Strategic Partnerships Lead

This position has been deemed critical by the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability Dean’s Office and is exempt from the hiring pause. This position is based on Stanford’s main campus with consideration given to the option for a hybrid work schedule (partially onsite and offsite), subject to operational need. Interested candidates must include a resume and cover letter to be considered for this position. Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa. About Us The Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability strives to create a future when humans and nature thrive in concert and in perpetuity. The school is made up of a three‑part structure to drive global impact: Our academic departments and programs educate students and create new knowledge across areas of research that are crucial for advancing the long‑term prosperity of the planet and people; Institutes bridge scholarship at Stanford and beyond, bringing multiple viewpoints to bear on urgent challenges; The Sustainability Accelerator drives new policy and technology solutions through a worldwide network of partners who work with our teams to develop solutions at a global scale. The school is dedicated to creating and supporting a community with the richness of experience and background needed to create solutions that benefit all people, particularly those affected by environmental damage and climate change. Precourt Institute for Energy As part of the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability, the Precourt Institute for Energy concentrates the talents of the University on energy research and education, from basic science and technology to policy and business. We disseminate research results and help the University develop energy‑literate leaders as part of its educational mission. We work across campus in all seven of Stanford’s schools. We also build collaborations globally with industry, other research institutions, government, and civic organizations in pursuit of sustainable, affordable, secure energy for all people. This role will draw upon expertise within the Institute as well as its expansive networks both on and off campus to provide support for more ecopreneurs. STEER STEER is an initiative at Stanford focusing on the intersection of engineering, economics, and innovation. The core approach of STEER is to overcome technology uncertainties to guide strategic investments and innovation. Leveraging a technology‑centric focus and an understanding of deployment roadmaps, STEER forecasts economic competitiveness of various technology offerings based on upstream supply chain considerations and downstream market needs. This enables quantitative comparisons of technologies to inform what to build, where to innovate, and how to invest. The five key analytical horizontals of STEER are supply chain, technology, deployment, economic feasibility, and energy systems, which cut across a multitude of technology verticals. The four key functions of STEER are (1) Scouting, (2) Analysis & Strategy, (3) Solutions, and (4) Operations. Seeking Strategic Partnerships Lead The Precourt Institute for Energy is seeking exceptional candidates to serve as the Strategic Partnerships Lead. The role falls primarily in the scouting function of STEER—a critical function of the organization to maintain relevance with industry and ensure STEER is asking and answering the right questions. This role will be focused on business development, responsible for scouting, developing, and maintaining industry connections, identifying key white spaces in the intersections of STEER horizontals and verticals, developing analysis prospectuses and white papers for STEER to launch into new areas, and organizing strategic executive convenings to obtain industry feedback. This role will also manage the scouting and onboarding of industry partners as members of the Industrial Affiliates Program (IAP) associated with STEER, and assistance in fundraising would be expected. As new working groups get launched, this role is expected to stay abreast of technical analysis results and act as a liaison for industry feedback. Key Responsibilities Industry Scouting & Business Development Identify and develop relationships with industry leaders. Develop and maintain CRM/database of prospective/current partners and industry participants, including engagement history and opportunity pipelines. Identify emerging technology interests, policy developments, and market shifts to inform STEER’s strategic priorities. Strategic Development & White Space Identification Manage strategic identification of “white spaces” ripe for STEER’s analytical value proposition, such as identifying intersectional nodes between horizontals and technology verticals. Develop Strategic Landscaping White Papers and other framing documents to position STEER for new areas of analysis or convening. Activate STEER’s Analysis & Strategy Staff to translate qualitative market signals into actionable analytical products. Partnership Management & Fundraising Manage sourcing and development of new Industrial Affiliates Program members. Maintain regular communication with partners to ensure alignment between technical workstreams and stakeholder needs. Strategic Liaison & Industry Feedback Integration Connect STEER’s analytical staff with industry partners to integrate real‑world feedback into ongoing research. Manage strategic planning and reporting cycles across STEER’s working groups. Translate complex technical findings into actionable insights for diverse audiences. Program & Convening Leadership Design and manage high‑level executive convenings (e.g., Roundtables, Forums, Summits) that engage industry and government leaders around key technology challenges. Translate outcomes from convenings into Executive Summaries, internal strategy documents, and external briefings. Professionalism: Ability to represent Stanford and STEER in high‑level external settings with credibility and diplomacy. Core Duties Lead the planning and operations for programs or functions that have significant business, regulatory and/or technical challenges requiring subject matter expertise. Evaluate programs or functions, policies and procedures. Identify issues, and develop alternative solutions which may include changes to programs, policies and procedures. Review and analyze trends to advise and develop recommendations to achieve or modify the goals of the program or function. Represent the program or function within the department, unit or school by committing resources and provide information and/or training. Represent the program or function at the university level and/or to external/internal stakeholders and constituencies. Manage and contribute to the development of outreach strategy that may include relationship development, communications and compliance. May develop and/or oversee budgets; manage finances including monitoring, analyzing, forecasting, and reporting. Assess training needs and may develop associated training. May direct and/or supervise staff. Employees may also perform other duties as assigned. To Be Successful In This Position, You Will Need Bachelor’s degree and five years of relevant experience, or combination of education and relevant experience. Demonstrated ability to establish priorities, manage shifting priorities, and handle numerous time‑sensitive projects with multiple deadlines. Ability to accomplish goals working through formal and informal channels, with diplomacy and tactfulness. Demonstrated creativity, problem solving, critical analysis, initiative, judgment and decision‑making skills. Demonstrated ability to develop and meet budget goals. Demonstrated solid planning and organizational skills. Demonstrated experience working independently and as part of a team. Excellent interpersonal, written and oral communication skills. Strong relevant subject matter knowledge. Ability to direct the work of others, for jobs requiring supervision. Desired Qualifications Demonstrated ability to identify and cultivate strategic partnerships across academia, industry, and government. Strong understanding of the energy technology ecosystem, including one or more domains such as energy storage, nuclear, hydrogen, geothermal, carbon management, etc. Experience developing thought leadership materials (e.g., white papers, prospectuses, or strategic frameworks). Proven ability to organize and manage high‑level executive events or cross‑sector initiatives. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to convey technical and strategic ideas to diverse audiences. Strategic thinker capable of connecting technological innovation with economic and policy considerations. The candidate should have an enthusiasm to work with students and be excited about developing strong, lasting connections with them. Creativity, passion, and excitement to create a positive, meaningful program for Stanford students. Build and nurture relationships across Stanford’s energy ecosystem (and with external partners). Serve as a mentor to students, connect them to resources and opportunities, and help them chart a path forward based on their interests. Desired Experience Bachelor’s degree in engineering, energy systems, economics, business, or related field. Master’s degree or equivalent experience strongly preferred (e.g., MBA, MS in Energy Resources Engineering, or MS in Management Science & Engineering). Prior experience in research institutes, think tanks, or technology commercialization environments highly desirable. Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities Strategic Acumen: Ability to recognize cross‑sector trends and translate them into actionable program opportunities. Communication: Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to engage executives, researchers, and policymakers. Project Management: Strong organizational skills to manage multiple concurrent initiatives, deadlines, and stakeholder expectations. Analytical Thinking: Comfort working with both qualitative and quantitative information; ability to synthesize complex data into clear insights. Collaboration: Skilled at working across multidisciplinary teams and bridging technical and non‑technical perspectives. Entrepreneurial Mindset: Self‑starter with the ability to identify opportunities, build partnerships, and drive initiatives to completion. Consistent with its obligations under the law, the University will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Pay Range Expected pay range: $120,038 to $153,486 per annum. Benefits Stanford University provides a comprehensive rewards package. Detailed information on benefits can be found at Specifics about the rewards package for this position may be discussed during the hiring process. How To Apply We invite you to apply for this position by clicking on the “Apply for Job” button. Stanford is an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. #J-18808-Ljbffr