Senior Director of Corporate Partnerships

Job Posting Title:

Senior Director of Corporate Partnerships

Job Description:

Position Overview:

Under the supervision of the 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.

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 life and health sciences, business, pharmacy, engineering, and genetics, focusing on industry projects, hands-on industry experiences, and team collaborations. KGI employs an entrepreneurial approach and industry connections that allow students to become leaders in healthcare and the applied life sciences.

Located in beautiful Claremont, California, KGI 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. Each nationally recognized college has its own campus, students and faculty, and distinctive mission, and each offers top-notch curricula, small classes, distinguished professors, and personalized instruction. 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.

Education and Experience:

A bachelor’s degree in business or a related field and a minimum of 10 years of demonstrated success in business development, project management, and sales are required. Must possess sales, strategic thinking, and planning skills. A master’s degree is preferred. Experience in health or life sciences is a plus. 

An equivalent combination of education, training, and experience that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the duties of the position may be considered.

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.

• Relationship Management

  • Establish and maintain strategic contacts in government and industry at pharmaceutical, biotech, health care, health IT, physical science, and medical device companies.

  • 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.

  • Improve renewal rate of TMPs.

  • Maintain contact with current TMP sponsors to monitor quality and satisfaction with the goal of renewing the following year.

  • Build a strong team culture while providing direct supervision of CP staff.

  • 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.

  • Help coordinate external sponsorship efforts for flagship events such as the Bioprocessing Symposium and the Rigg’s Research Symposium, generating increased visibility and financial support for institutional initiatives.

  • Pursue new industry relationships with a clear strategy and specific outreach goals.

  • Lead CP Team to identify and qualify at minimum sixty (60) Team Master’s Project (TMP) leads per academic year.

  • Lead CP Team to secure required number of TMP contracts for the academic year based on student enrollment projections.

• 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 regular CP team meetings to develop staff, establish goals, and increase collaboration

  • 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.

  • Develop annual CP budget and track monthly expenses to ensure budget compliance.

  • 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 accommodation, 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.

• Proficient with technology. Digitally dexterous with a high level of proficiency in Microsoft Office products (including Excel) and CRM systems. 

• Must have excellent professional rapport, exceptional oral and written communication skills and a strong customer service orientation.

• 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.

• Experience working with a diverse campus community and possess a commitment to equity and inclusion.

• Able and willing to work weekend and evening hours, as required for events and programming.  

Hours, Classification, and Status:

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

The regular hours of this position are Monday-Friday, 8:30 am-5:30 pm. Hours will vary due to the needs of the Institute or department.

Salary range: $120,000.00 - $145,000.00 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. Selected candidates will be offered a starting salary based on years of aligned experience and any specialized training or certifications (if preferred for the position). All offers will be made within the posted pay range and are not eligible for negotiation above the maximum. Our institute is deeply committed to equity and thus maintains a no-negotiation policy.

KGI offers a comprehensive compensation and benefit package. To learn more, visit  https://services.claremont.edu/benefits-administration/ 

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 and nationally up to 25% as needed to meet business requirements, which may include driving or other modes of transportation and overnight stays. Occasionally, will be required to stand for prolonged periods of time at activities/events on and off campus.

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.

Employment Eligibility:
Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis without employer sponsorship. No visa sponsorship is available from Keck Graduate Institute.

KGI is a participating employer in E-Verify and uses the system 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.