Director of Corporate Partnerships

Reporting to the Associate Vice President in the Office of Strategic Partnerships the Director of Corporate Relations serves as the universitys primary point of contact for corporate partners delivering a high-touch concierge-level experience that connects external organizations with USF.

This role guides partners through university systems ensuring seamless navigation fostering strong relationships and advancing impactful public-private partnerships. The Director provides project management oversight from initial inquiry through partnership development continuing until an agreement is established or the opportunity is no longer pursued.

This position does not include responsibilities related to philanthropy government relations or community engagement.

The Director ensures that all corporate engagements are managed with intention responsiveness and a clear focus on achieving meaningful outcomes for both the university and its partners.

Hiring Salary: $73000 to $80000 annually

Key Responsibilities

• Lead business development efforts with corporate partners cultivating non-philanthropic opportunities such as joint research sponsored projects training programs co-developed academic offerings experiential learning internships and other strategic collaborations.
• Identify and advance sponsorship opportunities coordinating appropriate handoff to the USF Foundation when applicable.
• Serve as the central point of contact for corporate partnerships ensuring a high level of accessibility responsiveness and continuity throughout the relationship lifecycle.
• Manage and strengthen existing partnerships by overseeing ongoing collaboration activities and proactively identifying new areas for growth and engagement.
• Partner with USF colleges and internal units to identify institutional priorities and prospect for aligned external corporate partners.
• Actively develop and pursue corporate leads that align with university needs across research talent development and other strategic initiatives.
• Facilitate connections between corporate partners and university stakeholders ensuring effective communication and alignment of goals.
• Maintain and manage a pipeline of partnership opportunities with success measured by new connections established and the depth of engagement with existing partners.
• Track analyze and report on partnership activity and outcomes including associated revenue generation.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of all partnership activities within the approved CRM and Partner Matrix Repository to support KPI reporting.

Minimum Qualifications:

Masters degree in Business Administration Public Administration Communications or a related field. An equivalent combination of education and demonstrated professional experience may be considered in lieu of a graduate degree.

3 years of experience in business development corporate relations or partnership management required; 5 or more years preferred. Candidates must demonstrate a track record of building and closing corporate partnerships that resulted in measurable outcomes.

Degree Equivalency Clause: Four years of direct experience for a bachelors degree.
Senate Bill 1310- The Florida Senate ( is conditional upon meeting all employment eligibility requirements in the U.S.
SB 1310: Substitution of Work Experience for Postsecondary Education Requirements
A public employer may include a postsecondary degree as a baseline requirement only as an alternative to the number of years of direct experience required not to exceed:
(a) Two years of direct experience for an associate degree;
(b) Four years of direct experience for a bachelors degree;
(c) Six years of direct experience for a masters degree;
(d) Seven years of direct experience for a professional degree; or
(e) Nine years of direct experience for a doctoral degree
Related work experience may not substitute for any required licensure certification or registration required for the position of employment as established by the public employer and indicated in the advertised description of the position of employment.
Minimum Qualifications that require a high school diploma are exempt from SB 1310.

Preferred Qualifications:

Core Competencies

• Business development and strategic relationship management
• Public-private partnership development and facilitation
• Project management and pipeline oversight
• Strategic prospecting outreach and opportunity development
• Negotiation and deal structuring
• Cross-functional collaboration within complex organizations
• Strong presentation and communication skills

Technical Skills

• Experience with partner tracking systems and KPI reporting
• Data analysis and reporting with the ability to translate partnership activity into measurable outcomes
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and project management tools

Professional Experience & Knowledge

• Demonstrated success in B2B relationship management and business development frameworks
• Experience initiating developing and managing partnerships that deliver measurable results

Soft Skills

• Exceptional interpersonal and relationship-building skills with the ability to engage effectively with corporate executives and university leadership
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to present ideas clearly and persuasively across diverse audiences
• Self-starter with the ability to work independently manage competing priorities and drive initiatives forward
• Collaborative team player who navigates complex organizational environments effectively
• Solutions-oriented mindset demonstrating creativity and resourcefulness in addressing challenges
• High emotional intelligence with the ability to adapt communication styles and build trust quickly
• Strong organizational skills attention to detail and follow-through
• Ability to operate effectively in ambiguous fast-paced environments

Portfolio (Optional)
A portfolio is not required; however candidates may submit one to demonstrate relevant experience and outcomes. Examples may include partnerships developed relationships managed or measurable results achieved through prior business development efforts.