The Center for Advancing Partnerships (LINK) and the College of Science (COS) are seeking an Associate Director of Business Development. This position is focused upon developing industry relationships in order to advance the goals of the College of Science (COS) and Virginia Tech. LINK engages industrial and foundation partners in strategic initiatives, program partnerships, and the university’s $650+ million research enterprise. The College of Science has a dynamic network that connects and enhances research and educational initiatives across the Commonwealth of Virginia and beyond. The Virginia Tech College of Science and its 11 departments are driven to make people healthier, the planet more sustainable, and our communities stronger. We approach these challenges through the well-known scientific disciplines of Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Economics, Geosciences, Mathematics, Physics, Psychology, and Statistics. Additionally, the college has taken the lead by pioneering scientific approaches in our Academy of Data Science, Academy of Integrated Science, and through our School of Neuroscience.
The Associate Director of Business Development will serve as the primary interface between industry partners and the College of Science. In this role, the Associate Director will identify opportunities, work with faculty, and expand relationships through research-based partnerships.
Reporting to the Executive Director of LINK and embedded in the College of Science, the Associate Director of Business Development will:
Identify, nurture, and expand relationships with prospective industry partners, often with senior leaders, serving as the primary point of contact for a portfolio of corporations.
Work closely with COS faculty, researchers, program managers, staff, and Advancement professionals to engage industry partners, making links between company interests/market needs and university opportunities, research, and students.
Lend industry, market, and/or technical domain analysis, insight, and experience to identify possible opportunities and value drivers to inform and support cultivation and engagement strategies.
Develop intelligence around and connections to VT faculty and research interests, capabilities, and activities, identifying opportunities that have industry/market relevance; organize working sessions, and effectively connect and shepherd the relationships.
Identify, shape, and solicit corporate opportunities (including philanthropic), through a variety of mechanisms, including organizing working sessions and co-creation activities with members of the faculty and staff.
Schedule and host corporate visits to VT campuses that reflects the breadth of COS and university offerings, driving toward tangible opportunities and outcomes.
Maintain knowledge of technology, research, and recruiting needs of industry, as well as of specific firms.
Assist in crafting grant applications, proposals, white papers, status reports and corporate report cards.
Assist in formulating collaboration strategies and opportunities, as well as research contract and gift agreement review and processing.
Assist in developing marketing initiatives and stewardship programs with corporate partners.
Serve as liaison to COS leaders, faculty, and staff as well as collaborating colleges, units, and institutes.
Identify opportunities for foundation support for research and educational opportunities in the College of Science.
Work with College of Science faculty to identify, develop, and nurture corporate and foundation opportunities in support of the educational mission.