Director of Industry Partnerships

This role is a key member of the Office of Economic Development, driving industry and stakeholder engagement at the University of Kansas. The Director identifies, develops, and executes mutually beneficial research partnerships with corporate, federal, state, and other entities, working closely with leadership and faculty across the School of Engineering, College of Liberal Arts and Life Sciences, School of Pharmacy, and associated research centers. The position serves as a conduit between KU research expertise and industry, fostering collaborations that advance sponsored research, workforce development, technology engagement, and strategic partnerships aligned with KU’s mission.

Responsibilities

• Industry Partnership Engagement (65%)
  • Identify, engage, build, and advance corporate relationships integrating research, technology engagement, and workforce development.
  • Facilitate engagement with emerging industry partnership opportunities using market intelligence and faculty expertise, capitalizing on federal funding opportunities.
  • Initiate, coordinate, and facilitate corporate interactions on campus and at corporate sites.
  • Collaborate with KU faculty to leverage federal programs (e.g., DOE, DOD, NSF, NIH) involving industry-academic partnerships.
  • Represent industry partners’ needs to KU offices, ensuring alignment with engagement strategies.
  • Develop marketing tools highlighting KU’s research expertise and capabilities.
  • Engage non-commercial stakeholder partners when their interests align with KU’s goals.
• Collaboration (20%)
  • Strengthen relationships with schools, departments, centers, and faculty to promote KU’s expertise.
  • Coordinate with the Managing Director to identify collaborative opportunities across KU campuses.
  • Work with Deans to develop and manage high-level strategic partnerships.
  • Partner with KU Endowment, Center for Technology Commercialization, KU Innovation Park, Career Services, and others to deepen industry engagement.
  • Represent partner interests in collaboration with KU’s contracting departments.
• Strategic Development (10%)
  • Support faculty and research staff through training and guidance to develop industry relationships.
  • Stay abreast of best practices in academic-industry partnerships and participate in national organizations (e.g., AUTM, UIDP).
  • Develop programming and engagement strategies to support industry retention, recruitment, and growth at KU.
• Other Duties (5%)
  • Additional duties as assigned by the Managing Director or Associate Vice Chancellor for Economic Development.

Requirements

• Master’s Degree plus five (5) years of related experience OR Bachelor’s Degree and seven (7) years of related experience.
• Five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in technical business development, research partnerships, commercialization, or relevant roles.
• Demonstrated experience developing collaborative relationships in a large, complex environment.
• Effective written communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal and customer service skills supporting engagement with internal and external stakeholders.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in a technical or scientific field.
• Experience with federal and/or state agencies in partnership with industry.
• Proven ability to bridge academic and industry cultures.
• Awareness of intellectual property (IP) considerations and ability to support work statements aligned with company IP needs.

Pay

$115,000 - $130,000