Partnership Development Strategist

Howard University

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Talent Acquisition department hires qualified candidates to fill positions which contribute to the overall strategic success of Howard University. Hiring staff “for fit” makes significant contributions to Howard University’s overall mission. At Howard University, we prioritize well-being and professional growth. We are searching for the Partnership Development Strategist that will support the development and advancement of strategic partnerships that align with Howard University’s institutional priorities in academics, research, workforce development, and community engagement. This position plays a key role in identifying, cultivating, and coordinating relationships with corporate and community partners that advance the university’s mission and expand opportunities for students, faculty, and institutional initiatives. The role translates institutional priorities into partnership opportunities, connects internal stakeholders with external organizations, and supports the development of collaborative initiatives that drive long-term engagement and impact. Working at the intersection of higher education, industry, and community engagement, the Partnership Development Strategist helps external partners navigate the university environment while supporting internal units in developing partnership-ready initiatives that may include workforce development programs, research collaborations, sponsorship opportunities, and philanthropic investment.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required
5-7 years of relevant professional experience in corporate partnerships, business development, university relations, community engagement, or a related field
Strong written and verbal communication skills
Experience preparing proposals, briefing materials, reports, or strategy documents
Demonstrated ability to manage multiple stakeholders and coordinate cross-functional initiatives.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree preferred
Experience in higher education partnership development
Experience in creation or supervision of workforce development initiatives
Experience with innovation ecosystems
Experience with public-private partnerships
Familiarity with CRM or partnership tracking platforms such as Salesforce or similar systems
Experience working with corporate philanthropy, sponsorships, or institutional advancement teams to support philanthropic engagement

Responsibilities

Support the development and implementation of corporate and community partnership strategies aligned with university priorities.
Research, identify, and qualify prospective partners across key sectors.
Develop tailored engagement strategies and partnership concepts aligned with institutional strengths and partner priorities.
Contribute to partnership growth pathways that support long-term engagement and institutional impact.
Provide guidance and oversight to partnership staff supporting corporate and community engagement initiatives.
Support the coordination of partnership-related projects and activities across the Office of Corporate Relations.
Assist in monitoring progress on partnership initiatives and ensuring alignment with strategic objectives.
Collaborate with academic units, research centers, and administrative offices to identify partnership-ready opportunities.
Translate university strengths, initiatives, and programmatic needs into external-facing partnership opportunities.
Maintain awareness of existing engagements to ensure coordination and avoid duplication across the institution.
Partner with academic leadership, deans, and faculty to identify opportunities to co-develop initiatives with corporate partners aligned with institutional academic strengths.
Support alignment between corporate workforce needs and university academic programs including certificates, executive education, and experiential learning opportunities.
Assist in developing industry-connected academic experiences such as corporate-sponsored courses, capstone projects, research collaborations, internships, apprenticeships, and residency programs.
Facilitate collaboration between corporate partners and academic units to design talent pipeline and student engagement initiatives.
Support cultivation and stewardship of corporate and community relationships.
Prepare briefing materials, partnership proposals, and background documentation for leadership engagement.
Track partnership activities, milestones, and outcomes to support relationship management and coordination.
Build and maintain a strategic pipeline of prospective corporate partners aligned with institutional priorities and emerging sectors.
Conduct industry research and market analysis to identify partnership opportunities.
Support the development of engagement pathways that transition prospective partners into sustained institutional partnerships.
Identify opportunities to connect corporate partners with university innovation assets including research centers, entrepreneurship programs, and technology commercialization initiatives.
Support engagement opportunities such as innovation challenges, industry collaborations, and research partnerships.
Assist in identifying partnership opportunities with multinational corporations aligned with the university’s academic and research strengths.
Collaborate with relevant university offices to align partnership opportunities with broader institutional initiatives.
Maintain accurate records of partnership activity in CRM or partnership tracking systems.
Support reporting on partnership engagement, metrics, and strategic progress.
Identify trends and opportunities for expanded collaboration or deeper partner engagement.