Director of Corporate Development

Director of Corporate Engagement and Relations Discovery Partners Institute, The Grainger College of Engineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Location: Chicago, IL. Requires on‑site presence for a minimum of three days per week. Responsibilities Strategic Planning for Corporate Engagement Develop and execute an AI and computing corporate engagement strategic plan for GCOE in Chicagoland. Engage with industry regarding challenges and opportunities in AI and computing research, technology application, and workforce education. Act as a catalyst to accelerate the translation of University of Illinois research to industry and identify follow‑on research opportunities. Coordinate with campus activities to ensure strategic alignment. Prospecting and Business Development Develop critical partnerships across private and public sectors, academia, and national labs to build research and educational pipelines. Engage with trade associations and nonprofit organizations to promote GCOE collaborations in AI and computing. Evaluate potential leads and identify the most appropriate opportunities to pursue. Serve as the DPI contact for faculty and administrators seeking corporate relationships. Account Management and Retention Supervise the corporate relations team, establishing staffing plans and workflows. Curate and manage strategic partnerships with Chicagoland organizations to deepen engagement. Build and track a pipeline of engagement that expands internships, educational engagement, research funding, and other opportunities. Set, measure, and deliver against income goals for corporate relations funding. Coordinate with campus and GCOE corporate relations staff on complex business accounts. Database Management and Marketing Maintain a Salesforce database and develop internal workflows, best practices, and training. Collaborate with marketing and communications to develop ongoing campaigns for awareness and sales. Other duties as assigned; occasional travel to Urbana Campus and availability for after‑hours work, evenings and weekends. Minimum Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in computer science, electrical or computer engineering, or related field. Seven or more years of experience developing and maintaining corporate engagement strategies. Experience delivering successful revenue‑generating campaigns. Experience collaborating with private and public sector entities in Chicago and Illinois. Experience leading staff and managing operations. Preferred Qualifications Experience working with industry, government, academia, and nonprofit stakeholders. Advanced degree (MS or terminal) in CS, electrical or computer engineering, or MBA. Cross‑functional industry, academia, or government experience. Willingness to travel, including to Urbana campus. Ability to work outside standard hours. Excellent interpersonal, presentation, and communication skills. Proven organizational and multitasking abilities. Strong writing and confidentiality skills. Marketing and communications experience. Knowledge of Salesforce, LinkedIn, and similar tools. Appointment Information Academic Professional position, 12‑month service basis. Salary range: $170,000 – $200,000. Position requires on‑site presence in Chicago, IL, at least three days per week. Benefits Health, dental, vision, life insurance, retirement plan, paid time off, and tuition waivers for employees and dependents. Equal Employment Opportunity The University of Illinois System is an equal opportunity employer, including but not limited to disability and/or veteran status, and complies with all applicable state and federal employment mandates. Applicants with disabilities are encouraged to apply and may request reasonable accommodations. Compliance Applicants may be subject to export control screening procedures in accordance with applicable federal laws. #J-18808-Ljbffr