Director of Corporate Partnerships

Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy

Director of Corporate Partnerships at Rice University leading strategy for cultivating corporate partnerships and philanthropic support. Engaging with senior leaders and managing cross-campus collaboration for strategic initiatives.

Posted 4/17/2026full-timeHouston • Texas • 🇺🇸 United StatesLeadWebsite

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Leads university-wide strategy to research, identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward corporate partners
Develops high-level partnerships that generate philanthropic and strategic support
Positions Rice as a premier research, innovation, and talent partner
Provides strategic guidance, cross-campus coordination, and oversight of corporate partnership and engagement efforts
Cultivates, solicits, and stewards a portfolio of high-level prospects
Organizes events, meetings, and campus visits for corporate representatives, faculty, and staff
Oversees the creation of written communication for internal and external audiences
Performs all other duties as assigned

Requirements

What you’ll need

Bachelor’s degree
Four or more (4+) years of experience in fundraising, corporate relations, business development, or strategic external engagement
Ability to develop and execute strategic engagement plans
Advanced problem-solving and analytical skills
Strong verbal and written communication skills, including proposal development
Ability to manage multiple high-priority projects and deadlines simultaneously
Strong organizational and time management skills
Proficiency with Microsoft Office and fundraising/prospect management systems
Strong data analysis and reporting skills
Ability to work independently and collaboratively across diverse stakeholder groups
Demonstrated experience with fundraising or external partnership development in higher education or a comparable environment
Strong client service orientation and attention to detail, with the ability to quickly understand and remember details about alumni, donors, and assigned projects

Benefits

Comp & perks

Health insurance
Flexible work arrangements

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills & Tools

fundraisingcorporate relationsbusiness developmentstrategic engagement plansdata analysisreporting

Soft Skills

problem-solvinganalytical skillsverbal communicationwritten communicationorganizational skillstime managementclient service orientationattention to detail

Certifications

Bachelor’s degree