Assistant Director, Office of Industry Engagement

Job Description

• Strategic Partnership Development
• Develop and implement strategies to grow SMU's research partnerships across the people, public and private sectors, aligned with SMU's research priorities, strengths and institutional objectives.
• Opportunity Identification and Pipeline Development
• Identify, assess and prioritise strategic external opportunities develop and manage a pipeline of prospective partnerships and translate opportunities into actionable engagement and business development plans.
• Research Partnership Development
• Work with faculty, Schools, Centres and Institutes (SOCIs) to understand research capabilities and identify areas of alignment with external needs. Shape partnership opportunities and facilitate connections between faculty and relevant external partners.
• Internal Partnership Orchestration
• Work across SOCIs and existing partnership teams to align engagement efforts, facilitate information sharing, minimise duplication and identify opportunities for cross-disciplinary and university-wide collaboration.
• Strategic Positioning and Proposition Development
• Develop positioning strategies, partnership narratives and value propositions that articulate SMU's research strengths and demonstrate clear value to prospective partners.
• Stakeholder and Relationship Management
• Build and maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including senior University leadership, faculty, research institutes and industry, public-sector and community partners.
• Research Outreach and Positioning
• Develop and execute outreach strategies to promote SMU's faculty research strengths, expertise and priority research areas to external audiences. This includes developing research-led content and campaigns across events, conferences, roundtables, SMU's website, social media and other relevant communication channels, working with relevant internal teams to ensure consistent messaging and effective amplification of SMU's research capabilities.
• Strategic Engagement Initiatives and Events
• Lead and support strategic engagement initiatives, roundtables, dialogues, conferences and other events that showcase SMU's research capabilities, strengthen institutional positioning, deepen relationships with external stakeholders and create pathways for research collaboration.
• Strategic Planning and Performance Management
• Contribute to OIE's strategic planning, workplans and reporting. Develop and monitor metrics, dashboards and insights to evaluate partnership pipelines, conversion, outcomes and value-add to the University.
• Representation and Leadership Support
• Represent OIE at internal and external meetings, industry engagements and strategic events, and support the Director in advancing SMU's research partnership agenda and institutional priorities.
• Continuous Improvement and Market Intelligence
• Monitor developments, trends and emerging opportunities across relevant sectors and translate market intelligence into recommendations for OIE's partnership strategy and engagement priorities
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree with at least 8 to 10 years of relevant work experience required. Postgraduate degree would be an advantage.
• Prior experience in research partnerships or working within a research-intensive or higher education environment is highly desirable.
• Dynamic professional with proven experience in building partnerships or driving strategic collaborations, preferably in higher education or research environment.
• Strong understanding of the higher education landscape and its intersection with government, industry and community stakeholders.
• A proven track record in strategic planning, with the ability to align initiatives with organisation's goals.
• Excellent interpersonal and stakeholder management skills with the ability to engage confidently across all levels, cultures and backgrounds.
• In-depth knowledge of national, regional, and global trends shaping innovation and business growth.
• Familiarity with key dimensions of industry partnerships including intellectual property and technology transfer, government grants, grant and contract management, and philanthropic development.
• Outstanding written and communication skills, with the ability to synthesise complex ideas and deliver clear and compelling presentations.
• Strong problem-solving, multi-tasking and analytical abilities with the ability to manage ambiguity and drive outcomes.
• Resourceful, independent worker and a team player, with strong collaborative and influencing skills that enables collaboration with a wide range of partners of internal and external stakeholders.

• Strategic Partnership Development
• Develop and implement strategies to grow SMU's research partnerships across the people, public and private sectors, aligned with SMU's research priorities, strengths and institutional objectives.
• Opportunity Identification and Pipeline Development
• Identify, assess and prioritise strategic external opportunities develop and manage a pipeline of prospective partnerships and translate opportunities into actionable engagement and business development plans.
• Research Partnership Development
• Work with faculty, Schools, Centres and Institutes (SOCIs) to understand research capabilities and identify areas of alignment with external needs. Shape partnership opportunities and facilitate connections between faculty and relevant external partners.
• Internal Partnership Orchestration
• Work across SOCIs and existing partnership teams to align engagement efforts, facilitate information sharing, minimise duplication and identify opportunities for cross-disciplinary and university-wide collaboration.
• Strategic Positioning and Proposition Development
• Develop positioning strategies, partnership narratives and value propositions that articulate SMU's research strengths and demonstrate clear value to prospective partners.
• Stakeholder and Relationship Management
• Build and maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including senior University leadership, faculty, research institutes and industry, public-sector and community partners.
• Research Outreach and Positioning
• Develop and execute outreach strategies to promote SMU's faculty research strengths, expertise and priority research areas to external audiences. This includes developing research-led content and campaigns across events, conferences, roundtables, SMU's website, social media and other relevant communication channels, working with relevant internal teams to ensure consistent messaging and effective amplification of SMU's research capabilities.
• Strategic Engagement Initiatives and Events
• Lead and support strategic engagement initiatives, roundtables, dialogues, conferences and other events that showcase SMU's research capabilities, strengthen institutional positioning, deepen relationships with external stakeholders and create pathways for research collaboration.
• Strategic Planning and Performance Management
• Contribute to OIE's strategic planning, workplans and reporting. Develop and monitor metrics, dashboards and insights to evaluate partnership pipelines, conversion, outcomes and value-add to the University.
• Representation and Leadership Support
• Represent OIE at internal and external meetings, industry engagements and strategic events, and support the Director in advancing SMU's research partnership agenda and institutional priorities.
• Continuous Improvement and Market Intelligence
• Monitor developments, trends and emerging opportunities across relevant sectors and translate market intelligence into recommendations for OIE's partnership strategy and engagement priorities
• Other duties as assigned.