Executive Director, Partnerships

The Opportunity:

The Executive Director, Partnerships – CECS will play a pivotal role in developing mutually beneficial corporate partnerships that enhance UCF’s reputation as Florida’s premier engineering and technology institution. Embedded within CECS, this position will work closely with faculty, students, and corporate partners to expand academic and research opportunities while increasing revenue across seven key channels of corporate engagement:

• Sponsored research

• Corporate capstones

• Co-location

• Executive education

• Business collaborations

• Student engagement/talent support

• Philanthropy

Success in this role will be measured by revenue growth across these engagement channels and the long-term impact of corporate partnerships.

Responsibilities:

• Develop and execute partnership strategies aligned with UCF’s strategic plan to strengthen research, innovation, and student success while supporting the university’s goal of becoming a Top 25 public research institution.

• Build and expand relationships with corporate executives, working directly with the Dean of CECS and faculty to identify high-value partnership opportunities.

• Lead multi-disciplinary engagement teams across UCF to maximize corporate collaboration and ensure seamless access to university-wide resources.

• Manage and grow corporate partnerships by delivering sustained value creation for both UCF and its partners through customized engagement strategies.

• Collaborate with university leadership to drive complex business development discussions, positioning CECS as a premier partner for industry-leading organizations.

• Create and implement strategic engagement plans for corporate partners, tracking measurable outcomes such as research funding, talent pipeline expansion, executive education, and philanthropy.

• Demonstrate leadership in corporate engagement by overseeing multiple teams and driving cross-university collaboration to achieve revenue growth and institutional success.

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor's or Master's degree and 6 years of relevant experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience pursuant to Fla. Stat. 112.219. Click here for more information

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working within higher education, engineering, or technology sectors.

• Strong corporate relationship-building skills with ability to communicate and work closely with C-suite executives.

• Familiarity with research collaboration, corporate partnerships, and workforce development initiatives.

• Proven ability to drive revenue generation through various funding channels.

• Ability to lead cross-functional teams and manage multiple high-impact partnerships simultaneously.

• Excellent strategic planning, negotiation, and communication skills.

Special Instructions to the Applicants:

The anticipated salary for a well-qualified candidate is $117,747 - $140,000

Advancement and Partnerships values the unique contributions that each team member brings to our division. The determination of a successful candidate's starting salary will vary based on several factors, including education and relevant experience. The anticipated pay scale indicated for this position generally applies to candidates who meet the minimum requirements and several of the preferred qualifications outlined above.

Classification Title: Development Director III

Are you ready to unleash YOUR potential?

As a next-generation public research university and Forbes-ranked top employer in Florida, we are a community of thinkers, doers, creators, innovators, healers, and leaders striving to create broader prosperity and help shape a better future. No matter what your role is, when you join Knight Nation, you’ll play an integral role at one of the most impactful universities in the country. You’ll be met with opportunities to connect and collaborate with talented faculty, staff, and students across 13 colleges and multiple campuses, engaging in impactful work that makes a positive difference. Your time at UCF will provide you with many meaningful opportunities to grow, you’ll work alongside talented colleagues on complex projects that will challenge you and help you gain new skills and you’ll have countless rewarding experiences that go well beyond a paycheck.

Working at UCF has its perks! UCF offers:

• Benefit packages, including Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Flexible Spending, and Employee Assistance Program

• Paid time off, including annual and sick time off and paid holidays

• Retirement savings options

• Employee discounts, including tickets to many Orlando attractions

• Education assistance

• Flexible work environment

• And more…For more benefits information, view the UCF Employee Benefits Guide.

Dive into our Total Rewards Calculator to discover the diverse selection available to you, giving you a glimpse into the benefits that together shape your comprehensive rewards package at UCF.

Unless explicitly stated on the job posting, it is UCF’s expectation that an employee of UCF will reside in Florida as of the date the employment begins.

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