Assoc VP, Strategic Research Partnerships

The Associate Vice President (AVP) for Business Development and Strategic Research Partnerships is responsible for advancing the strategic growth of the University of Rochester’s research mission through the development, cultivation, and management of high-impact partnerships and business development initiatives. Working collaboratively across research, academic, and administrative divisions, the AVP will identify and pursue strategic opportunities, build meaningful relationships with external partners (industry, government, non-profits), and support revenue-generating and mission-advancing projects aligned with the University’s research priorities.

Responsibilities

Advancing strategic growth of the University of Rochester’s research mission through development, cultivation, and management of high-impact partnerships and business development initiatives; Developing and implementing a business development and research partnership strategy aligned with the University’s mission, academic priorities, and research strengths; Monitoring emerging trends across research, innovation and higher education ecosystems; Collaborating with senior leadership to refine and evolve the University’s external research alliance strategy; Conducting and synthesizing market research, benchmarking, and competitive analyses; Identifying, evaluating, and cultivating new partnerships with corporations, government agencies, and non-profit and other industry organizations; Developing and leading partnerships with industry to foster innovation, technology transfer, workforce development, and collaborative research opportunities; Designing, negotiating, and executing partnership agreements, sponsored research projects, licensing arrangements, and joint ventures; Serving as primary liaison for high-level corporate partners; Driving execution from agreement to implementation; Tracking partnership performance and financial outcomes; Establishing key performance indicators and metrics; Building, supervising, and mentoring a team of business development and partnership professionals; Representing the University externally at conferences and industry forums

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in business, management, higher education administration, or a related field; Minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible experience in business development, strategic partnerships, or related roles; Proven track record of initiating, negotiating, and implementing strategic partnerships or business development initiatives with measurable impact; Strong strategic thinking, analytical, and decision-making skills, with ability to translate institutional strategy into actionable partnership programs; Demonstrated ability to build and maintain relationships across internal and external stakeholders, including senior executives, academic leaders, and industry partners; Excellent communication, presentation, and negotiation skills; Experience leading or managing teams, fostering collaboration, driving results, and managing multiple projects simultaneously; Knowledge of the research enterprise, including sponsored programs, intellectual property, technology commercialization, licensing, or related topics; Understanding of philanthropic, grant, or contract-funding environments; Familiarity with metrics for tracking partnership performance (ROI, strategic value, risk exposure)