Associate Vice President (Strategy & External Partnerships) - Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute
About the role
The Associate Vice President (AVP), Strategy & External Partnerships serves as a senior strategic and operational leader for the WVU Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute (RNI). Reporting directly to the Executive Director of the RNI, Ali Rezai, the AVP leads high-priority strategic initiatives focused on technology commercialization, external partnerships, business development, communications, and institutional growth.
Responsibilities
Lead RNI’s strategic partnership efforts with external stakeholders including medtech, pharma and digital health, state and federal government, foundations and donors.
Develop and implement strategic efforts and lead strategy development, analysis, implementation planning, and operational execution across RNI strategic initiatives and growth priorities.
Create timelines, budgets, prioritization frameworks, milestones, metrics, and reporting structures for key institutional initiatives.
Facilitate and advance RNI technology development initiatives with the RNI R&D team, including: Human Operating System (HOS) digital platform and related modules; Focused ultrasound device and clinical application development initiatives.
Lead RNI corporate and business development initiatives and strategic external partnerships.
Manage executive-level relationships with industry and strategic partners, including organizations such as Insightec, Medtronic, NaviFUS, as well as academic, government, and commercial collaborators.
Coordinate strategic planning, presentations, meetings, follow-ups, projects, and deliverables related to external partnerships and institutional initiatives.
Serve as a strategic liaison across clinical, research, operational, academic, philanthropic, and commercial functions.
Support development and execution of RNI’s federal and state government relations strategy, including engagement with agencies and organizations such as ARPA-H, DARPA, National Institutes of Health, and Rural Health Transformation program (RHTP).
Engage university and health system leadership to ensure alignment, approvals, and institutional support for strategic initiatives.
Oversee national and international media efforts in collaboration with RNI marketing and communications teams and the RNI VP.
Lead development of executive presentations, strategic messaging, and briefing materials for the RNI Executive Director and senior leadership.
Serve as the point of contact with external communications consultants and contractors.
Requirements
Demonstrated leadership experience in strategy, healthcare innovation, business development, partnerships, consulting, or related fields.
Experience managing complex cross-functional initiatives involving healthcare systems, academic institutions, industry partners, and government stakeholders preferred.
Strong executive communication, analytical, and stakeholder management skills.
Ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, highly collaborative, and entrepreneurial environment.
Qualifications
A minimum of eight (8) years experience in the following: International Project Management, Management Consulting, Government Relations experience.
Any equivalent combination of related education and/or experience will be considered.
All qualifications must be met by the time of employment.
Skills and Abilities
Leadership experience in strategy, healthcare innovation, business development, partnerships, consulting, or related fields.
Experience managing complex cross-functional initiatives involving healthcare systems, academic institutions, industry partners, and government stakeholders preferred.
Strong executive communication, analytical, and stakeholder management skills.
Ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, highly collaborative, and entrepreneurial environment.
Pay
Competitive salary commensurate with experience.
Schedule
Full-time, with a strong expectation of regular onsite presence.