Industry Partner Experience and Business Development Lead

The Pennsylvania State University; Ferguson Township (PA); Remote; USD 91,000 - 137,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

75% tuition discount

Retirement plans

Paid time off

Job summary

The Pennsylvania State University seeks a seasoned, collaborative professional to join the Research Business Development team as the Industry Partner Experience and Business Development Lead. The role focuses on identifying prospective partners, building early-stage relationships, and improving how companies discover and engage with the university's research enterprise.

Responsibilities include developing partner engagement strategies, leading digital engagement, and driving revenue-generating

Qualifications

• Masters degree or equivalent with 6+ years of relevant experience.
• Experience designing and executing industry engagement strategies.
• Proven ability to translate market and user insights into engagement plans.

Responsibilities

• Identify, attract, and cultivate industry partners and manage lead-nurturing.
• Evaluate and improve how companies discover Penn State expertise, technologies, facilities, and partnerships.
• Develop and optimize digital lead-generation and engagement pathways (web, forms, CRM).
• Lead strategic projects and change initiatives for the university's industry-facing digital infrastructure.
• Supervise staff and vendors supporting marketing, digital development, and industry engagement.

Skills

Strategic marketing

Digital engagement

Industry relations

Lead generation

CRM platforms

Stakeholder management

Project leadership

Education

Master's Degree

Job description

POSITION SPECIFICS

The Office of the Senior Vice President for Research at Penn State seeks an experienced, collaborative professional to join its Research Business Development team as the Industry Partner Experience and Business Development Lead. This position will be filled as Industry Relations Coordinator - Senior Professional. This role will expand Penn State's industry engagement by identifying and attracting prospective partners, building early-stage relationships, and enhancing how companies discover and engage with the University's research enterprise.

Responsibilities

• Industry Partner Development: Identify, attract, and cultivate prospective industry partners through market intelligence, audience segmentation, strategic marketing, targeted outreach, networking, and other business development activities. Develop lead-nurturing strategies that progress prospects from initial interest to meaningful engagement with Penn State researchers and units.
• Partner Experience and Engagement: Lead and enhance the industry partner experience across digital and human touchpoints by evaluating how companies discover Penn State expertise, technologies, facilities, and partnership opportunities, and implementing improvements that increase accessibility, responsiveness, and ease of engagement.
• Lead Generation and Digital Engagement: Develop and optimize lead-generation and partner-engagement pathways, including websites, landing pages, forms, CRM-integrated processes, lead routing, follow-up workflows, digital campaigns, and related engagement channels.
• Strategic Projects and Change Management: Lead strategic projects and change-management initiatives that strengthen Penn State's industry-facing digital infrastructure, including project planning, stakeholder coordination, implementation, and user training.
• Business Development Systems and Process Improvement: Manage and continuously improve business development platforms and processes by assessing needs, identifying gaps, defining requirements, establishing workflows, and implementing solutions that support industry engagement and revenue-generating activities.
• Industry-Facing Communications and Content: Create presentations, content, and engagement materials that communicate Penn State's research strengths, technologies, facilities, and partnership opportunities.
• Supervision and Vendor Management: Supervise assigned staff and student employees and manage relationships with external vendors supporting marketing, digital development, and industry engagement initiatives.
• Digital Experience Quality and Accessibility: Ensure accessibility, usability, and quality across industry-facing digital resources and experiences in alignment with University standards.

Skills and Experience

• Strategic marketing, digital engagement, and user experience
• Industry relations, business development, and external partner engagement
• Relationship marketing, lead generation, and lead nurturing
• CRM and business development platforms
• Stakeholder management and cross-functional collaboration
• Project leadership and change management
• Presentation development, facilitation, and partner-facing communications

Candidates should be able to independently address moderately complex strategic and operational challenges, develop innovative solutions, manage multiple stakeholders, and translate market and user insights into effective engagement strategies.

Work Arrangement

This position can operate remotely within eligible states in the US. Standard work timings will be in EST.

The Opportunity

Penn State's extensive research enterprise offers industry partners access to a broad range of disciplines, technologies, facilities, and expertise. This role provides an opportunity to shape how companies experience Penn State research, from initial awareness through early relationship development, while helping create a more strategic, connected, and effective approach to attracting, engaging, and supporting industry partners.

Minimum Education, Work Experience & Required Certifications

Master's Degree 6+ years of relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience accepted.

Required Certifications: None.

Background Checks/Clearances

Employment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies. Penn State does not sponsor or take over sponsorship of a staff employment Visa. Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S.

Salary & Benefits

The salary range for this position, including all possible grades, is $91,488.00 - $137,280.00.

Salary Structure - Information on Penn State's salary structure.

• In addition to comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, employees enjoy robust retirement plans and substantial paid time off which includes holidays, vacation and sick time.
• One of the standout benefits is the generous 75% tuition discount, available to employees as well as eligible spouses and children.

For more detailed information, please visit our Benefits Page.

Campus Security Crime Statistics

Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act and the Pennsylvania Act of 1988, Penn State publishes a combined Annual Security and Annual Fire Safety Report (ASR). The ASR includes crime statistics and institutional policies concerning campus security, such as those concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. The ASR is available for review here.

EEO IS THE LAW

Penn State is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. If you are unable to use our online application process due to an impairment or disability, please contact 814-865-1473. Penn State is committed to and accountable for advancing equity, respect, and belonging. We embrace individual uniqueness, as well as a culture of belonging that supports equity initiatives, leverages the educational and institutional benefits of inclusion in society, and provides opportunities for engagement intended to help all members of the community thrive. We value belonging as a core strength and an essential element of the university’s teaching, research, and service mission.

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