Executive Director, Partnerships

Advancement & Partnerships:

Join our dynamic and growing Advancement & Partnerships team as we work together to build mutually beneficial partnerships and expand UCF's leadership working with industry.

Together, we can unleash the potential of people and ideas to positively change the world. Your efforts on our team will help us to build the University for the Future.

The Opportunity: 

CECS is a high-impact, externally facing role responsible for identifying and growing corporate partnerships that align with UCF’s College of Engineering and Computer Science (CECS). This individual will work closely with industry leaders and CECS leadership and faculty to co-develop strategic initiatives that expand UCF’s reach across research, workforce development, and innovation ecosystems.

This role will serve as a technical translator and relationship-builder—someone who understands both the language of academia and the needs of engineering- and tech-driven industries.

The Executive Director will lead and coordinate engagement across seven key corporate channels, with a focus on revenue generation and long-term partnership value:

• Sponsored research

• Innovation and business collaborations

• Industry-sponsored student projects (capstone, fellowships, etc.)

• Executive and continuing education

• Talent development and recruitment

• Philanthropic investment

• Corporate co-location

Classification Title: Development Director III

Responsibilities:

• Build and execute strategic partnership plans that reflect both industry and UCF’s research, workforce, and innovation goals.

• Develop relationships with senior industry leaders—especially within high-tech, aerospace, defense, and energy sectors—to uncover opportunities for cross-disciplinary collaboration.

• Act as a strategic connector between CECS faculty and corporate R&D, helping shape research proposals, identify mutual interests, and translate technical expertise into scalable partnerships.

• Collaborate with the Dean of CECS, Advancement leadership, and faculty on joint business development efforts targeting top-tier industry collaborators.

• Create tailored engagement strategies for corporate partners and measure impact across research, workforce/talent outcomes, and funding channels.

• Lead and coordinate cross-functional engagement teams across UCF to ensure companies have a streamlined, university-wide experience.

• Track revenue growth and partnership KPIs, managing a portfolio of high-impact industry relationships.

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:

• Proven ability to lead collaborative, cross-functional teams and manage complex, long-term partnerships.

• Experience working in engineering, technology, or research-intensive industries (e.g., aerospace, energy, defense, or software/IT).

• Prior experience building corporate-university partnerships, preferably within R1 institutions or innovation ecosystems.

• Knowledge and understanding of the technical language and challenges in engineering and computer science domains.

• Strong business development skills, including experience with research funding, corporate sales, or enterprise account strategy.

• Strong executive communication and stakeholder management 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. All offers are contingent on successful background and reference screens.

Applicant must be authorized to work for any U.S. employer, as sponsorship is not available for this position.

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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As a Florida public university, the University of Central Florida makes all application materials and selection procedures available to the public upon request.  

UCF is proud to be a smoke-free campus and an E-Verify employer. 

If an accommodation due to a disability is needed to apply for this position, please call 407-823-1336 or email onac@ucf.edu.

For general application or posting questions, please email talent@ucf.edu.