The posting
Job Description
Position Summary:
The Director of Corporate Partnerships (New York) will build deep and lasting partnerships between the university and business/industry as well as other strategic external entities that result in significant investment via student and alumni hires, co-marketing, executive education and training, as well as sponsored investments in other projects and/or research/philanthropy. As an integral member of the Vanderbilt University–New York City team and the university’s Center for Corporate Partnerships, this individual will help establish the NYC campus as a hub for corporate engagement, connecting New York City business and industry leaders with Vanderbilt’s academic programs, research enterprise, students, and broader institutional priorities.
This position requires careful attention and guidance to manage expectations, facilitate experiences, and drive results. Insightful and continuous matchmaking, progress tracking, story capturing, best practices research, and co-creation are essential aspects of advancing such partnerships. Providing a single point of contact for the primary interface for a portfolio of strategic partner organizations with Vanderbilt, to organize across and support holistic engagement across the university, is essential to create and grow these lasting partnerships.
The Director of Corporate Partnerships role based at the New York City campus serves as the primary interface for an assigned portfolio of strategic external partner companies on behalf of Vanderbilt University in New York, continuously connecting these clients with VU programs and initiatives across the entire portfolio to solve their business needs and increase revenue and other value for VU programs.
About the Work Unit:
The Center for Corporate Partnerships provides central leadership to coordinate and advance corporate engagement across Vanderbilt University. The CCP stewards and connects any opportunities with business and industry, is a continuous resource for faculty and staff, and provides unified relationship management with key corporate accounts the university collaborates with. The CCP is a key component of the newly launched Vanderbilt Enterprises initiative.
Vanderbilt Enterprises is a strategic initiative launched to unlock the full potential of Vanderbilt University’s assets—facilities, services, and partnerships—to generate sustainable revenue and support long-term institutional priorities. Led by CEO Markus Schreyer, the venture draws inspiration from global best practices across industries, including hospitality, sports, and entertainment.
Key Functions and Expected Performance:
Cultivate and Maintain External Partnerships
- Serve as the Vanderbilt University focal for a portfolio of strategic partner companies to elevate engagement, drive value, and increase financial investment.
- Create and implement client account plans to map existing alignment and forge strong, value-added relationships through achievement of identified partner business objectives.
- Drive collaboration, engagement, and accountability to align solutions for client needs that are achieved on schedule, on budget, and meet/exceed expectations.
- Deliver repeatable engagement processes to achieve client’s desired solutions and outcomes.
- Assist with inquiries and/or answering questions on university capabilities, aligning visits and/or providing tours, making presentations, making referrals, and facilitating the achievement of official partnership agreements where appropriate.
- Represent the department on committees and initiatives as delegated by leadership.
- Identify and cultivate corporate partnerships that leverage Vanderbilt’s NYC presence to advance research collaborations, executive education, athletics, sponsored programs, student engagement and hiring, thought leadership, and innovative uses of campus facilities.
Grow and Maintain Internal Collaboration
- Facilitate and maintain deep collaborations with colleges and departments to develop and cultivate key relationships with researchers, faculty, academic leadership, administrative and research units, including Development and Alumni Relations,Government and Community Relations, Athletics, The Office of the Vice Provost for Research & Innovation, IT, Facilities, Procurement, and student employment units, including the Career Center, and other student talent gatekeepers, to increase breadth and depth of partnership opportunities.
- Assist leadership in development of internal programs to increase visibility and opportunities for industry/business engagement for faculty and staff.
- Collaborate with NYC academic leadership, faculty, and university career services to align opportunities with student interests and academic programs.
- Partner with NYC campus leadership and university stakeholders to identify opportunities for corporate engagement through executive conversations, conferences, industry roundtables, thought leadership programs, and corporate engagement in signature campus events; convert these engagements into partnerships that drive revenue.
Measure, Iterate, and Improve Engagements and Processes to Inform and Support Divisional Strategies
- Proactively measures client satisfaction. Resolve any issues or potential process breakdowns and then leverage to preserve resources and create products and/or services that can be re-purposed as future solutions.
- Collaborate on designing and implementing client focused policies and procedures that ensure that the university has an effective framework for maintaining and growing relationships with corporate partners so that they will recognize Vanderbilt University as a partner of choice.
- Capture data and partner engagement to effectively allow marketing and communications to “tell the story” of transformational outcomes related to working with Vanderbilt University.
- Help design and populate systems for progress metrics collection and reporting. Provide reports on a known regular cadence.
- Advise leadership on issues, opportunities and best practices associated with partnership relationship management and make recommendations for continuous improvements.
- Direct and implement special projects and/or perform related duties as assigned.
- Maintain a qualified NYC corporate partnership pipeline and jointly agreed performance measures. Review progress regularly with both the Center for Corporate Partnerships leadership and NYC leadership.
Supervisory Relationships:
This position does not have direct professional staff supervisory responsibilities. It may supervise student workers or interns. The position is an integral member of the Vanderbilt University–New York City team and has a direct reporting relationship with the Head of Corporate Partnerships in Vanderbilt Enterprises’ Center for Corporate Partnerships. The role works closely with the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Strategic Initiatives and Executive Director of Operations & Engagement, Vanderbilt University–New York City, to establish shared priorities in support of the campus’s objectives. The formal administrative and functional reporting arrangement, annual goal setting, and performance review responsibilities will be confirmed by leadership.
Education and Certifications
A bachelor’s degree is required; master’s degree or advanced degree in a relevant field preferred.
Experience and Skills:
- Minimum 8 years of related professional work experience is required
- Experience in implementing and scaling Salesforce or similar CRM is preferred
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills are required
- Ability to exercise good judgment in the handling of confidential information is required
- Capacity to perform in an intellectually rigorous and complex academic environment is required
- The ability to work independently, take initiative, manage multiple projects simultaneously, meet deadlines, and adapt to changing priorities is required
- A professional attitude, with the ability to exhibit considerable tact, persuasion, and judgement in interactions with internal and external constituents is required
- Demonstrated ability to work successfully with high-level executives is required
- Commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion as an organizational operating principle is required
- Demonstrated experience developing relationships and navigating the New York City business community is strongly preferred. Experience at the intersection of higher education, industry, and economic development is desirable. The anticipated salary range for this exempt position is $164,000-$201,000 annually, depending on education, skills, experience, and other job-related factors. Job responsibilities listed herein are intended to be a thorough representation of the duties, responsibilities, expectations, and qualifications for this specific role at the time of hire but should not be considered all-encompassing as actual responsibilities may evolve to include additional duties as assigned based on organizational and operational needs.
About Us
At Vanderbilt University , our work - regardless of title or role - is in service to an important and noble mission in which every member of our community serves in advancing knowledge and transforming lives on a daily basis. Located in Nashville, Tennessee, on a 330+ acre campus and arboretum dating back to 1873, Vanderbilt is proud to have been named as one of “America’s Best Large Employers” as well as a top employer in Tennessee and the Nashville metropolitan area by Forbes for several years running. We welcome those who are interested in learning and growing professionally with an employer that strives to create, foster and sustain opportunities as an employer of choice.
We understand you have a choice when choosing where to work and pursue a career. We understand you are unique and have a story. We want to hear it. We encourage you to apply today so that you might become a part of our story.
Vanderbilt University is an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran, or any other characteristic protected by law.
