The George Washington University (GW) Office of Innovation & Entrepreneurship (OIE) is housed under the Office of the Vice President for Research. The OIE provides programming around innovation, education, venture creation, and making connections to support GW entrepreneurs and the global startup community. Founded in 2010, the office has worked with thousands of students, faculty, and alumni, and serves as a focal point for entrepreneurship at GW. It leverages the unique strengths of our university’s schools in the nation’s capital to serve society at large through the knowledge and practice of entrepreneurship. GW is a core university in one of the U.S. National Science Foundation’s eight Innovation Corps (I-Corps) Nodes, which teaches the Lean Startup approach for building successful technology-based startups. GW has also been designated as an NSF I-Corps Site and recently received an I-Corps Phase Zero/GO pilot grant.

The OIE is looking for an innovative and driven, deal-oriented leader to originate and execute high-impact partnerships. The Partnerships Director will report directly to the Associate Vice President for Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, and has primary responsibility for conceptualizing, prospecting, creating and executing on partnerships for the OIE’s external training programs for other universities, corporations, non-profits, and governmental agencies internationally as well as nationally. Specific responsibilities include:

Identifies and cultivates relationships with potential strategic partners nationally and internationally (includes diplomats, high level government officials and corporate executives) to establish opportunities for OIE training programs. Initiates structures, negotiates and closes partnership deals that support the OIE strategy. These training programs may take the form of sponsored projects or contractual service agreements. Serves as lead communications and message developer to build, manage and maintain strategic relationships. Markets and promotes program nationally and internationally. Oversees the organization of events and briefings to establish visibility.

Provides strategic guidance, manages and executes training programs. Designs and develops curriculum which incorporates innovation and entrepreneurship to provide clients with multiple pathways to engage, apply and expand innovation, design and entrepreneurship attuned to the client’s individual needs. This includes educational materials, presentations and workshops. Identifies, recruits, trains, and manages instructors, mentors, and regional program managers (contractors), and oversees all aspects of the training. May present or assist in presenting training programs, as necessary.

Performs other work related duties as assigned. The omission of specific duties does not preclude the supervisor from assigning duties that are logically related to the position.

Qualified candidates will hold a Bachelor’s degree in an appropriate area of specialization plus 5 years of relevant professional experience, or, a Master’s degree or higher in a relevant area of study plus 3 years of relevant professional experience. Degree must be conferred by the start date of the position. Degree requirements may be substituted with an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.