Director - Strategic Partnerships (Technology—AI frontier labs, major technology)

Director - Strategic Partnerships (Technology—AI frontier labs, major technology) Bottom line: You will make Carolina the best university partner for the technology industry AI frontier labs and major technology companies, and help build the next chapter of Carolina’s excellence. You will report directly to the Vice Chancellor for Innovation, Entrepreneurship & Economic Development. The Director owns this vertical end‑to‑end, working shoulder‑to‑shoulder with other Directors of Strategic Partnerships, academic units, and Partnership Success Managers. You will manage the full partnership cycle: identify suitable organizations, open the door (often leveraging Carolina’s alumni network), discover partner needs, match them to Carolina’s capabilities, and close institution‑scale agreements. After signing, you remain the executive relationship anchor for renewal and expansion while Partnership Success Managers handle activation and delivery. Responsibilities Identify, engage, and secure strategic partnerships with AI frontier labs, Fortune 100 technology firms, and other major technology companies. Manage the entire partnership lifecycle: prospecting, needs assessment, solution design, proposal development, negotiation, contract finalization, and renewal. Serve as the executive relationship anchor, fostering long‑term collaboration and ensuring mutual value creation. Collaborate across a matrixed institution with deans, faculty, development, legal counsel, and other partnership teams. Operate autonomously, set own pace, and deliver high‑quality outcomes with minimal supervision. Leverage frontline AI tools to research, draft, analyze, and accelerate work. Minimum Education and Experience Master’s or Bachelor’s degree and 0‑2 years’ experience; or an acceptable combination of education and experience. Required Qualifications Bachelor’s degree and 10 years of specific industry experience; or a Master’s degree and 5 years of specific industry experience (direct or sales into the relevant vertical). Deep, current industry experience and contacts in the vertical; an active, personal network of senior leaders. Proficiency in frontline AI tools with demonstrable daily use. Track record of building trusted relationships across business, government, and academia. Excellent written, verbal, executive‑level communication with strong brevity. Ability to collaborate across a matrixed institution with diverse stakeholders. Creative, strategic, results‑oriented work style and commitment to public service. Preferred Qualifications Track record of sourcing and closing $25M+ in cumulative partnerships or comparable agreements. Day‑one access to senior leaders (VP level or above) at marquee firms in the relevant domain. 10+ years of direct experience inside or selling into the technology and frontier‑AI sector. Ability to translate complex institutional capabilities into customized value propositions with a written proposal delivered within 30 days. Experience negotiating partnership agreements in coordination with legal counsel and executive leadership. Proficiency with CRM (Salesforce or comparable) for pipeline management and deal‑stage discipline. Familiarity with university research enterprise, technology transfer, or higher‑education industry engagement. Willingness and ability to travel within North Carolina and nationally as needed. Special Physical/Mental Requirements Not Applicable. Equal Opportunity Employer Statement The University is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes all to apply without regard to age, color, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation. We encourage qualified applicants to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. #J-18808-Ljbffr The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill