Assistant Director of Corporate Relations

University Industry Demonstration Partnership; South Bend (IN); On-site; USD 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Notre Dame seeks an Assistant Director for Corporate Relations to advance academic fundraising initiatives by engaging faculty, cultivating corporate partnerships, and supporting complex proposals. You will collaborate across the university to translate faculty research into compelling corporate opportunities and manage project life cycles.

The role emphasizes strategic relationship cultivation, fast turnaround, and pipeline momentum within a central development team.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
• 3-5 years of corporate relations or related experience.
• Experience drafting complex proposals and managing project lifecycles.
• Experience managing donor portfolios with fundraising targets.
• Strong written and oral communication; ability to translate research into proposals for corporate executives.
• Experience with donor databases/CRM (Salesforce, Advance).

Responsibilities

• Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward corporate partners.
• Manage an entry- to mid-level portfolio of corporate relationships.
• Collaborate with faculty, staff, and administrators to advance fundraising initiatives.
• Translate research into compelling corporate opportunities.
• Support proposals and project management for corporate partnerships.

Skills

Communication skills

Proposal writing

Project management

CRM experience

Fundraising

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

Salesforce

Advance

Job description

The Assistant Director for Corporate Relations (CR) supports the University of Notre Dame’s priority academic objectives through faculty engagement, concept and proposal support (including project management), and strategic corporate relationship cultivation. As a key member of the central development team, you will collaborate with faculty, staff, and administrators across the University to identify, develop, and execute academic fundraising initiatives.

In this role, you will play a crucial supporting part in Development's interaction with the Academy and the Office of Notre Dame Research, maintaining the highest standards of professional ethics, integrity, and compliance with University policies and external regulations. Working alongside a dedicated team of CR professionals, you will translate and articulate complex faculty-led research, scholarship, and teaching into compelling opportunities for corporate support.

You will directly assist in identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding local, regional, and national corporate partners. The incumbent will manage an entry- to mid-level portfolio of corporate and corporate foundation relationships. A successful candidate will proactively engage industry partners and internal stakeholders, ensuring rapid turnaround times and driving pipeline momentum.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
• 3-5 years of progressive experience in corporate relations, higher education fundraising, institutional advancement, grant writing, or business development/sales.
• Demonstrated track record managing project life cycles, drafting/coordinating complex proposals, and maintaining submission schedules.
• Experience managing entry- to mid-level donor or client portfolios with demonstrated progress toward quantitative targets or fundraising goals.
• Exceptional written and oral communication skills, including the ability to translate complex academic and scientific concepts into compelling narrative proposals for corporate executives.
• Experience working with a donor/constituent database, CRM (e.g., Salesforce, Advance), or project management software to track contact reports and pipeline metrics.
• Must be authorized to work in the United States without visa sponsorship.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree.
• Direct experience working within a major research university setting, specifically collaborating with faculty, deans, and research administration offices (e.g., Office of Research).
• Specific experience navigating corporate foundation guidelines, grant submissions, due diligence, and compliance.
• Experience planning and executing high-level corporate convenings, executive strategy briefs, and interdisciplinary workshops.
• Proven ability to act as an effective advisor across diverse groups, bridging the gap between corporate industry priorities and faculty-led research initiatives.