Strategic Partnerships and Industry Relations Lead

Position Overview

The Strategic Partnerships and Industry Relations Lead works with senior leadership at QCORE and across MSU to create high‑impact relationships with external partners in industry and government to advance opportunities for faculty, staff, and students. This role builds partnerships to achieve QCORE’s mission, strengthen Montana’s quantum ecosystem, and expand research, funding, and faculty‑student collaboration.

• Develop and execute QCORE’s external engagement strategy, advancing support and relationships for research, innovation, and external collaboration that benefit MSU’s faculty, staff, and students.
• Work with QCORE leadership to identify, cultivate, and steward strategic alliances with private sector partners to accelerate opportunities for students and faculty across the university.
• Serve as a primary entry point for external contacts, creating sustained relationships with industry, government, and foundation partners.
• Negotiate and coordinate partnership agreements in collaboration with MSU legal, sponsored research, and research security offices.
• Establish opportunities for research funding through targeted engagement with industry, government, foundation, and ecosystem partners.
• Strengthen faculty‑partner collaborations to create student experiential learning (e.g., capstone projects), placements, and industry engagement pathways.
• Organize and host industry‑facing symposiums, networking events, and lab showcases to highlight the center’s research capabilities and progress in coordination with the Strategic Communications & Engagement Manager.
• Track partnership ROI and university success measures, reporting directly to QCORE leadership on market trends and industry needs.
• Oversee QCORE communications strategy and activities and coordinate with MSU Communications and the Strategic Communications & Engagement Manager.

• Bachelor’s degree and three years of progressively responsible professional experience in strategic partnerships and engagement within higher education, research institutions, foundations, or mission‑driven organizations, or an equivalent combination of relevant education and experience.
• Demonstrated ability to translate research capabilities into partnership strategies and resource opportunities.
• Demonstrated ability to operate in a fast‑paced environment and support multiple strategic initiatives simultaneously.

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field and/or five years of progressively responsible professional experience in strategic partnerships and engagement within higher education, research institutions, foundations, or mission‑driven organizations.
• Experience building faculty partnerships and expanding student experiential learning opportunities with external organizations.
• Knowledge of, and experience with, Montana State University policies, procedures, and systems.
• Experience managing sponsor priorities and navigating trends across federal, foundation, and industry funding environments.
• Experience supervising staff or cross‑functional teams.

• Strong interpersonal, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Demonstrated ability to exercise independent judgment and apply analytical thinking to solve complex operational challenges.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality of records and information.
• Ability to establish and maintain strong, effective working relationships with senior leaders, staff, faculty, students, and external stakeholders.
• Ability to represent QCORE and MSU in a professional and courteous manner.

• Position is contingent upon continued grant funding.
• Full‑time position with extensive travel required for regional, national, and international events and partnership meetings.
• Candidate must comply with U.S. export control laws, which may require U.S. citizenship.
• All QCORE employees may be required to meet NIST 800‑53 requirements for access to Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI). This position may require the ability to obtain a DoD Security Clearance.

To perform this job…