Corporate & Investment Partnerships Manager

Role Overview

The Corporate & Investment Partnerships Manager will be responsible for maintaining the ecosystem that powers the pipeline. This role requires an organized and detail-oriented person that will support the operational excellence of FESI's corporate and investor partnership programs. This role ensures our relationships run smoothly, our data is clean and actionable, and our partners consistently experience a high level of return on involvement.

• Build and manage relationships with federal buyers, private sector partners, investors, and technical experts who can support SBIR/STTR awardees.
• Run targeted outreach and engagement efforts so partners understand the technologies in the portfolio and how they align with their mission or commercial interests.
• Serve as a primary relationship point for external stakeholders, ensuring partners feel informed, engaged, and motivated to participate.

• Coordinate matchmaking between startup and small businesses companies and potential adopters, including federal agencies using Phase III sole source pathways, commercial buyers, and investors.
• Support pitch readiness activities, including narrative development, materials refinement, and preparation for investor or buyer demos.

• Track partnership activity, including leads, meetings, follow-on opportunities, and partner feedback to improve program effectiveness.
• Work closely with the Program Director, Investment Platform, and Events to align with FESI's broader commercialization strategy.
• Serve as the connective tissue across stakeholders, ensuring coordination, follow-through, and continuous improvement.

• Proven experience working with government officials, investors, buyers, and ecosystem partners.
• Skilled at setting goals, building systems, tracking performance, and managing multiple work streams simultaneously.
• Ability to translate between policy, technical, and market audiences with clarity and credibility.
• Ability to design, launch, and scale a multi-stakeholder program with clear outcomes.
• Strong ability to align internal roles around shared priorities and execution.
• Experience with project management, CRM, or reporting tools.

• Familiarity with federal innovation and R&D ecosystems, corporate or venture capital experience, and/or fundraising for similar programs.
• Working knowledge of federal agencies' mission needs, procurement dynamics, and how new technologies are adopted.
• Understanding of early-stage company challenges, investor expectations, and capital formation pathways.
• Direct experience with DOE programs, national labs, or federal mission-driven R&D organizations.
• Bachelor's degree; advanced degree preferred but not required.

• Health, dental, and vision insurance.
• 403(b) retirement plan with employer match.
• Short- and long-term disability, life insurance.
• Paid time off and holidays.
• Flexible work schedule/hybrid options.

This is an 18-month grant‑funded position with anticipated ongoing funding.

This role is open to candidates based anywhere in the United States. While remote eligible, the position will involve a significant presence in Washington, DC due to close collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy and other federal partners. The Program Manager should expect to be in DC for meetings, briefings, convenings, and relationship building. FESI will cover reasonable, job‑related travel expenses.

Relocation is not required for this position.