Director of Strategic Partnerships

Cornell University

. Lead industry and foundation partnerships for the Cornell Ann S.

Posted 10/9/2026full-timeIthaca • New York • United StatesLead💰 $131,184 - $160,336 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates expertise in building and managing strategic partnerships, with a strong focus on business development and fundraising. Proven ability to engage with senior leaders and create compelling proposals that drive investment and collaboration.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Business DevelopmentStrategic PartnershipsFundraisingExceptional Writing SkillsRelationship Management

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

Tip: use these terms in your resume and cover letter to boost ATS matches.

Hard Skills

Master's DegreeCorporate RelationsFoundation RelationsMarketingProposal Development

Soft Skills

Presentation SkillsCollaborationCultural Understanding

Industry Keywords

External PartnershipsPhilanthropySponsored ResearchHigh-Impact ResearchEducational Initiatives

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Lead industry and foundation partnerships for the Cornell Ann S. Bowers College of Computing and Information Science
Develop and execute a comprehensive strategy to cultivate, secure, and steward external partnerships
Create tailored collaborations supporting high-impact research, innovation, and educational initiatives
Manage a portfolio of technology companies, philanthropies, and institutional partners
Work with college leadership, faculty, and university partners to cultivate relationships and secure support through philanthropy, sponsored research, and other collaborations
Build upon and enhance existing successful partnerships
Represent Bowers with senior external leaders
Translate the college's work into compelling opportunities for investment and engagement

Requirements

What you’ll need

Master's degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience
Five to seven years of progressively responsible experience in business development, corporate relations, foundation relations, strategic partnerships, fundraising, marketing, or a related field
Demonstrated success building, cultivating, and managing complex external relationships, preferably with corporations, foundations, or other institutional partners
Exceptional writing and presentation skills, with the ability to create persuasive proposals and briefings that lead to action
Ability to work effectively with senior leaders, faculty, staff, and external stakeholders in a complex, highly collaborative environment
Ability to travel approximately quarterly, typically to the San Francisco Bay Area or New York City
Ability to work occasional evenings/weekends for external engagement activities
Demonstrated skill in understanding cultural differences
No visa sponsorship is available for this position
Cover letter and resume required for consideration

Benefits

Comp & perks

Comprehensive health care options
Generous retirement contributions
Wellness programs
Employee discounts with local and national retail brands
Three weeks of vacation
13 holidays
Two additional floating holidays
Tuition-free Extramural Study and Employee Degree Program
Tuition aid for external education
Cornell Children's Tuition Assistance Program
Flexible remote work one day per week at an employee-chosen location within the United States