Executive Director, Regional Engagement

University of Notre Dame•Notre Dame, IN

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The University of Notre Dame is seeking a strategic operational leader to serve as Executive Director, Regional Engagement within the Office of AI Strategy and Regional Engagement. Reporting directly to the Associate Vice President for AI Strategy and Regional Engagement, the Executive Director heads the iNDustry Labs team and directs the University’s broader regional engagement initiatives, translating institutional strategy into measurable economic impact in the South Bend-Elkhart region. The role directs major economic development grant initiatives, advances artificial intelligence adoption and workforce readiness across local industries, manages the iNDustry Labs portfolio, and supports the physical and programmatic activation of Colfax Corner and the Tech and Talent District in Downtown South Bend. It builds partnerships across higher education, economic development organizations, industry, philanthropy, and government to advance regional economic growth and shared prosperity.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree.
At least 8 years of progressively responsible leadership experience in economic development, corporate partnerships, innovation ecosystems, or public-private consortium management.
Proven track record leading multidisciplinary teams and operationalizing complex strategic plans.
Executive presence and strong interpersonal, negotiation, and coalition-building skills across corporate, civic, academic, and government stakeholders.
Strong fiscal and operational acumen, including experience managing departmental budgets and project pipelines.

Nice To Haves

Experience managing complex multi-institutional public-private initiatives.
Demonstrated success developing, writing, or executing large-scale federal or state economic development grants.
Deep familiarity with the regional economy of the South Bend-Elkhart region.

Responsibilities

Set strategic direction and oversee iNDustry Labs team performance, including establishing annual goals and performance benchmarks.
Manage execution of the iNDustry Labs portfolio, including industry site visits, executive relationship management, regional talent placement, and student applied learning, with an emphasis on partnering with the academic core.
Oversee budgeting, staffing allocations, vendor contracts, and systems for tracking campus engagement and industry insights.
Build a collaborative team culture connecting regional industry needs with university talent, faculty expertise, and technological capabilities.
Identify and validate opportunities to leverage Notre Dame assets to advance economic vibrancy in the South Bend-Elkhart region.
Build and steward relationships with civic leaders, economic development organizations, nonprofit leaders, and foundation executives to align and act on regional priorities.
Conceptualize and champion initiatives that prepare local industries and the workforce for technological disruption and AI adoption.
Direct Notre Dame’s participation in major competitive federal, state, and foundation economic development opportunities.
Convene cross-sector public-private coalitions to develop competitive proposals, governance frameworks, and execution budgets.
Lead post-award grant implementation, including compliance, milestone tracking, reporting, and partner commitments.
Provide operational support for Notre Dame’s Downtown South Bend footprint and drive activation of Colfax Corner and the Tech and Talent District.
Collaborate with university leadership, developers, and corporate tenants to support business recruitment and economic activity.
Operationalize regional convenings, showcase events, and industry forums in Downtown South Bend to connect campus and community vitality.