Associate Director Of Business Development

Description:

LINK, Center for Advancing Partnerships and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) are seeking an Associate Director of Business Development to support industry that advance the goals of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) and Virginia Tech. LINK, a jointly-funded center between Advancement and the Office of Research and Innovation, supports university-wide strategic initiatives, program partnerships, and the university’s $550+ million research enterprise. The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences has a dynamic network that connects and enhances agricultural research and educational initiatives across the Commonwealth of Virginia Tech including eleven Agricultural Research and Extension Centers (AREC) and 107 local Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE) offices. Central to the CALS strategy is the new Center for Advanced Innovation in Agriculture (CAIA) and its SmartFarm Innovation Network. This position is key to the presidential university initiative to be a leading 21st century land grant university that delivers innovative solutions to the most pressing global challenges of our time.

The Associate Director of Business Development will serve as the primary interface between a defined portfolio of industry partners and the university, as well as support program partnerships and corporate engagement related to key strategic activities of CALS, the ARECs, VCE offices, and the CAIA/SmartFarm Innovation Network. This person will identify, nurture and expand relationships through research-based partnerships, connections to research centers, extension programs, faculty expertise, facilities and equipment, facilitated working sessions, fundraising, facilitation of student recruitment and learning experiences, professional training, advisory board service, networking events and other College and University activities and programs in response to industry partner needs and interests.

Reporting to the Executive Director of LINK and embedded in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, the Associate Director of Business Development will:

Nurture and expand relationships with prospective industry partners, often with senior leaders, serving as the primary point of contact for a portfolio of corporations.

Work closely with CALS faculty, researchers, program managers, staff, and Advancement professionals across the institution to engage industry partners, making links between company interests/market needs and university opportunities, research, and students.

Lend industry, market, and/or technical domain analysis, insight, and experience to identify possible opportunities and value drivers to inform and support cultivation and engagement strategies.

Develop intelligence around and connections to VT faculty and research interests, capabilities, and activities, identifying opportunities that have industry/market relevance; organize working sessions, and effectively connect and shepherd the relationships.

Identify, shape, and solicit corporate opportunities (including philanthropic), through a variety of mechanisms, including organizing working sessions and co-creation activities with members of the faculty and staff.

Schedule and host corporate visits to VT campuses that reflects the breadth of CALS and university offerings, driving toward tangible opportunities and outcomes.

Maintain knowledge of technology, research, and recruiting needs of industry, as well as of specific firms.

Assist in crafting grant applications, proposals, white papers, status reports and corporate report cards.

Assist in formulating collaboration strategies and opportunities, as well as research contract and gift agreement review and processing.

Assist in developing marketing initiatives and stewardship programs with corporate partners.

Serve as liaison to CALS leaders, faculty, and staff as well as collaborating colleges, units, and institutes.

Required Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree with demonstrated sales/industry experience applicable to the agricultural and life sciences; or master’s or other advanced degree.

Experience in consultative or technical sales/marketing, business development, client management, business/research strategy, and/or innovation/partnerships function.

Track record of professionalism, with strong communication skills (both written and oral) and ability to work with and support a wide range of constituents, e.g., clients, customers, teams, donors, and volunteers.

Ability to analyze data (e.g., market, technical, customer) and lend technical expertise to establish priorities, and develop and implement strategies with increasing complexity.

Evidence as a self-starter who can work independently, as well as be a team contributor in a complex and fast-paced organization.

Willingness to travel on a frequent basis.