Senior Advisor, Research Strategy & Partnerships

Texas A&M University System•College Station, TX

7d•Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Advisor advances the Center’s research development, external funding, strategic partnership, fundraising, and commercialization objectives. The role develops major funding opportunities; coordinates center-level and industry-engaged proposals; builds relationships with public, industry, philanthropic, and private-capital stakeholders; and helps translate research capabilities into partnerships, commercialization pathways, and sustainable programs. The appointment is stage-gated, with continuation and level of effort reviewed at defined milestones. The position initially carries 30% effort, with the possibility of increasing to 50% or more based on demonstrated performance, achievement of agreed milestones, Center needs, funding availability, and University approval. The role supports faculty and researchers with funding strategy and proposal development, advances commercialization and innovation opportunities, contributes to the Center’s sustainability roadmap, and tracks performance and progress for Center leadership.

Requirements

Master’s degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Six years of related experience.
Ability to manage multiple complex priorities and work cooperatively with faculty, administrators, industry leaders, government stakeholders, and external partners.
Strong knowledge of research funding strategies, proposal development processes, sponsor expectations, and large-team proposal management.
Ability to translate scientific and engineering concepts into compelling sponsor, partner, and commercialization narratives.
Knowledge of partnership development, fundraising, private-capital or investor engagement, commercialization, technology transfer, and/or innovation ecosystem development.
Excellent oral and written communication, negotiation, relationship-management, organizational, and project-management skills.
Ability to work independently, exercise sound judgment, track measurable outcomes, and maintain confidentiality and professional standards.
Must comply with applicable state and federal laws and codes and Texas A&M University System and University policies, regulations, rules, and procedures.
Must perform tasks safely and comply with System and University safety requirements.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree in engineering, science, business, public policy, or a related field.
Master’s degree in Business Administration.
Five or more years of progressively responsible experience in research development, strategic partnerships, fundraising, business development, commercialization, or private-capital engagement.
Demonstrated success developing large, multidisciplinary, multi-institutional, or industry-engaged proposals for federal agencies, foundations, industry, or economic-development organizations.
Experience in biomanufacturing, industrial biotechnology, bioeconomy-related sectors, or another technology-intensive research and commercialization environment.
Experience with technology transfer, licensing, startup formation, innovation accelerators, venture capital or private investment networks, public-private partnerships, or economic-development initiatives.

Responsibilities

Identify, evaluate, and prioritize funding opportunities from federal, state, foundation, industry, and economic-development sources aligned with Center priorities.
Build and coordinate research teams for large, center-level, multi-investigator, multi-institutional, and industry-led funding opportunities.
Lead proposal-development planning, including solicitation analysis, timelines, compliance checklists, concept integration, reviews, and submission readiness.
Support proposal narrative development, synthesis, editing, and positioning to meet sponsor priorities and evaluation criteria.
Maintain a forward-looking pipeline of major funding opportunities and connect them with funded projects and institutional capabilities.
Develop and implement fundraising and partnership strategies that diversify funding sources and support long-term sustainability.
Establish relationships with industry, foundations, economic-development organizations, and private funding and investment sources.
Develop strategic partnerships and anchor relationships supporting research, sponsored programs, facilities, workforce development, fundraising, and Center growth.
Build and engage an advisory network of industry, commercialization, and external stakeholders.
Identify commercialization opportunities from Center and affiliated faculty research and assess technology-transfer, licensing, startup, and industry-collaboration pathways.
Coordinate with University innovation, technology-transfer, entrepreneurship, corporate-relations, and development resources.
Develop commercialization and technology-acceleration initiatives, including engagement with venture-capital, strategic-investor, and other private-capital communities.
Consult with faculty and researchers on funding strategies, sponsor alignment, partnership development, and proposal positioning.
Provide strategic guidance, document review, proposal management, and best-practice templates for major funding opportunities.
Facilitate connections among faculty, external collaborators, institutional leadership, and potential sponsors.
Support a long-term sustainability roadmap covering programs, partnerships, commercialization, workforce development, and recurring funding.
Position the Center as a focal point for advanced biomanufacturing and sustainability initiatives through outreach, stakeholder engagement, and sponsor or partner visits.
Maintain a performance dashboard covering opportunities, proposals, partnerships, commercialization, funding outcomes, and stage-gate deliverables; provide progress reports to Center leadership.