Assistant Director, Partnerships, Chicago Quantum Exchange

Department

PME Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering

About the Department

The Chicago Quantum Exchange (CQE) is an intellectual hub in Illinois, Wisconsin, and Indiana that advances the science and engineering of quantum information, prepares the quantum workforce, and drives the quantum economy in collaboration with leading universities, national labs, and industry partners. The CQE is based at the University of Chicago’s Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering and is anchored by the US Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory and Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, the University of Wisconsin–Madison, Northwestern University, and Purdue University. The community includes more than 50 corporate, international, nonprofit, and regional partners.

Job Summary

The Assistant Director (AD) of Partnerships will be responsible for developing and assisting in the management of a portfolio of partners for the Chicago Quantum Exchange (CQE). The AD will assist in cultivating and maintaining strategic partnerships for the CQE and assist in operational planning and execution for various activities related to engagement with industry, non-profit, and other partners, including the development of processes for tracking and streamlining partner engagements.

Responsibilities

• Serves as liaison for multiple CQE partners, interfacing with partners as well as researchers and other stakeholders from CQE member and partner institutions to facilitate engagements around joint projects, sponsored research, talent recruitment and the like.
• Manages standardized administrative and contractual processes for streamlining collaborative agreements, projects, and other such partner engagements, by interfacing with appropriate business and legal representatives from current and future CQE members and partner institutions.
• Manages and helps develop streamlined protocols for collaborative projects, and strategic initiatives with current and prospective partners.
• Uses best practices and a moderate/high level of knowledge of business software tools to create and maintain reports, leveraging and maintaining multiple databases.
• Organizes engagement opportunities between CQE and partners, including virtual and in-person meetings, and workshops. Plans, organizes, and oversees logistics for meetings, workshops, or other engagements. Helps develop background materials, briefings, summaries, and follow-up action items.
• Monitors execution of program operations, ensures that partners adhere to contractual commitments, manages requests for support, and develops materials to assist leadership with partner relations.
• Researches and compiles information on quantum relevant efforts and trends in industry sectors, companies, regional activities and key players to inform strategy for engagement with potential and existing partners.
• Works with others to manage requests for support, prepare required reports, and develop and implement ways to promote, cultivate, and steward foundation activities across campus. Defines and coordinates opportunities for inclusion of foundation representatives in campus activities and special programs, both as cultivation for new grants and as stewardship for existing grants.
• Meets with prospects through personal visits, phone contact, and by promoting program benefits. Helps in developing proposals and raising gifts from corporate donors for all restricted corporate gifts, including identification of opportunities, composing solicitation letters, communication with the prospects, and supervision of the gift acknowledgment process.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

Education:

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.

Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 5-7 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Certifications:

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Preferred Qualifications

Experience:

• Background in business development, customer relationship management, program management, or technology commercialization.
• Familiarity or experience with collaboration management, including NDAs, industry-sponsored research, conflict resolution, leadership engagement, customer engagement, contracts, and intellectual property.

Technical Skills or Knowledge:

• Proficiency with content management systems such as Salesforce.
• Familiarity with project management, in academic or economic development settings.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, and Word.

Preferred<