Assistant Director of Strategic Partnerships

Vanderbilt University; Nashville (TN); Vor Ort; USD 90.000 - 130.000; Vollzeit

Zusammenfassung

Vanderbilt University’s VALIANT seeks an Assistant Director of Strategic Partnerships to architect external relationships with industry, academia and alumni. You will translate connections into durable support, shape engagement strategy, and expand VALIANT's influence and reputation.

Working with the Director, Program Manager and steering committee, you will lead the Industry Affiliates Program and AI Alumni Network, coordinating across CTTC, DAR and SPA to scale partnerships.

Qualifikationen

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field is required.
• At least three years of professional experience in relationship management or partnerships.
• Proven ability to build and maintain relationships with external stakeholders.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills for outreach materials.
• Experience coordinating with internal offices on administrative processes.

Aufgaben

• Direct and scale VALIANT's external-facing programs and partnerships.
• Represent VALIANT at conferences and industry events.
• Lead engagement with Industry Affiliates Program and AI Alumni Network.
• Coordinate MOUs and agreements with academic institutions.
• Organize tours and interactions between visitors and VALIANT staff.
• Support events like AI Summer School and Discover AI.

Kenntnisse

Relationship management

Business development

Partnerships

Program management

Outreach

Communication

Cross-functional collaboration

Ausbildung

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree

Tools

Website content management

Contract coordination

Jobbeschreibung

The Assistant Director of Strategic Partnerships will serve as VALIANT's primary architect of external relationships, translating connections with industry, academia, and alumni into lasting value for the center. Working closely with the Director, Program Manager, and steering committee to shape the strategic vision for engagement, this role will ensure VALIANT's external partnerships grow deliberately and sustainably — strengthening the center's reputation, expanding its influence, and creating a durable pipeline of support for its mission.

About The Work Unit

The Vanderbilt Lab for Immersive AI Translation (VALIANT) is a high-impact initiative that fosters an intellectual community dedicated to applying AI in multidisciplinary fields to spark breakthrough innovation. We are not just observers of the future; we are the creators, actively transforming AI on a global scale through an agile, responsive approach to the challenges of today and tomorrow.

Key Functions And Expected Performance

Report directly to the Director of VALIANT, serving as a key strategic partner in advancing the lab's external engagement priorities

Direct and scale VALIANT's external-facing programs, including the Industry Affiliates Program (IAP) and VALIANT AI Alumni Network, setting strategy to drive engagement across current and prospective members

• Represent VALIANT at industry conferences and events, building relationships with a diverse range of subject matter experts and organizational leaders to identify and develop new industry affiliate partnerships
• Lead prospective industry affiliates through the full engagement process, from initial informational meetings to director-level discussions and final onboarding
• Work closely with Vanderbilt Center for Technology Transfer and Commercialization (CTTC), Development & Alumni Relations (DAR), and Sponsored Research Administration (SPA) offices to coordinate IAP affiliate
• Drive engagement strategy for the AI Alumni Network, sustaining relationships with current members and following up with graduating cohorts to grow the network
• Set and execute a quarterly outreach communications strategy for the IAP and AI Alumni Network to keep both communities informed and engaged
• Act as a bridge between new industry affiliates and AI Alumni with the broader VALIANT community and regularly update content on both the IAP and VALIANT AI Alumni Network webpages, including affiliate/member logos and profile information

Develop productive working relationships with faculty and staff across Vanderbilt — both within and beyond the School of Engineering — promoting a unified view of VALIANT's interests and advancing shared engagement and outreach goals

Manage correspondence, relationships, and formal agreements (e.g., MOUs) with local, regional, and international academic institutions to support collaborative programs and identify new partnership opportunities

Organize and coordinate facility tours and interactions between visitors and VALIANT faculty, technical staff, and industry representatives, including preparation of supporting materials and presentations

Consult with VALIANT's Program Manager on the operational and logistical needs of new initiatives, ensuring programs can be implemented successfully and within budget, and collaborate on cross-functional efforts as needed

Serve as a reliable, hands-on team player in support of VALIANT's flagship events (e.g., AI Summer School, Discover AI), assisting as needed with event planning, preparation, and day-of logistics including setup and takedown

Supervisory Relationships

This position does not have supervisory responsibility.

Education and Certifications

Bachelor's degree in a relevant field (e.g., business, communications, engineering, or related discipline)

At least three years of professional experience in relationship management, business development, partnerships, program management, or a related outreach/engagement function

Demonstrated ability to build and maintain relationships with external stakeholders, including senior leaders and subject matter experts

Strong written and verbal communication skills, with experience developing outreach materials or communications strategies

Proven ability to manage multiple ongoing programs or initiatives simultaneously with a high degree of autonomy

Experience coordinating with internal cross-functional teams or offices to complete administrative processes (e.g., contracts, agreements, or similar coordination work)

Comfort and confidence representing an organization at conferences, events, or other public-facing settings

Current knowledge of, or demonstrated ability to quickly learn, trends and developments in the AI industry

Strong collaborative mindset, with a demonstrated ability to prioritize the center's broader goals alongside individual program responsibilities

Preferred Qualifications

Master's degree in a relevant field

Experience working in a higher education, research institution, or university-affiliated setting

Familiarity with industry-sponsored research programs, corporate partnership models, or affiliate/membership programs

Experience managing or growing an alumni network, professional community, or membership-based program

Existing network of contacts within the AI industry or academic research community

Experience with website content management (e.g., updating web pages, member profiles, or similar content)

Experience developing or executing newsletters or other recurring outreach communications