Corporate Partnerships Specialist, Materials & Physics; optics, electronics, quantum; Johns

Corporate Partnerships Specialist, Materials & Physics (optics, electronics, quantum)

Reporting to the Director of Business Development & Portfolio Management, this role focuses on expanding Johns Hopkins University's corporate‑sponsored research portfolio within Materials & Physics, with an emphasis on optics, electronics, and quantum technologies.

• Faculty Engagement & Relationship Building
  • Build and maintain trusted relationships with faculty, researchers, and leadership across aligned departments and centers.
  • Conduct regular outreach and meetings to understand research priorities and collaboration interests.
  • Act as a visible resource, providing guidance on partnership structures, timelines, and JHTV processes.
  • Identify and cultivate relationships with high‑impact researchers aligned with industry investment priorities.
• Market Intelligence & Opportunity Sourcing
  • Monitor industry trends, competitive landscapes, and corporate R&D priorities in Materials & Physics.
  • Track market signals such as M&A activity, licensing deals, and strategic initiatives by target companies.
  • Translate intelligence into actionable insights for faculty engagement and partnership strategies.
  • Identify and prioritize target companies aligned with JHU’s research strengths.
  • Proactively source industry‑funded collaborations via scientific networks, conferences, and referrals.
• Partnership Development & Deal Shaping
  • Scout faculty work and develop corporate partnership opportunities by matching capabilities to industry needs.
  • Shape sponsor‑ready collaboration concepts, defining value propositions, research scope, deliverables, and timelines.
  • Develop pitch materials, research summaries, and partnership proposals tailored to prospective corporate sponsors.
  • Coordinate introductions and facilitate meetings to advance partnership discussions and ensure readiness for industry engagement.
  • Support deal structuring and contract negotiations, managing faculty expectations and ensuring alignment on terms.
• Pipeline & Portfolio Management
  • Maintain accurate, up‑to‑date records of prospects and active engagements in CRM and pipeline tools.
  • Track progress through the business development lifecycle, ensuring timely follow‑up and momentum.
  • Provide regular pipeline updates to the Director and participate in review meetings.
  • Flag stalled opportunities or risks and initiate proactive problem‑solving.
• Cross‑Functional Coordination & Liaising
  • Serve as the primary liaison between aligned departments and JHTV teams, including Tech Transfer and Fast Forward.
  • Identify and surface promising intellectual property, licensing opportunities, and startup ideas emerging from research.
  • Coordinate seamless handoffs to Tech Transfer (disclosures/IP/licensing) and Fast Forward (startup support).
  • Collaborate with other domain‑focused specialists to share best practices and identify cross‑disciplinary opportunities.
  • Partner with Research Administration and central offices to support agreement execution and compliance.
• Information Sharing & Reporting
  • Document lessons learned, successful approaches, and market insights for team knowledge‑sharing.
  • Prepare and deliver portfolio updates, activity reports, and key metrics to JHTV and school leadership.
  • Participate in regular team meetings, pipeline reviews, and strategic planning sessions.
  • Perform other duties as assigned.

• Advanced degree (PhD or MD) in a related field.
• Seven (7)+ years of experience in corporate development, business development, external innovation, translational research, R&D strategy, or related roles in industry or academia.
• U.S. citizenship or lawful permanent residency required due to federal export controls.
• Additional education may substitute for required experience; additional related experience may substitute for education beyond a high‑school diploma, to the extent permitted by JHU equivalency formula.

• Advanced degree (MS or PhD) in Materials & Physics (optics, electronics, quantum, synthesis).
• Science and business fluency with ability to engage academic researchers and industry leaders around a value proposition.
• Familiarity with research/innovation translation and…