External Partnerships Manager

UNC-Chapel Hill•Chapel Hill, NC

About The Position

The External Partnerships Manager builds and manages the School of Data and Information Sciences’ working relationships with industry, government, nonprofit, health, and peer academic organizations. Reporting to the Director of Cross-Sector Partnerships within the Office of Research, this position independently manages an assigned portfolio of relationships and carries out the school’s external engagement plan. The role researches and qualifies prospective partners, initiates outreach, conducts discovery and scoping conversations, and manages relationships through opportunity development, implementation, renewal, and stewardship. It serves as a bridge between external partners and SDIS, advancing opportunities through SDIS and UNC processes and coordinating with faculty, research and academic leadership, and relevant university offices. The manager ensures that agreements, commitments, and program requirements are appropriately addressed. The position also manages assigned partner-facing programs, employer relationships, and signature convenings. It administers the school’s engagement pipeline and CRM system as the authoritative record of external relationships, and uses pipeline intelligence to recommend priorities to the Director of CSP and strengthen partnership outcomes.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree.
Three or more years of relevant professional experience.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to manage multiple concurrent priorities independently.

Nice To Haves

Formal training or work experience in data science, information, library, health, technology, public sector, or civic sectors.
Knowledge of workforce, career development, and research funding trends.
Demonstrated ability to develop and manage external partnerships, conduct outreach and needs-assessment conversations, advance opportunities from initial engagement through implementation, and independently manage a portfolio of relationships.
Experience working in university, research, or industry environments, including sponsored research, industry agreements, employer relations, and academic-industry collaboration models such as internships, capstone projects, and practicums.
Experience developing industry-supported educational programs, recruiting sponsors or members for partnership programs, and designing and delivering industry-focused events, convenings, competitions, or professional development offerings.
Experience using CRM systems and familiarity with confidentiality, intellectual property, and data-use considerations in partnership and industry agreements.

Responsibilities

Build and manage working relationships with industry, government, nonprofit, health, and peer academic organizations.
Independently manage an assigned portfolio of relationships and carry out the school’s external engagement plan.
Research and qualify prospective partners and initiate outreach.
Conduct discovery and scoping conversations with prospective and current partners.
Manage relationships through opportunity development, implementation, renewal, and stewardship.
Advance opportunities through SDIS and UNC processes, coordinating with faculty, research and academic leadership, and relevant university offices.
Ensure agreements, commitments, and program requirements are addressed appropriately.
Manage assigned partner-facing programs, employer relationships, and signature convenings.
Administer the school’s engagement pipeline and CRM system as the authoritative record of external relationships.
Use pipeline intelligence to recommend priorities to the Director of CSP and strengthen partnership outcomes.