Innovation & Industry Relations Specialist

University-of-Illinoi; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 105,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Illinois Chicago is seeking an Innovation & Industry Relations Specialist to build and manage strategic partnerships that advance research, innovation and external engagement.

Reporting to the OVCR Director, you will connect faculty and leadership with industry, government, nonprofit and community partners, identify opportunities for sponsored research, and coordinate cross‑functional initiatives across campus.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in business, public administration, communications, science, engineering, higher education administration or a related field.
• Approximately 3+ years of relevant professional experience in industry relations, partnership development, research administration, innovation programs, economic development or a related area.
• Demonstrated ability to build and manage professional relationships with diverse stakeholders.
• Strong organizational, communication and project management skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a complex organizational environment.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain productive relationships with industry, government, nonprofit and community stakeholders aligned with university research priorities.
• Serve as a point of contact for external organizations seeking engagement with university researchers, centers and institutional capabilities.
• Assist in identifying and advancing opportunities for sponsored research, strategic partnerships and collaborative initiatives.
• Facilitate communication and coordination between faculty and external partners to support research and innovation activities.
• Support initiatives related to innovation, commercialization, entrepreneurship and applied research partnerships.
• Collaborate with research administration, technology commercialization, economic development and colleges/academic units to advance engagement efforts.
• Lead the development of presentations, reports, briefing materials and stakeholder communications.
• Track partnership activity, engagement outcomes and related metrics using institutional systems and reporting tools.

Skills

Relationship management

Communication

Project management

Independent work

Strategic thinking

Education

Master's degree

Tools

CRM systems

Data tracking tools

Office software

Job description

Innovation & Industry Relations Specialist

Chicago, IL, United States

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Innovation & Industry Relations Specialist

Hiring Department: OVCR, Innovation & Industry Relations

Location: Chicago, IL

Salary: The budgeted salary range for the position is $90,000-$105,000. The final salary offered will be determined by a thorough assessmentof available market data, internal salary equity, candidate experience andqualifications, and budget constraints.

About the University of Illinois Chicago

UIC is among the nation’s preeminent urban public research universities, a Carnegie RU/VH research institution, and the largest university in Chicago. UIC serves over 34,000 students, comprising one of the most diverse student bodies in the nation and is designated as a Minority Serving Institution (MSI), an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution (AANAPSI) and a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI). Through its 16 colleges, UIC produces nationally and internationally recognized multidisciplinary academic programs in concert with civic, corporate and community partners worldwide, including a full complement of health sciences colleges. By emphasizing cutting-edge and transformational research along with a commitment to the success of all students, UIC embodies the dynamic, vibrant and engaged urban university. Recent “Best Colleges” rankings published by U.S. News & World Report, found UIC climbed up in its rankings among top public schools in the nation and among all national universities. UIC has over 300,000 alumni, and is one of the largest employers in the city of Chicago.

This position is intended to be eligible for benefits . This includes Health, Dental, Vision, LifeInsurance, a Retirement Plan, Paid time Off, and Tuition waivers for employees and dependents.

The Innovation & Industry Relations Specialist supportsthe development and management of strategic partnerships that advance theuniversity's research, innovation and engagement priorities. Reporting to theDirector of Innovation & Industry Relations within the Office of the ViceChancellor for Research (OVCR), this position serves as a key relationshipmanager connecting faculty, research centers and university leadership withindustry, government, nonprofit and community partners.

The Innovation & Industry Relations Specialist helpsfacilitate collaborative research opportunities, supports innovation andcommercialization initiatives and contributes to activities that enhance theuniversity's external engagement and research impact. This role requires theability to work effectively across academic and external environments, managemultiple stakeholder relationships and support initiatives related to sponsoredresearch, industry collaboration and innovation ecosystems.

If you are energized by building relationships, connectingideas and people, navigating complex organizations and helping createopportunities that may not have existed before, this is an opportunity to makeyour mark within a major urban R1 research university.

Industry & ExternalPartnership Engagement

• Developand maintain productive relationships with industry, government, nonprofitand community stakeholders aligned with university research priorities.
• Serveas a point of contact for external organizations seeking engagement withuniversity researchers, centers and institutional capabilities.
• Assistin identifying and advancing opportunities for sponsored research,strategic partnerships and collaborative initiatives.
• Facilitatecommunication and coordination between faculty and external partners tosupport research and innovation activities.
• Supportinitiatives related to innovation, commercialization, entrepreneurship andapplied research partnerships.
• Collaboratewith research administration, technology commercialization, economicdevelopment and colleges/academic units to advance engagement efforts.
• Helpidentify emerging areas of industry interest and alignment withinstitutional research strengths.
• Contributeto strategic engagement activities that expand the university’s researchvisibility and external partnerships.

Program & ProjectCoordination

• Coordinatepartnership meetings, engagement activities, workshops, site visits andnetworking events.
• Leadthe development of presentations, reports, briefing materials andstakeholder communications.
• Trackpartnership activity, engagement outcomes and related metrics usinginstitutional systems and reporting tools.
• Supportimplementation of strategic initiatives and special projects within OVCR.
  
• Representthe university and OVCR at conferences, meetings and external engagementevents.
• Promoteawareness of university research expertise, innovation initiatives andcollaboration opportunities.
• Driveefforts to strengthen the university’s role within regional and nationalinnovation ecosystems.

Performother duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master’s degree in business, public administration, communications, science, engineering, higher education administration or a related field.
• Approximately 3+ years of relevant professional experience in industry relations, partnership development, research administration, innovation programs, economic development or a related area.
• Demonstrated ability to build and manage professional relationships with diverse stakeholders.
• Strong organizational, communication and project management skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a complex organizational environment.
• Critical and strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities.
• Strong interpersonal and relationship-management skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively with faculty, administrators, executives and external stakeholders.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in a research university, research institute, nonprofit, government or innovation-focused organization.
• Familiarity with sponsored research, technology transfer, innovation ecosystems or public-private partnerships.
• Experience supporting cross-functional or interdisciplinary initiatives.
• Understanding of research and innovation environments within higher education.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and maintain attention to detail.
• Proficiency with CRM systems, data tracking tools and standard office software.

What You Will Bring

We are looking for an intellectually curious, resourcefulprofessional who is equally comfortable engaging with a faculty researcher,university leader, corporate executive, government representative or communitypartner.

The University of Illinois System is an equal opportunity employer, including but not limited to disability and/or veteran status, and complies with all applicable state and federal employment mandates. Please visit Required Employment Notices and Posters to view our non-discrimination statement and find additional information about required background checks, sexual harassment/misconduct disclosures, and employment eligibility review through E-Verify.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used in some portions of the candidate review process for this position, however, all employment decisions will be made by a person.