Executive Director of Corporate Research Partnerships

Harvarduniversity; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

Harvard SEAS seeks an entrepreneurial leader to serve as its inaugural Executive Director for Corporate Research Partnerships. You will shape external collaborations, identify opportunities, and build a pipeline of multi-year alliances with industry partners to accelerate discovery and increase external investment.

You will work with the Dean for Research, the Dean of SEAS, and faculty to translate research strengths into strategic, fundable collaborations, while leading a Program Manager and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or advanced degree in engineering, computer science, the physical sciences, life sciences, or a related technical field.
• Progressively responsible experience in business development, strategic partnerships, and/or research alliances within technical or scientific organizations.
• Demonstrated experience originating, developing, and closing significant research partnerships or collaborations with industry, universities, and foundations.
• Technical fluency and credibility to engage with faculty and senior industry leaders.
• Track record of closing strategic partnerships that yielded significant research funding or initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute SEAS's corporate research partnership strategy with a portfolio of high-potential companies.
• Originate, develop, and close multi-year, multi-million-dollar research funding opportunities.
• Build trusted relationships with CTOs, Heads of Research, and senior R&D leaders representing Harvard SEAS.
• Create alliance concepts aligning corporate priorities with SEAS faculty strengths for mutual long-term value.
• Advise School leadership on trends in corporate R&D and strategic opportunities.
• Engage foundations when opportunities align with SEAS research.
• Lead and mentor the Program Manager for Industry Partnerships.
• Represent SEAS on the University Corporate Engagement Council and coordinate with OVPR/OTD.

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering or related technical field

Master's degree in a related field

PhD in a technical field

Progressive experience in business development

Strategic partnerships development

Research alliances development

External engagement with industry

Executive leadership

Relationship building with senior leaders

Job description

Job Summary

The Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) seeks an entrepreneurial and externally oriented business development leader to serve as its inaugural Executive Director for Corporate Research Partnerships. Reporting to the Dean for Research, the Executive Director works in close partnership with the Dean for Research and the Dean of SEAS to develop and execute the School's strategy for corporate research partnerships. The Executive Director serves as SEAS's principal external representative to industry and the corporate research community. Working closely with School leadership and faculty, the Executive Director will identify, cultivate, and advance transformative research partnerships that accelerate scientific discovery, strengthen interdisciplinary research, and increase external investment in Harvard SEAS. This is a highly external-facing leadership role requiring executive presence, technical fluency, strategic judgment, and strong relationship-building skills. In the first year, the Executive Director will be expected to build a strong pipeline of prospective partners and, over time, translate that pipeline into flagship alliances (multi-year, multi-million-dollar) and measurable growth in industry sponsored research funding.

Job-Specific Responsibilities

Corporate Partnership Strategy and Business Development

Develop and execute SEAS's corporate research partnership strategy, including a prioritized portfolio of high-potential companies and engagement plans aligned with the School's research strengths and faculty interests.

Originate, develop, and close high-value research funding opportunities from initial engagement through multi-year research collaborations and alliances.

Build trusted relationships with CTOs, Chief Scientists, Heads of Research, senior R&D executives, and other corporate leaders, representing Harvard SEAS and cultivating new funded research opportunities.

Develop compelling alliance concepts and models that align corporate priorities with SEAS faculty expertise and create mutual long-term value.

Advise the Dean for Research, the Dean of SEAS, and School leadership on trends in corporate R&D, emerging technologies, research investment, and strategic opportunities.

Engage with philanthropic science foundations when their interests create meaningful opportunities to support SEAS research.

Faculty Engagement and Opportunity Development

Build strong relationships with SEAS faculty to understand emerging research directions and identify opportunities for external collaboration.

Translate leading-edge research into compelling strategic narratives for corporate sponsors and, where appropriate, foundations and donors.

Bring together faculty across disciplines to develop ambitious, multi-investigator research collaborations in response to major external opportunities.

Help faculty and external partners move from exploratory conversations to well-defined funded research collaborations with clear scientific and strategic value.

Leadership and Institutional Collaboration

Lead and manage the Program Manager for Industry Partnerships, providing direction, mentorship, and professional development.

Serve as SEAS's representative on the University Corporate Engagement Council and collaborate closely with the Office of the Vice Provost for Research (OVPR), the Office of Technology Development (OTD), and University and school development offices to advance major opportunities efficiently.

Working Conditions

The work will be performed primarily in an office environment on campus. Occasional local, national and international travel may be required.

Basic Qualifications

Bachelor's or advanced degree in engineering, computer science, the physical sciences, life sciences, or a related technical field required.

Progressively responsible experience in business development, strategic partnerships, and/or research alliances within technical or scientific organizations (15 years with a bachelor's degree, 12 years with a master's degree, or 10 years with a Ph.D.).

Demonstrated experience originating, developing, and closing significant research partnerships or collaborations involving industry, universities, research organizations, foundations, and/or government.

Additional Qualifications and Skills

Technical fluency and intellectual breadth, with the ability to engage credibly with faculty across engineering and applied sciences and with senior technical leaders in industry.

Track record of closing strategic partnerships that resulted in significant research funding, investment, or collaborative research initiatives (as distinct from managing existing relationships or administering sponsored research).

Executive presence and credibility interacting with senior te