Director of Corporate Relations - MSU Business Connect / Community Relations Manager

Position Summary

The Director of Corporate Relations is a key member of the MSU Business Connect team, a hub for corporate engagement. The Director manages an independent portfolio of corporate relationships and is accountable for advancing these partnerships toward productive outcomes with specific emphasis on outcomes relating to research activity including sponsored research collaborations, start-up and commercialization opportunities, access to university labs/cores and institutes. This role will also support the broader university ecosystem by partnering with other offices to facilitate student hiring and internships, professional training, advisory board participation, and other activities aligned with corporate needs and university strengths.

Responsibilities

• Manage an independent portfolio of corporate relationships and advance these partnerships toward productive outcomes with specific emphasis on outcomes relating to research activity including sponsored research collaborations, start-up and commercialization opportunities, access to university labs/cores and institutes.
• Support the broader university ecosystem by partnering with other offices to facilitate student hiring and internships, professional training, advisory board participation, and other activities aligned with corporate needs and university strengths.
• Assist in early-stage negotiation of mutually beneficial contract terms.
• Build a strong internal network across colleges, research units, and administrative partners to ensure coordinated and consistent engagement with industry.
• Serve as the primary liaison to industry leaders, fostering collaborations that drive innovation, secure external funding, and translate academic research into real-world impact.
• Cultivate, maintain, and expand long-term partnerships while ensuring timely handling of complex agreements that enhance trust and accelerate collaboration.
• Work closely with faculty, deans, administrative partners, and corporate research executives to advance shared objectives.

Requirements

• Experience: Eight or more years of experience in community relations, event management, or special project development; demonstrated effective and creative writing skills; working comfort with social media.
• Education: Knowledge equivalent to that which normally would be acquired by completing a Bachelor’s degree in communications, public relations, marketing or related discipline; Technical Skills: Proficiency with use of a computer, MS Office suite, Adobe, conferencing software (Zoom/Teams), Wrike.
• Desired Qualifications: Masters or Doctorate degree in business, engineering or the sciences. Ten years of working experience in business development, corporate relations, government relations with the majority of experience working within a university environment. At least five years of experience in private sector research and development. Familiarity with the principles of contracting frameworks, with specific emphasis on knowledge of Intellectual Property best practices.

Qualifications

• Effective verbal and written communication skills, collaboration, time-management, negotiation, adaptability, ability to balance competing priorities, and interact effectively with a wide variety of people.

Benefits

This hybrid position requires at least three days per week on campus and may involve occasional travel to on-campus and off-site locations.

Pay

Salary commensurate with experience.

Schedule

Standard 8-5.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability or protected veteran status.