An organization is seeking a visionary leader to serve as Assistant Vice President (AVP) for Industry Engagement. This leader will be responsible for unifying campus towards a holistic direction, understanding how talent, research and philanthropy can elevate our campus and the mission of our industry partners, and representing the interests and needs of the corporate community with our executives.

Strategic Vision:

• Craft a comprehensive multi-year campus corporate strategy that will drive support for institutional priorities and increase research, job opportunities for students, and philanthropic revenue.
• Collaborate with the University President’s Office and Provost’s Office ensuring their presence supports key initiatives and maximizes impact on corporate partnerships and university priorities.
• Serve as an active member of the University leadership team and collaborate with academic and administrative leadership and peers to achieve institution-wide goals.
• Identify, manage, and execute strategies to cultivate, secure, sustain, and expand strategic partnerships in support of the priorities of the university including research, talent and philanthropy.
• Strategically secure resources through corporate partnerships that fund critical university initiatives, such as research, scholarships, programs, and facility development.
• Collaborate with leadership, development, and research teams to evaluate capacity, identify growth opportunities, and develop strategies for multidisciplinary partnerships that enhance involvement at all levels.
• Represent the university and the university’s interests to industry partners.
• Emphasize cultivation of strategic partnerships in high-growth sectors that align with university strengths, such as emerging technologies and sustainable development.

University Collaboration:

• Foster a collaborative university culture in support of improved performance and strategic outcomes.
• Leverage research expertise and technical proficiency to collaborate with campus partners in driving industry partnerships that foster innovation, expand research opportunities, and increase job and internship pathways for students.
• Develop a broad and deep understanding of industry, research and talent priorities across campus and of university policies relating to various types of corporate relationships and support.
• Provide strategic guidance to CSUs, ensuring best-in-class services and operations.
• Identify and develop innovative solutions to address cross-campus challenges to successfully engage with industry.
• Monitor industry trends and emerging best practices, disseminating relevant insights to the campus community to inform strategic decisions.
• Foster innovative partnership models across multiple CSUs that elevate UT Austin’s profile as a premier institution for industry collaboration.
• Lead the central industry data hub, aggregating data to support decision-making.

Team Management:

• Lead and grow a strong, effective team capable of building robust industry relationships while collaborating closely with CSU affiliated officers, faculty, administration, program staff and other stakeholders.
• Support and provide guidance to Industry Engagement team in cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding prospects and corporate partners.
• Supervise marketing and operations staff in a campus-wide shared services hub.
• Foster a professional environment that recognizes and rewards performance, supports innovation and risk-taking, builds confidence, and encourages teamwork.

Operational Excellence:

• Architect operations that streamline processes and optimize overall efficiency, productivity, and collaboration among staff members.
• Oversee the delivery of core service functions, ensuring effective support in areas like gift processing, stewardship, marketing, and compliance.
• Ensure compliance with policies and manage risks to protect the university’s interests.
• Administer the department’s budget and personnel.
• Implement a metrics-driven reporting framework that assesses the impact of corporate partnerships, ensuring transparency and alignment with the university’s mission.

• 15+ years of experience in fundraising, corporate relations, sales or market development, or comparable field, in either the higher education context or the corporate-side of university-industry engagement, is preferred.
• Track record of leading teams, establishing and managing multi-dimensional partnerships, driving innovation and operational excellence
• Strong technical expertise with demonstrated experience in initiating and advancing research opportunities.
• Strong written, oral and interpersonal communications skills and political acumen.
• Demonstrated ability to implement strategy within the context of a large organization.
• Ability to work with cross-functional teams and foster trust and teamwork in a collaborative environment.
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.

Preferred Qualifications

• Strong knowledge of corporate fundraising, including strategies for identification, segmentation, cultivation, and solicitation.
• Graduate work in the sciences or engineering or an MBA preferred.