Director, Industry

The Director (Industry) plays a pivotal role in driving strategic partnerships with industry, public agencies and international universities / institutions to enhance research, innovation, and commercialization efforts. This role oversees engagement initiatives, secures industry funding and aligns academic expertise with industry needs to enhance the university’s impact and reputation.

Responsibilities

Strategic Planning and Partnership Development

• Develop and implement a comprehensive strategic plan to identify opportunities for cultivating and building a robust pipeline of partnerships with key industry stakeholders.

• Formulate and execute strategies to strengthen and expand partnerships with industry leaders, advancing the university’s strategic objectives.

• Identify and capitalize on university-wide opportunities to collaborate with industry leaders, ensuring alignment with institutional goals.

• Foster strong partnerships with industry sectors and public agencies, promoting engagement across a dynamic cross-industry ecosystem.

Curriculum Innovation and Industry Integration

• Design strategies to integrate academic curricula with global and industry trends, ensuring relevance and future-readiness of educational programs.

• Promote greater involvement of industry professionals in curriculum design, teaching, and mentorship programs to bridge the gap between academia and the workforce.

• Encourage the integration of interdisciplinary and experiential learning opportunities, such as internships, industry-led projects, and hands-on training.

Leadership and Oversight

• Lead and oversee key university-industry partnership initiatives at the university level, ensuring alignment with institutional goals and priorities.

• Champion innovative university-industry initiatives in research and education, enhancing the university’s competitive edge in global and regional contexts.

• Work closely with stakeholders across colleges, schools, and research centers to facilitate cross-functional synergies and streamline initiatives for greater impact.

Governance and Performance Monitoring

• Oversee central governance and data management processes to ensure alignment with institutional objectives, track progress, and measure performance effectively.

• Establish policies for research funding, publication standards, and collaborations with industry to support high-impact initiatives and maintain compliance with global standards.

• Promote success stories of university-industry collaborations to attract additional partnerships and funding opportunities.

Stakeholder Engagement and Communication

• Organize industry-academia conferences, networking events, and expos to showcase collaborative achievements and strengthen ties with industry stakeholders.

• Address resistance to change by engaging stakeholders in co-creation processes and maintaining transparent communication throughout all initiatives.

• Build trust and buy-in among faculty, staff, and external partners through clear and consistent messaging.

Capacity Building and Change Management

• Train faculty and staff to adapt to new collaboration models and evolving industry expectations, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and adaptability.

• Promote professional development opportunities to equip academic and administrative teams with the skills needed to sustain and grow partnerships.

Requirements

• Minimum Bachelor’s degree with strong administration management experience in a Research & Development environment.

• Significant experience in a leadership role involving university-industry collaborations, strategic planning or organization development.

• Proven track record of successfully managing and expanding large-scale partnerships and initiatives.

• Proven leadership experience in managing strategic partnerships and collaborations, preferably within an academic or industry setting.

• Strong understanding of global and industry trends in education, research, and technology.

• Exceptional communication, negotiation and stakeholder engagement skills.

• Ability to drive cross-functional initiatives and manage complex projects with multiple stakeholders.

• Expertise in governance, data management and performance measurement.

• A visionary mindset with a demonstrated ability to innovate and lead change effectively.

We regret that only shortlisted candidates will be notified.