Manager, Strategic Partnerships

University of Chicago; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Chicago is seeking a Strategic Partnerships Manager for the Polsky Center to advance its mission by growing sponsored partnerships and revenue. You will work with the Director of Strategic Partnerships to secure sponsorships, manage day-to-day partner engagement, and support activations and events.

Responsibilities include developing proposals, coordinating across internal teams, maintaining CRM records, and ensuring timely delivery of partner commitments to support faculty,

Qualifications

• Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.
• Advanced degree preferred.
• Experience in strategic partnerships, business development, fundraising, sponsorships, or related fields.

Responsibilities

• Identify, execute, and cultivate new and expanded opportunities for partnerships and financial or in-kind support.
• Develop grant proposals and sponsorship materials with Director of Strategic Partnerships and stakeholders.
• Manage relationships with corporate, venture capital, foundation, and ecosystem partners.
• Prepare meetings with prospective partners and customize presentations and collateral.
• Ensure smooth sponsor onboarding, deliverables, and renewal opportunities.
• Plan and execute partnership events and activities, including activations.
• Maintain CRM records and track revenue, in-kind contributions, and pipeline.
• Coordinate budgets and reporting for sponsorship programs.

Skills

Writing skills

Verbal communication

Critical thinking

Analytical skills

Project management

Organizational skills

Creative problem-solving

Interpersonal skills

Education

Bachelor's degree

Advanced degree

Job description

About The Department

Department

SIP Polsky Operations - Administration

About The Department

The Polsky Center’s mission is to advance innovative ideas and technologies from the University of Chicago ecosystem to the world. Through education, resources, and programs, the Polsky Center commercializes discoveries, partners with companies, and attracts venture capital. The Polsky Center runs a top-ranked business accelerator, the Edward L. Kaplan, ’71, New Venture Challenge; operates a multi-disciplinary co-working space called the Polsky Exchange; and manages the George Shultz Innovation Fund that invests in early-stage ventures. Finally, the Polsky Center houses the University of Chicago’s technology transfer unit, which manages all University-based intellectual property originating from faculty research and discoveries that can be licensed to industry partners and investors.

Job Summary

The Strategic Partnerships Manager will play a critical role in advancing the Polsky Center’s mission by increasing the resources and revenue available to support our faculty, researchers, students, entrepreneurs and businesses through the development, execution, and stewardship of partnerships. Working closely with the Director of Strategic Partnerships, this role will help secure and steward new sponsorships and partnerships, manage day-to-day engagement with prospective and current partners, including corporate, venture capital, philanthropic, and ecosystem partners, and support the planning and execution of partnership activations and events. This role manages academic, research, clinical or administrative programs of the University.

Responsibilities

• Works closely with the Director of Strategic Partnerships to identify, execute, and cultivate new and expanded opportunities for partnerships and financial and in-kind support for Polsky Center programming and support of faculty, researchers and students.
• Drives development of grant proposals including government grant opportunities, sponsorships proposals, pitch materials, and partnerships agreements, by drafting materials in close collaboration with Director of Strategic Partnerships and other internal stakeholders and by coordinating timelines, deliverables, and internal approvals.
• In coordination with the Director of Strategic Partnerships and other internal stakeholders, manages relationships with partners including corporate, venture capital, foundation, and ecosystem partners.
• Prepares for and supports or leads meetings with prospective partners and visitors, including preparing briefing materials, customizing presentations and collateral to reflect areas of opportunity, and coordinating with relevant stakeholders.
• Ensures smooth sponsor and partner onboarding, communications, deliverables, benefit fulfillment, and opportunities for renewal or expansion of their support, in close partnership with program teams.
• Partners with technology ventures, marketing and communications, operations, and other teams to plan and execute partnership events and activities, including event planning, coordination, execution and communications for major partner events.
• Coordinates sponsor activations before, during, and after events.
• Ensures partnership commitments are delivered successfully.
• Collaborates with colleagues across the Polsky Center and other University and ecosystem stakeholders, to stay coordinated and aligned across external engagement.
• Develops best practices and templates to support broader team engagement with and stewardship of sponsors, partners, and events.
• Maintains and improves CRM records, revenue and in-kind contribution tracking, pipeline tracking and management, and other partnership metric tracking.
• Collaborates and coordinates with program teams on maintenance of sponsorship budgets, deliverable calendars, and partnership reporting.
• Develops and improves processes to enhance consistency and scalability across partnership activities.
• Sets and communicates program priorities and performance standards and assesses operations using these criteria. Plans and conducts quality assurance reviews and recommends changes as appropriate.
• Analyzes program budgets and recommends or makes budgetary recommendations.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Education

Minimum Qualifications

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.

Work Experience

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 2-5 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Certifications

Preferred Qualifications

Education

• Advanced degree in relevant field.

Experience

• Knowledge and skills developed through 2-5 years of experience in strategic partnerships, business development, corporate relationships, fundraising, sponsorships, operations, external affairs, or a related job discipline.
• Familiar with program design and successful execution.
• Understanding of proposal or grant-writing.
• Background in higher education, entrepreneurship, venture capital, innovation, or technology ecosystems strongly preferred.

Preferred Competencies

• Excellent writing and verbal communication skills, including developing and delivering executive-level proposals and presentations.
• Strong critical thinking and analytical skills, with experience in managing datasets and strategic analysis.
• Strong project management and organizational skills to manage multiple competing priorities simultaneously.
• Creative problem-solving, with a strategic mindset and ability to approach challenges in a new way.
• Strong interpersonal skills and collaborative approach.
• Work both independently and as a member of a team, and collaborate across complex organizations with multiple stakeholders.

Working Conditions

• This position is currently expected to work a minimum three days per week in the office.
• Work flexible hours according to demands of business and events, including evening or weekend events as needed.

Application Documents

• Resume/CV (required)
• Cover Letter (preferred)

The University of Chicago uses AI-assisted tools to streamline and augment some recruitment processes; however, AI is not used to make hiring decisions.

Job Family

Administration & Management

Role Impact

Individual Contributor

Scheduled Weekly Hours

37.5

Drug Test Required

No

Health Screen Required

No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required

No

Pay Rate Type

Salary

FLSA Status

Exempt

Pay Range

$70,000.00 - $95,000.00

The included pay rate or range represents the University’s good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting.

Benefits Eligible

Yes

The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook.

Posting Statement

The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination. Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form. All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history. A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment. Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case‑based basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position. The University of Chicago's Annual Security & Fire Safety Report (Report) provides information about University offices and programs that provide safety support, crime and fire statistics, emergency response and communications plans, and other policies and information. The Report can be accessed online at: http://securityreport.uchicago.edu. Paper copies of the Report are available, upon request, from the University of Chicago Police Department, 850 E. 61st Street, Chicago, IL 60637.