Director of Strategic Partnerships

Special Instructions to Applicants: All interested applicants please attach a cover letter and resume in a Pdf format.

About Rice:

Boasting a 300-acre tree-lined campus in Houston, Texas, Rice University is ranked among the nation’s top 20 universities by U.S. News & World Report. Rice has a 6-to-1 undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio, and a residential college system, which supports students intellectually, emotionally and culturally through social events, intramural sports, student plays, lectures series, courses and student government. Developing close-knit, diverse college communities is a strong campus tradition, which is why Rice is highly ranked for best quality of life and best value among private universities.

 Rice is also a wonderful place to work. Rice faculty, staff and students share values that are essential to our success as a healthy community. Those values guide our decisions and behaviors and shape Rice’s culture. They come through in the way we treat each other and the welcome we extend to our visitors. These values can be recalled simply by our name — RICE — Responsibility, Integrity, Community and Excellence.

Summary:

The Ion, led by the Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship, is a hub for innovation in Houston, connecting entrepreneurs, academia, and corporations to address global challenges. It supports startups throughout their growth journey and offers educational resources, workforce development, and digital skills training.

As a team of one, the Director of Strategic Partnerships will be responsible for both planning and executing initiatives to build, nurture, and expand relationships between the Ion/Rice Alliance and corporate, investor, and community partners. 

The ideal candidate displays confidence and poise and is a skilled communicator and team player with experience in corporate sales or fundraising who has proven success in account management and executing a strategy to secure sponsorships and/or corporate gifts. They should understand how corporate and community partnerships are part of a larger strategic vision for an organization and the importance of these relationships and agreements for marketing strategy, and should be able to represent the Ion to the broader Houston community.

Proposed Hiring Range:  hiring salary commensurate with experience and qualifications.

Workplace Requirements: This position is entirely on campus. Per Rice policy 440, work arrangements may be subject to change. Nights and weekends may be required for networking and events.

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor’s Degree
• 4 years of experience in account management, fundraising, development or other closely related experience
• Skills:
  • Ability to effectively communicate, in writing and verbally
  • Proficient with business development databases / CRM software tools 
  • Presentation skills
  • Basic financial analysis for reporting and expense accounting skills – will hold a Rice purchasing card and submit expense reports
  • Attention to detail
  • Basic event planning best practices 

Preferences:

• 5 years of related experience in account management, fundraising, or similar function
• Active listening skills
• Ability to multitask
• Experience with or aptitude to learn Hubspot, Salesforce, or other CRM software platform

Essential Functions:

• Generate sponsorship leads through various channels, manage the sponsorship process, and coordinate service delivery with the Ion team.
• Collaborate with the marketing team to communicate partnership stories and execute agreements effectively.
• Maintain an active pipeline of prospects and sponsor database, ensuring accurate tracking and reporting.
• Analyze prospective sponsor requirements, draft sponsorship agreements, and manage financial and budgetary plans for programs.
• Develop and implement outreach, events, communications, and fundraising strategies to enhance partnerships.
• Create programs and events that maximize value for sponsors, ensuring consistent engagement and renewals.
• Own stewardship of existing sponsors, periodically assessing satisfaction and addressing concerns to maintain long-term relationships.
• Foster meaningful relationships with corporations and community partners while maintaining confidentiality.
• Regularly represent the Ion and Rice Alliance at events, building new prospects and deepening existing relationships.
• Provide engaging tours of the Ion for corporate and community partners and members.
• Build an