Senior Advisor, Research Strategy & Partnerships

Texas A&M•College Station, TX

6d•Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Research Engineer I advances the Center’s research development, external funding, strategic partnership, fundraising, and commercialization objectives. The position 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 role is structured as a stage-gated appointment, with continuation and level of effort reviewed at defined milestones. The initial appointment is at 30% effort, with the opportunity to increase to 50% and potentially beyond based on demonstrated performance, achievement of agreed-upon milestones, evolving Center needs, funding availability, and University approval. The position is located on the Main Campus in College Station, Texas. The position supports the Center’s long-term sustainability and its role as a focal point for advanced biomanufacturing and sustainability initiatives. It works with faculty, researchers, institutional leadership, external collaborators, sponsors, and partners to advance funding, partnerships, and commercialization opportunities.

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 and 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.

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 federal, state, foundation, industry, and economic-development funding opportunities aligned with Center research and strategic 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 ensure responsiveness to sponsor priorities and evaluation criteria.
Maintain a forward-looking pipeline of major funding opportunities and coordinate connections to existing funded projects and institutional capabilities.
Develop and implement a fundraising and partnership strategy emphasizing diversified funding sources and long-term sustainability.
Establish relationships with industry, foundations, economic-development organizations, and private funding and investment sources, including venture-capital firms, corporate venture groups, family offices, and strategic investors.
Develop strategic partnerships and anchor relationships supporting collaborative research, sponsored programs, facilities, workforce development, private fundraising, and Center growth.
Build and engage an advisory network of industry, commercialization, and external stakeholders to inform strategic priorities and expand the Center’s reach.
Identify promising commercialization opportunities arising from Center and affiliated faculty research and assess pathways for technology transfer, licensing, startup creation, and industry collaboration.
Coordinate with University innovation, technology-transfer, entrepreneurship, corporate-relations, and development resources to advance commercialization and private-funding opportunities.
Develop commercialization and technology-acceleration initiatives, including engagement with venture-capital, strategic-investor, and other private-capital communities for startup, spinout, or translational opportunities.
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 to strengthen research teams and project concepts.
Support development of a long-term sustainability roadmap, including programs, partnerships, commercialization activities, workforce-development initiatives, and recurring funding streams.
Position the Center as a focal point for advanced biomanufacturing and sustainability initiatives through targeted outreach, stakeholder engagement, and coordination of sponsor or partner visits.
Maintain a performance dashboard covering opportunities, proposals, partnership pipeline, commercialization activities, funding outcomes, and stage-gate deliverables; provide periodic progress reports to Center leadership.
Comply with applicable laws, codes, University System and University policies and procedures, and safety requirements; perform responsibilities safely.