable.
Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S.; Penn State does not sponsor or take over sponsorship of a staff employment visa.
Successful completion of required background checks and any additional role-specific verifications.
Ability to build strategic relationships and translate research or technical capabilities into partnership opportunities.
Strong presentation, public speaking, networking, written, and verbal communication skills.
Ability to conduct market research, benchmarking, and environmental scanning.
Ability to use AI-enabled tools effectively and responsibly, validate AI-assisted outputs, assess source quality, and ensure factual accuracy.
Required certifications: none.

Nice To Haves

Experience in industry relations, sponsor engagement, research development, or partnership cultivation within higher education, research, government, nonprofit, or technology-focused organizations.
Experience engaging with defense research organizations, military or national security stakeholders, industry partners, research consortia, or companies in national security-related sectors.
Experience representing an organization through conferences, workshops, exhibitions, and external engagement activities.
Experience conducting market research, benchmarking, or environmental scanning.

Responsibilities

Identify, evaluate, and manage relationships with industry, federal sponsors, and other research partners to advance NSI priorities.
Connect prospective sponsors with Penn State expertise, facilities, and capabilities, and advise faculty and staff on industry engagement and sponsored research opportunities.
Plan and participate in conferences, workshops, roundtables, site visits, exhibitions, university days, and other events that increase NSI visibility and strengthen partner relationships.
Develop presentations, briefing materials, and partner-facing communications with relevant University offices to communicate research strengths, facilities, accomplishments, and translational impact.
Support follow-up activities that foster long-term external engagement.
Develop and maintain information about faculty expertise, facilities, programs, and resources relevant to NSI priorities.
Facilitate connections between external needs and appropriate University capabilities and advise on effective engagement pathways.
Monitor sponsor priorities, technology trends, market developments, and peer activities to identify strategic opportunities.
Support responses to requests for information, evaluate proposal opportunities, and use AI-enabled tools when appropriate for research, planning, and opportunity assessment while independently validating findings.
Maintain metrics related to partnerships, sponsored research activity, and engagement outcomes for planning and reporting.
Coordinate outreach and share information across Penn State units to strengthen institutional partner stewardship.
Represent NSI and communicate Penn State's research strengths and institute accomplishments to external audiences.