"Associate Director of Research Alliances"

Posted: 01-Mar-26

Location: Charlotte, North Carolina

Internal Number: 66292

Position Number: 001937

Department: Div of Research (Adm)

Employment Type: Permanent - Full-time

Months Per Year: 12

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

The Associate Director plans and aligns activities to be consistent with UNC Charlotte's Strategic Plan and the University Research Strategic Plan. The role is responsible for leading research, business development, and relationship management activities with the intended outcomes of successful industry alliances.

Serve as the lead research alliances recruiter and liaison for top university corporate prospects within the energy, artificial intelligence, and defense sectors.

Establish and strengthen relationships with corporate partners to explore and develop opportunities for collaborative research and development initiatives—particularly those supporting large, multidisciplinary, or multi-investigator efforts, including the North Tryon Tech Hub, Carolinas Engine for Grid Modernization (CEGM), EDA Tech Hubs Carolinas Innovation Center for Optics and Metrology (CICOM), Charlotte AI Institute for Research (CLTAI2), and the National Defense and Intelligence Innovation Institute (NDI3).

Collaborate with ORCP and Division of Research professionals, university academic leadership, faculty, development officers, and corporate executives to create comprehensive goals and strategies to extend UNC Charlotte's strategic alliances with corporations, SMBs, and other community and industry stakeholders.

Facilitate the commercialization and translation of university research into practical applications, products, and services through strategic engagement with industry partners. This includes identifying opportunities for technology transfer, fostering collaborative research and development initiatives, supporting licensing and startup formation, and building sustainable partnerships that accelerate the adoption of academic innovations in the marketplace.

Market and communicate the Division of Research's and ORCP's value propositions.

Develop a broad working knowledge of the University's capabilities; be a lead communicator and spokesperson for UNC Charlotte and the Division of Research, recruiting, and growth opportunities.

Collaborate with development and constituency relationship teams to offer