Senior Director of Corporate Partnerships

Position Announcement

The Tickle College of Engineering (TCE) at The University of Tennessee, Knoxville invites applications and nominations for the Senior Director of Corporate Partnerships. Reporting directly to the Dean with a collaborative relationship with ORIED, this position will develop partnerships with key stakeholders from corporate partners to local community organizations and statewide economic development leaders. The goal of the Senior Director is to leverage UT resources, and coordinate opportunities to grow research outcomes and impact, capital investment, job creation, and space-based development.

Market Range: $102,000 – $120,000 DOQ

The University: The University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK), is the state’s flagship research institution, a campus of choice for outstanding undergraduates, and a premier graduate institution. Enrolling 31,500 students, the campus is located in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains and beautiful East Tennessee. As a land-grant university, it is committed to excellence in learning, scholarship, and engagement. In all its activities, the university aims to advance the frontiers of human knowledge and enrich and elevate society. The university values intellectual curiosity, diversity, pursuit of knowledge, and academic freedom and integrity. The University of Tennessee seeks candidates who can contribute in meaningful ways to the diversity and intercultural goals of the campus colleges and university. UTK offers competitive benefits. More information is found: Employee Benefits Summary

The College: The Tickle College of Engineering provides 11 BS degrees, 16 MS degrees and 13 Ph.D. degrees through 7 departments. The College has a common freshman program administered by the TCE through the Engineering Fundamentals Directorate overseeing the general Engineering Fundamentals and Engineering Honors Programs. The total number of undergraduate students is over 3500 with over 1000 freshmen. The TCE has more than 170 tenure-track faculty. More information is found: https://tickle.utk.edu/

The Position: The Senior Director helps the college fulfill the land grant mission of the college through helping identify, cultivate and steward meaningful and mutually beneficial partnerships at all levels of engagement with the college. This position will be responsible for the advancement of these partnerships to foster additional opportunities across TCE offerings, including research, outreach, and educational programs. In addition, the Senior Director has oversight and strategic program management of the Engineering Professional Practice (EPP) office staff, which is responsible for co-op and internship opportunities for students. The EPP staff is made up of 4 exempt and 1 non-exempt staff members, and coordinates and stewards the TN Network Program, which connects key industrial employers with opportunities to recruit its students. Through fostering these relationships, the Senior Director will enrich TCE students’ educational journey by providing opportunities such as expanding educationally relevant paid co-op and/or internship positions, to increase retention and enable student success.

Required Qualifications:

Education: A bachelor’s degree in engineering and/or business, human resources, counseling, or public relations.

Experience: Five years of experience in management and leadership including exposure and experience in academic advancement, sales, marketing, communications, academic research development, and/or fields related to the position’s duties.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

· Ability and confidence to effectively seek and close agreements.

· Ability to work independently and confidently with senior leadership at UT and in the corporate sector.

· High-level interpersonal and relationship building skills and the ability to develop consensus among diverse internal and external constituents.

· High level of professionalism, integrity, good judgment, and the ability to work in a team environment.

· Excellent oral and written communication skills.

· Prior knowledge and/or familiarity with local and national business environments as well as local, state, regional and national research and economic initiatives.

· Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with minimal supervision

· Professional demeanor with the ability to interface with internal and external constituencies with diplomacy and tact is essential.

· Must have the ability and willingness to travel as necessary

· Knowledge of Microsoft Office 365 (Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams) and the willingness and ability to learn new software as needed.

Preferred Qualifications:

· A master's degree in degree in engineering and/or business is ideal, with a degree in human resources, counseling, or public relations.

● Ten years of experience in economic development, community fundraising, academic advancement, sales, marketing, communications, grants administration, entrepreneurial activities or other similar fields.

● Experience in economic development or corporate partnerships role, and knowledge of space-based recruitment and growth strategies including best practices related to alignment with university/organizational missions.

● A proven track-record with collaboration at a high level, and the ability to develop large public-private-partnerships.

● Demonstrated understanding of the intersections between research, applied science, and industry.

Application Process: A review of all applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled. For full consideration, all applicants must electronically submit a letter of interest, resume, and the names, addresses and phone numbers of three professional references to the application system.