Director of Corporate Relations - MSU Business Connect ​/ Community Relations Manager

Working/Functional Title

Director of Corporate Relations – MSU Business Connect

The Director of Corporate Relations is a key member of the MSU Business Connect team, a hub for corporate engagement. The Director manages an independent portfolio of corporate relationships and is accountable for advancing these partnerships toward productive outcomes with specific emphasis on research activity including sponsored research collaborations, startups and commercialization opportunities, and access to university labs, cores, and institutes.

This role supports the broader university ecosystem by partnering with other offices to facilitate student hiring and internships, professional training, advisory board participation, and other activities aligned with corporate needs and university strengths.

This role includes assisting in early‑stage negotiation of mutually beneficial contract terms and requires building a strong internal network across colleges, research units, and administrative partners to ensure coordinated and consistent engagement with industry.

The Director plays a strategic role in advancing MSU’s research mission by serving as the primary liaison to industry leaders, fostering collaborations that drive innovation, secure external funding, and translate academic research into real‑world impact. By aligning corporate interests with MSU’s research capabilities, the Director cultivates, maintains, and expands long‑term partnerships while ensuring timely handling of complex agreements that enhance trust and accelerate collaboration.

Success in this role requires exceptional communication skills, a deep commitment to relationship building both internally and externally, and strong negotiation and organizational abilities. The Director works closely with faculty, deans, administrative partners, and corporate research executives to advance shared objectives.

This hybrid position requires at least three days per week on campus and may involve occasional travel to campus and off‑site locations. The position reports directly to the Executive Director of MSU Business Connect.

• Experience: Eight or more years of experience in community relations, event management, or special project development; demonstrated effective and creative writing skills; comfortable using social media.
• Education: Knowledge equivalent to that normally acquired by completing a Bachelor’s degree in communications, public relations, marketing, or a related discipline.
• Technical
  
  Skills:
  
  Proficiency with a computer, MS Office suite, Adobe, conferencing software (Zoom/Teams), and Wrike.

• Masters or Doctorate degree in business, engineering, or the sciences.
• Ten years of experience in business development, corporate relations, or government relations, with the majority in a university environment, and at least five years in private‑sector research and development. Familiarity with contracting frameworks, particularly intellectual property best practices.
• Soft Skills:
  
  Effective verbal and written communication, collaboration, time‑management, negotiation, adaptability, and the ability to balance competing priorities and interact effectively with a wide variety of people.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, or protected veteran status.