Virginia Tech
Position Summary
The Managing Director, Partnerships & Engagement, is a senior leader responsible for cultivating and stewarding strategic relationships that advance the mission, visibility, and impact of the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center (VTCRC). This role oversees corporate engagement, regional partnerships, tenant relationship strategy, and community outreach across the Corporate Research Center.
This position serves as a key partner to the Executive Director and maintains a dotted‑line relationship to the CEO of the Virginia Tech Foundation (VTF) to support Foundation‑related communications, coordination with VTF Board leadership, and the facilitation of CRC‑focused advisory groups.
The Managing Director supervises the Partnerships & Engagement team—including the Business Development Manager, Innovations Services Manager, and part‑time Coordinator—and ensures aligned, high‑quality execution of all tenant‑facing, partner‑facing, and community‑facing activities.
This role strengthens connections across the ecosystem, enhances the tenant and founder experience, and amplifies VTCRC’s position as a regional hub for innovation, research collaboration, entrepreneurship, and economic development.
Role & Responsibilities Strategic Partnership Development & External Engagement
Serve as a senior liaison to corporate partners, regional organizations, government agencies, service providers, and economic development entities.
Lead VTCRC‑wide external engagement strategy, in alignment with VTF and Virginia Tech priorities.
Coordinate high‑profile corporate visits and partner engagements with Virginia Tech’s Innovation & Partnerships (I&P) team.
Identify, evaluate, and activate new opportunities for partnership, collaboration, and visibility.
Board & Foundation Engagement
Maintain a dotted‑line reporting relationship to the CEO of the Virginia Tech Foundation.
Serve as staff support for board interactions related to CRC priorities.
Manage CRC‑relevant Board advisory groups, task forces, or working groups; coordinate agendas, materials, and follow‑up actions.
Prepare strategic updates, partner summaries, and engagement reports for Foundation leadership.
Ensure alignment between CRC‑wide partnership activities and VTF’s mission, governance needs, and donor/stakeholder engagement goals.
Tenant Relationship Strategy & Community Building
Lead CRC‑wide tenant engagement strategy, ensuring consistent, high‑quality experiences across campus.
Identify strategic opportunities to support tenant retention, satisfaction, and participation in community programs.
Serve as a senior point‑of‑contact for complex tenant issues, collaborating with Real Estate, Leasing, Facilities, and the Executive Director.
Oversee delivery of tenant‑focused events, community‑building initiatives, and cross‑company networking opportunities.
Maintain visibility into tenant needs, trends, and opportunities for deeper engagement.
Program Oversight & Experience Quality
Oversee the execution of CRC‑wide programs, workshops, community events, and partner‑led engagements—including but not limited to the ERC.
Ensure consistent standards of quality for external stakeholder experiences, including corporate visits, board‑related engagements, and ecosystem events.
Align annual engagement calendars with Executive Director, I&P, VTF, and Real Estate leadership.
Review event/program evaluations to support continuous improvement and strategy refinement.
Prospect & Partner Funnel Management
Oversee partner and prospect pipeline strategy, ensuring coordination across BD, Leasing, I&P, and VTF.
Maintain visibility into the BD Manager’s prospect pipeline and ensure timely follow‑through and stewardship.
Support shared dashboards and tracking systems to support alignment, reporting, and strategic decision‑making.
Ensure cohesion of messaging, relationship management, and external communications.
Community Visibility & Ecosystem Leadership
Serve as a senior ambassador for VTCRC in the broader innovation ecosystem.
As needed and assigned by the Executive Director build and maintain relationships with regional ecosystem partners and councils.
Identify opportunities for shared programming, sponsorships, collaborations, or thought leadership.
Promote VTCRC as a leading destination for innovation, research, entrepreneurship, and corporate partnership.
Qualifications Required
Bachelor’s degree in business, communications, public administration, economic development, innovation, or related field.
7+ years of experience in partnership development, community engagement, industry relations, or innovation ecosystems.
Experience supervising staff or managing complex team workflows.
Demonstrated ability to collaborate across large, matrixed organizations.
Strong communication skills and comfort representing an organization publicly.
Experience managing multiple projects with attention to detail and strategic alignment.
Preferred Qualifications
Experience supporting boards, advisory groups, or governance structures.
Experience in higher education, foundation environments, or research parks.
Familiarity with CRM systems and partnership tracking tools.
Experience in business development or major stakeholder engagement.
Core Competencies
Relationship‑building & stakeholder engagement
Communication & collaboration
Team coordination & supervision
Project & program management
Community presence & representation
Problem‑solving & adaptability
Professionalism & discretion
Physical Requirements
Ability to support event setup (signage, materials, furniture).
Ability to stand or walk for extended periods during events.
Ability to work early mornings/evenings for select engagements.
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This position serves as a key partner to the Executive Director and maintains a dotted‑line relationship to the CEO of the Virginia Tech Foundation (VTF) to support Foundation‑related communications, coordination with VTF Board leadership, and the facilitation of CRC‑focused advisory groups.
The Managing Director supervises the Partnerships & Engagement team—including the Business Development Manager, Innovations Services Manager, and part‑time Coordinator—and ensures aligned, high‑quality execution of all tenant‑facing, partner‑facing, and community‑facing activities.
This role strengthens connections across the ecosystem, enhances the tenant and founder experience, and amplifies VTCRC’s position as a regional hub for innovation, research collaboration, entrepreneurship, and economic development.
Role & Responsibilities Strategic Partnership Development & External Engagement
Serve as a senior liaison to corporate partners, regional organizations, government agencies, service providers, and economic development entities.
Lead VTCRC‑wide external engagement strategy, in alignment with VTF and Virginia Tech priorities.
Coordinate high‑profile corporate visits and partner engagements with Virginia Tech’s Innovation & Partnerships (I&P) team.
Identify, evaluate, and activate new opportunities for partnership, collaboration, and visibility.
Board & Foundation Engagement
Maintain a dotted‑line reporting relationship to the CEO of the Virginia Tech Foundation.
Serve as staff support for board interactions related to CRC priorities.
Manage CRC‑relevant Board advisory groups, task forces, or working groups; coordinate agendas, materials, and follow‑up actions.
Prepare strategic updates, partner summaries, and engagement reports for Foundation leadership.
Ensure alignment between CRC‑wide partnership activities and VTF’s mission, governance needs, and donor/stakeholder engagement goals.
Tenant Relationship Strategy & Community Building
Lead CRC‑wide tenant engagement strategy, ensuring consistent, high‑quality experiences across campus.
Identify strategic opportunities to support tenant retention, satisfaction, and participation in community programs.
Serve as a senior point‑of‑contact for complex tenant issues, collaborating with Real Estate, Leasing, Facilities, and the Executive Director.
Oversee delivery of tenant‑focused events, community‑building initiatives, and cross‑company networking opportunities.
Maintain visibility into tenant needs, trends, and opportunities for deeper engagement.
Program Oversight & Experience Quality
Oversee the execution of CRC‑wide programs, workshops, community events, and partner‑led engagements—including but not limited to the ERC.
Ensure consistent standards of quality for external stakeholder experiences, including corporate visits, board‑related engagements, and ecosystem events.
Align annual engagement calendars with Executive Director, I&P, VTF, and Real Estate leadership.
Review event/program evaluations to support continuous improvement and strategy refinement.
Prospect & Partner Funnel Management
Oversee partner and prospect pipeline strategy, ensuring coordination across BD, Leasing, I&P, and VTF.
Maintain visibility into the BD Manager’s prospect pipeline and ensure timely follow‑through and stewardship.
Support shared dashboards and tracking systems to support alignment, reporting, and strategic decision‑making.
Ensure cohesion of messaging, relationship management, and external communications.
Community Visibility & Ecosystem Leadership
Serve as a senior ambassador for VTCRC in the broader innovation ecosystem.
As needed and assigned by the Executive Director build and maintain relationships with regional ecosystem partners and councils.
Identify opportunities for shared programming, sponsorships, collaborations, or thought leadership.
Promote VTCRC as a leading destination for innovation, research, entrepreneurship, and corporate partnership.
Qualifications Required
Bachelor’s degree in business, communications, public administration, economic development, innovation, or related field.
7+ years of experience in partnership development, community engagement, industry relations, or innovation ecosystems.
Experience supervising staff or managing complex team workflows.
Demonstrated ability to collaborate across large, matrixed organizations.
Strong communication skills and comfort representing an organization publicly.
Experience managing multiple projects with attention to detail and strategic alignment.
Preferred Qualifications
Experience supporting boards, advisory groups, or governance structures.
Experience in higher education, foundation environments, or research parks.
Familiarity with CRM systems and partnership tracking tools.
Experience in business development or major stakeholder engagement.
Core Competencies
Relationship‑building & stakeholder engagement
Communication & collaboration
Team coordination & supervision
Project & program management
Community presence & representation
Problem‑solving & adaptability
Professionalism & discretion
Physical Requirements
Ability to support event setup (signage, materials, furniture).
Ability to stand or walk for extended periods during events.
Ability to work early mornings/evenings for select engagements.
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