Director of Corporate Partnerships

Reporting to the Associate Vice President in the Office of Strategic Partnerships, the Director of Corporate Relations serves as the university’s primary point of contact for corporate partners, delivering a high-touch, concierge-level experience that connects external organizations with USF.

This role guides partners through university systems, ensuring seamless navigation, fostering strong relationships, and advancing impactful public-private partnerships. The Director provides project management oversight from initial inquiry through partnership development, continuing until an agreement is established or the opportunity is no longer pursued.

This position does not include responsibilities related to philanthropy, government relations, or community engagement.

The Director ensures that all corporate engagements are managed with intention, responsiveness, and a clear focus on achieving meaningful outcomes for both the university and its partners.

Hiring Salary: $73,000 to $80,000 annually

Key Responsibilities

• Lead business development efforts with corporate partners, cultivating non-philanthropic opportunities such as joint research, sponsored projects, training programs, co-developed academic offerings, experiential learning, internships, and other strategic collaborations.
• Identify and advance sponsorship opportunities, coordinating appropriate handoff to the USF Foundation when applicable.
• Serve as the central point of contact for corporate partnerships, ensuring a high level of accessibility, responsiveness, and continuity throughout the relationship lifecycle.
• Manage and strengthen existing partnerships by overseeing ongoing collaboration activities and proactively identifying new areas for growth and engagement.
• Partner with USF colleges and internal units to identify institutional priorities and prospect for aligned external corporate partners.
• Actively develop and pursue corporate leads that align with university needs across research, talent development, and other strategic initiatives.
• Facilitate connections between corporate partners and university stakeholders, ensuring effective communication and alignment of goals.
• Maintain and manage a pipeline of partnership opportunities, with success measured by new connections established and the depth of engagement with existing partners.
• Track, analyze, and report on partnership activity and outcomes, including associated revenue generation.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of all partnership activities within the approved CRM and Partner Matrix Repository to support KPI reporting.

Minimum Qualifications:

Master's degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Communications, or a related field. An equivalent combination of education and demonstrated professional experience may be considered in lieu of a graduate degree. 

3 years of experience in business development, corporate relations, or partnership management required; 5 or more years preferred. Candidates must demonstrate a track record of building and closing corporate partnerships that resulted in measurable outcomes.

Degree Equivalency Clause: Four years of direct experience for a bachelor’s degree.
• Senate Bill 1310- The Florida Senate (https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2023/1310) is conditional upon meeting all employment eligibility requirements in the U.S.
• SB 1310: Substitution of Work Experience for Postsecondary Education Requirements
• A public employer may include a postsecondary degree as a baseline requirement only as an alternative to the number of years of direct experience required, not to exceed:
• (a) Two years of direct experience for an associate degree;
• (b) Four years of direct experience for a bachelor’s degree;
• (c) Six years of direct experience for a master’s degree;
• (d) Seven years of direct experience for a professional degree; or
• (e) Nine years of direct experience for a doctoral degree
• Related work experience may not substitute for any required licensure, certification, or registration required for the position of employment as established by the public employer and indicated in the advertised description of the position of employment.
• Minimum Qualifications that require a high school diploma are exempt from SB 1310.

Preferred Qualifications:

Core Competencies

• Business development and strategic relationship management
• Public-private partnership development and facilitation
• Project management and pipeline oversight
• Strategic prospecting, outreach, and opportunity development
• Negotiation and deal structuring
• Cross-functional collaboration within complex organizations
• Strong presentation and communication skills

Technical Skills

• Experience with partner tracking systems and KPI reporting
• Data analysis and reporting, with the ability to translate partnership activity into measurable outcomes
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and project management tools

Professional Experience & Knowledge

• Demonstrated success in B2B relationship management and business development frameworks
• Experience initiating, developing, and managing partnerships that deliver measurable results

Soft Skills

• Exceptional interpersonal and relationship-building skills, with the ability to engage effectively with corporate executives and university leadership
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to present ideas clearly and persuasively across diverse audiences
• Self-starter with the ability to work independently, manage competing priorities, and drive initiatives forward
• Collaborative team player who navigates complex organizational environments effectively
• Solutions-oriented mindset, demonstrating creativity and resourcefulness in addressing challenges
• High emotional intelligence, with the ability to adapt communication styles and build trust quickly
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and follow-through
• Ability to operate effectively in ambiguous, fast-paced environments

 

Portfolio (Optional)
A portfolio is not required; however, candidates may submit one to demonstrate relevant experience and outcomes. Examples may include partnerships developed, relationships managed, or measurable results achieved through prior business development efforts.

 

Working at USF

With approximately 16,000 employees, the University of South Florida is one of the largest employers in the Tampa Bay area. We are dedicated to cultivating a talented, engaged and driven workforce that strives to be bold. Employees excel in USF‘s rich academic environment, which fosters their development and advancement. In 2025, Forbes recognized USF as one of Florida’s best large employers, ranked No. 1 among the state’s 12 public universities. Our first-class benefits package includes medical, dental and life insurance plans, retirement plan options, employee and dependent tuition programs, generous leave, and hundreds of employee perks and discounts.

About USF 

The University of South Florida is a top-ranked research university serving approximately 50,000 students from across the globe at campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Sarasota-Manatee and USF Health. USF is recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a top 50 public university and the best value in Florida. U.S. News also ranks the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine as the No. 1 medical school in Florida and in the highest tier nationwide. USF is a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU), a group that includes only the top 3% of universities in the U.S. With an all-time high of $738 million in research funding in 2024 and as a top 20 public university for producing U.S. patents, USF uses innovation to transform lives and shape a better future. The university generates an annual economic impact of more than $6 billion. USF’s Division I athletics teams compete in the American Athletic Conference. Learn more at www.usf.edu.

Compliance and Federal Notices

This position may be subject to a Level 1 or Level 2 criminal background check.

Applicants have rights under Federal Employment Laws: 

The University of South Florida is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment based on any characteristic protected by law.  The University maintains programs for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities in accordance with all applicable federal and state laws.

Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)

Applicants for USF employment are entitled to request reasonable accommodation(s) in the application process. A request is to be made at least five (5) working days prior to the time the accommodation(s) is needed. Visit the Central Human Resources ADA Accommodations webpage for more information on requesting an accommodation during the application/interview process.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of South Florida is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment based on any characteristic protected by law.  The University maintains affirmative action programs for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities in accordance with all applicable federal and state laws.  This job description does not constitute an employment contract.