Director of Industry Relations

Job Summary:

The Wisconsin School of Business (WSB) is recruiting for a Director of Business Engagement to join our newly established industry engagement team based in Chicago, IL. In this role, you will play a key part in driving WSB's strategy to engage business and industry leaders, fostering multi-disciplinary partnerships to enhance student outcomes and expand WSB's influence in the business community. Reporting to the Executive Director of Industry Engagement, you will be responsible for cultivating relationships with priority companies and leveraging WSB's powerful network of alumni, corporate partners, and thought leaders.

Key Responsibilities:

• Corporate Outreach & Partnership Development: Identify, cultivate, and formalize relationships with business and industry partners, aligning organizational goals with WSB mission of preparing future leaders and solving critical challenges.
• Account Management: Develop and execute a strategic plan to manage relationships with a portfolio of priority companies in the assigned region, ensuring strong connections with hiring pipelines, experiential learning, applied research projects, and executive education opportunities.
• Collaboration: Partner closely with WSB internal teams, including employer relations, academic departments, Center Directors, program managers, and advancement teams, ensuring cohesive industry engagement strategies across all departments.
• Regional Advocacy: Act as WSB ambassador in either the Chicago or San Francisco region, attending conferences, corporate meetings, and events to promote WSB mission and foster new corporate relationships.

Responsibilities:

• Determines the strategic direction of the unit, personally cultivates and maintains relationships with business and industry partners; and is accountable for all unit programmatic, fiscal, and personnel related matters to align with corporate and foundation-related institutional strategic goals.
• 10% Directs the development of large scale and high-profile strategic planning initiatives and objectives to ensure appropriate use of financial, administrative, and staffing resources and alignment with the strategic plan.
• 5% Develops operating policies and procedures to comply with regulations, institutional policies, and objectives.
• 10% Directs the implementation of participation in campaign and engagement efforts.
• 65% Serves as a liaison to internal and external stakeholder groups providing organizational information and representing the interests of the institution in the cultivation of industry and business partner relationships.
• 5% Exercises supervisory authority, including hiring, transferring, suspending, promoting, managing conduct and performance, discharging, assigning, rewarding, disciplining, and/or approving hours worked of at least 2.0 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees.
• 5% Supervises and develops director-level staff.

Education:

Required: Bachelor's Degree
Preferred: Master's Degree in business or related field preferred.

Qualifications:

• Required: 5+ years of experience in corporate outreach, partnership development, or relationship management.
• Preferred: Proven track record in account management, business development, or industry relations, with the ability to initiate and sustain successful partnerships.
• Exceptional communication, relationship-building, and negotiation skills, with the ability to engage and influence senior-level corporate stakeholders, navigate complex organizations, and foster meaningful connections.
• Ability to work independently while effectively collaborating with diverse internal and external stakeholders.
• Willingness to travel up to 25% to meet with corporate partners and attend industry events.

Work Type:

Full Time: 100%. It is anticipated this position will be remote and requires work be performed at an offsite, non-campus work location.

Appointment Type, Duration:

Ongoing/Renewable

Salary:

Negotiable. Employees in this position can expect to receive benefits such as generous vacation, holidays, and paid time off; competitive insurances and savings accounts; retirement benefits.

Additional Information:

Please note that successful applicants are responsible for ensuring their eligibility to work in the United States (i.e. a citizen or national of the United States, a lawful permanent resident, a foreign national authorized to work in the United States without need of employer sponsorship) on or before the effective date of appointment.

How to Apply:

Please complete the online application and attach a cover letter addressing your qualifications and experiences specifically relating to the responsibilities of this position as described along with a comprehensive resume.

Contact:

Rima Okbazghi

608-262-2810
Relay Access (WTRS): 7-1-1.

Official Title:

Bus Eng Dir (B)(AV024)

Department(s):

A12-WISCONSIN SCH OF BUSINESS/DEAN'S OFFICE

Employment Class:

Limited

Job Number:

306563-LI

The University of Wisconsin-Madison is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer.

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, including but not limited to, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, or status as a protected veteran and other bases as defined by federal regulations and UW System policies. We promote excellence through diversity and encourage all qualified individuals to apply.