Manager, Partnerships and Business Development

The Nucleus Institute at the Utah System of Higher Education (USHE) is seeking a candidate who is a proactive relationship-builder and strategic thinker to serve as our Manager, Partnerships and Business Development. In this role, you will identify and cultivate new partnership opportunities, expand our network of stakeholders, and drive initiatives that support organizational growth and impact. The ideal candidate will be skilled at developing meaningful relationships, generating new business opportunities, managing partnership pipelines, and representing the organization with professionalism and enthusiasm.

Working collaboratively across teams, you will help create and execute partnerships that deliver measurable value while advancing our mission and strategic objectives.

The Nucleus Institute team is ardently engaged in steering a multitude of pioneering projects within the state, each designed to harness the innovative capital of Utah’s academic and economic vitality. Notably, the team is at the forefront of the Innovation District at The Point project, designing and activating Convergence Hall, an innovation Campus. This ambitious project is a nexus where academia, industry leaders, and policy makers converge to foster a symbiotic ecosystem, encouraging the exchange of ideas and the nurturing of innovation.

The environment is meticulously designed to spur research and development, start‑up incubation, and collaborative opportunities that can translate academic research into tangible societal benefits.

Furthermore, the team is instrumental in managing the $40 million Nucleus Fund. This significant investment underscores Utah’s commitment to economic progression by methodically commercializing a range of breakthrough technologies. These are discoveries, advancements, or developments that are connected within Utah’s higher education institutions. By providing essential capital, mentorship, and strategic guidance, the fund aims to shepherd these innovations from the laboratory to the marketplace, thereby solidifying Utah’s reputation as a crucible of innovation.

Additionally, the Nucleus Institute supports a variety of programs and events across the Utah deep tech ecosystem including Nucleus Grow, Utah Policy Innovation Lab, Pro Lab, Market Edge, and Global. All of these programs support the commercialization and innovation of deep tech research and development.

• Identify, research, and develop new partnership opportunities that align with organizational goals and strategic priorities.
• Experience managing and growing a membership based revenue model.
• Build and maintain relationships with corporate partners, investors, government agencies, universities, industry associations, family offices, and other key stakeholders.
• Support fundraising efforts for Convergence Hall and other Nucleus programs.
• Generate and qualify new business opportunities through outreach, networking, events, referrals, and market research.
• Develop and manage a pipeline of prospective partners and business opportunities using our CRM system and other tracking tools.
• Prepare partnership proposals, presentations, sponsorship packages, and business development materials.
• Represent the organization at conferences, industry events, networking functions, and community engagements.
• Conduct market analysis to identify emerging trends, competitive activity, and potential growth opportunities.
• Coordinate with marketing and communications teams to support partner engagement, visibility, and activation efforts.
• Track partnership performance and provide regular reporting on key metrics, outcomes, and return on investment.
• Maintain strong knowledge of the organization’s programs, services, and strategic priorities to effectively communicate value propositions.
• Develop strategic account plans for high‑priority partners and stakeholders.
• Manage partner onboarding and ensure successful execution of partnership commitments.

• Bachelor’s or equivalent experience in Business Development, Entrepreneurship, or related field (1 year of higher education can be substituted for 1 year of directly related work experience)
• 6…