Director/Senior Director of Corporate Partnerships

Job Posting Title:

Job Description:

Overview:

Under the supervision of the Associate Vice Provost of Research, Innovation, & Partnerships, the Senior Director of Corporate Partnerships independently performs a variety of activities intended to promote and enhance Keck Graduate Institute's relationships with the health & life science industries. As the leader of the Corporate Partnerships team, the Senior Director is responsible for planning, implementing, and managing specific sponsorship efforts and external engagements. Corporate Partnerships is responsible for cultivating external relationships aimed at acquiring fellowship opportunities, Team Master’s Projects, and Industry PhD students, as well as sponsored research. In addition to individual engagement of partnerships, the Senior Director is also responsible for the oversight of the Corporate Partnerships team to ensure that team goals are achieved.

Keck Graduate Institute (KGI) was founded in 1997 as the first higher education institution in the United States dedicated exclusively to education and research related to the applied life sciences. KGI offers innovative postgraduate degrees and certificates that integrate healthcare, life and health sciences, business, and engineering with a focus on active learning and team collaborations. KGI employs an entrepreneurial approach based in innovation with deep connections to clinical and industry settings that provide pathways for students to become leaders within healthcare and the applied life sciences.

Located in beautiful Claremont, California, Keck Graduate Institute is a member of the Claremont Colleges, a consortium of five undergraduate liberal arts colleges, two graduate institutions, and The Claremont Colleges Services, which provides shared institutional support services. The Claremont Colleges consistently place at the top of national college rankings, including Forbes, Money and U.S. News and World Report, and the Princeton Review. Each nationally recognized college has its own campus, students and faculty, and distinctive mission, and each offers outstanding curricula, small classes, distinguished professors, and personalized instruction.
 

Education and Experience:

A bachelor's degree in Business or a related field is required; a Master’s degree is preferred. A minimum of 5-10 years of demonstrated success in business development, project management, and sales. Experience in health or life sciences is preferred. Candidates must possess sales, strategic thinking and planning skills.
 

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:  Individuals must possess knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the essential functions of the position, or be able to explain or demonstrate how the essential functions may be performed, with or without reasonable accommodations, using some other combination of skills and abilities.

Supervision of the Corporate Partnerships (CP) Team

• Build a strong team culture while providing direct supervision and oversight of CP staff to ensure that CP team goals are achieved.
• Lead regular CP team meetings to develop staff, establish goals, and increase collaboration.
• Conduct yearly evaluations of CP staff.
• Develop annual CP budget and track monthly expenses to ensure budget compliance.
• In conjunction with the AVP Research, Innovation, and Partnerships, develop a strategic direction for the CP team.
   

Partner Relationship Management

• Establish and maintain strategic contacts in government and industry at pharmaceutical, biotech, healthcare, health IT, physical science, and medical device companies through individual engagement and oversight of the CP Team.
• Cultivate strong relationships with existing and potential industry partners to further the Institute's goals in Team Masters Projects (TMPs), Industry PhDs, PharmD fellowships, corporate education, and corporate-sponsored research through individual engagement and oversight of the CP Team.
• Improve renewal rate of TMPs.
• Maintain contact with current TMP sponsors to monitor quality and satisfaction with the goal of renewing the following year.
• Effectively work across the Office of Research, Innovation, and Strategic Engagements (RISE) to build relationships and collaborate on strategic plans and broader goals.
   

New Business Development and Sponsorships

• Develop strategies for effective outreach and new business development.
• Research and attend industry networking events and conferences with the goal of increasing KGI’s network (up to 15% travel).
• Secure new corporate education opportunities through leveraging existing relationships or offering existing coursework to new clients.
• Oversee the CP team in coordinating external sponsorship efforts for flagship events such as the Bioprocessing Symposium and the Riggs’ Research Symposium, generating increased visibility and financial support for institutional initiatives.
• Pursue new industry relationships with a clear strategy and specific outreach goals.
• Identify and qualify at minimum sixty (60) Team Master’s Project (TMP) leads per academic year through individual engagement and oversight of the CP team.
• Secure required number of TMP contracts for the academic year based on student enrollment projections through individual engagement and oversight of the CP team.
   

Advisory Board Support

• Support the External Advisory Boards (EAB), ensuring robust membership engagement, guidance for focused committees, and leadership of the Executive Committee.
• Develop metrics and track the overall effectiveness of the relationships stemming from EAB membership.
   

Project & Event Management

• Lead the planning, recruiting, promoting, managing, and measuring effectiveness of events, such as External Advisory Board meetings, TMP Kick-off, PharmD fellow professional development, KGI Bioprocessing Symposium, and Riggs’ Research Symposium.
• Work closely with the KGI Marketing team, Academic Affairs, Advancement, Career Services, and others in order to take a leadership role in events that may have corporate involvement.
• Lead collaborative efforts across KGI to ensure coordination with Advancement, Alumni Relations, Career Services, and Academic Affairs.
   

Data Management

• Keep track of and report corporate activities in Raiser’s Edge NXT and other software services as needed.
• Identify areas of improvement for accuracy and efficiency.
• Run reports, create dashboards, and analyze data for effective decision-making.
• Provide departmental updates and draft articles for the RISE Newsletter.
   

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Individuals must possess knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the essential function of the position, or be able to explain or demonstrate how the essential functions may be performed, with or without reasonable accommodations, using some other combination of skills and abilities.

• Must be experienced in relationship management, either from a fundraising, business development, sales, or marketing background.  
• Entrepreneurial energy, self-direction, and an eagerness to generate ideas are essential.
• Excellent project management skills, ability to balance competing priorities, and complex situations.
• Must be deadline-driven, highly organized, and detail-oriented.
• Must be able to work independently, take initiative, and follow through on issues.
• Must be willing to work collaboratively as a member of the Corporate Partnerships team, and to participate enthusiastically in the life of the Institute.
• Proficient with technology. Digitally dexterous with a high level of proficiency in Microsoft Office products (including Excel) and CRM systems. 
• Strong work ethic and team-based approach to working in a high-volume environment.
• Must have excellent professional rapport, exceptional oral and written communication skills, and a strong customer service orientation.
• Ability to maintain the highest level of confidentiality.
• Ability to work comfortably, respectfully, and competently with people of diverse backgrounds.
• Ability to handle multiple responsibilities simultaneously.
• Available for occasional work on evenings and weekends, as event schedules may require.
   

Hours, Classification, and Status: 

This is a regular, full-time, benefits-eligible, exempt position.

The regular hours of this position are Monday-Friday, 8:00 am-5:00 pm. Hours may vary due to the needs of the College or department.

Salary range: $85,000 - $120,000 annualized. The salary of the finalist(s) selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to internal equity, experience, education, specialty, and training.   

Physical and Mental Requirements

Ability to maintain good concentration level while dealing with interruptions; attention to details with emphasis on accuracy; capable of giving, receiving, and analyzing information, formulating work plans, and articulating goals and action plans.  Sitting in a normal seated position for extended periods of time.  Standing for extended periods of time. Reaching and extending hand(s) or arm(s) in any direction.  Finger dexterity required to manipulate objects with fingers rather than the whole hand(s), or arm(s), for example, using a keyboard.  Communication skills using the spoken word. Ability to see within normal parameters.  Ability to hear within normal parameters.  Ability to bend and stoop, for example, to file.  Ability to move about.  Ability to lift and carry short distances up to 20 lbs., for example to lift or move office supplies, files, books and packages. 

Ability to travel locally, depending on business needs.

To Apply:

A confidential review of applications, nominations, and expressions of interest will begin immediately and will continue until an appointment is made. To be ensured full consideration, please upload a letter of interest, resume, and three professional references (a manager, a direct report, if applicable, and a coworker).

Equal Employment Opportunity Policy:

Keck Graduate Institute is an equal opportunity employer. It does not discriminate against qualified employees or applicants based on race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, pregnancy, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, marital status, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, sexual orientation, military or veteran status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable state or federal law. Equal employment opportunity will be extended to all persons in all terms and conditions of employment.

Keck Graduate Institute (KGI) is a participating employer in E-Verify. We use E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees as required by federal law. For more information about E-Verify, please visit www.e-verify.gov.