Position Summary/Primary Purpose of Position:
The Assistant Director of Business Development will build new relationships and expand existing partnerships with corporations to advance the mission of the Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise. The Assistant Director will also act as a liaison between the institute and its business partners with the goal of further developing the organization’s unique brand of thought leadership in the corporate community. Specifically, the Assistant Director will work to:
- Develop and execute a corporate engagement strategy on behalf of the Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise, in concert with other partners at the Kenan-Flagler Business School.
- Develop and grow deep, sustainable corporate partnerships essential to the long term advancement of the Institute and its affiliated centers
- Directly solicit, cultivate, engage, and steward partnerships, corporate members, sponsors and other champions for the Institute’s programs and interests.
- Provide key program management expertise to corporate partnership programs central to the Institute’s long term success
- Engage and solicit key stakeholders in support of Institute and affiliated center programs
- Develop partnership opportunities related to the institute’s strategic initiatives
- Develop new internal business processes and supporting programs to support affiliated centers and other institute initiatives.
- Expand corporate funding & philanthropic opportunities
- Enhance the brand of the Institute by increasing the visibility of current corporate support & engagement
- Identify mutual research interests and thought leadership activities to engage faculty with key corporate partners
In addition to cultivating outside partners, the Assistant Director will work collaboratively with the Kenan-Flagler business partnership office, affiliated research centers, corporate and foundation relations, advancement, faculty, and, alumni and across the University. This position will report to the Managing Director of the Kenan Institute.
Required Qualifications, Competencies, and Experience:
Minimum 1 year of professional-level, direct solicitation/fundraising experience required. Minimum of 3 years of work experience in a business-related or non-profit field such as relationship management, business development, program management, sales or higher education in areas such as corporate relations or employer relations.
- Ability to set and achieve goals in a fast-paced, collaborative environment
- Strong interpersonal skills, demonstrated initiative, and the ability to work adeptly with a number of teams and partners towards a common goal
- Strong execution and follow-through on key relationship building activities
- Strong written, verbal, and presentation skills
- Strong organizational and project management
- Deep commitment to customer service and natural client-service mentality
- Ability to travel 25% of the time for domestic company meetings required, some international travel may also be required.
The power of education to improve lives is an enduring story. Our story began in 1919 when UNC’s leaders envisioned a role for business education at a liberal arts university. That vision ultimately became UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School.
Business has changed dramatically in the last century, as have we. But what first made us unique still remains — a tradition of innovation. From our earliest roots, UNC-Kenan Flagler has perpetually looked forward to develop the knowledge needed for the next generation of business.
We have changed the lives of thousands of people, directly and indirectly, since our founding in 1919, and seek to deepen and broaden our impact on people’s lives and the wider society. Join us on our journey to define what’s next. The best is yet to come.
We’re on a journey of change to ensure diversity, equity and inclusion in all we do. We’re having the tough conversations, doing the hard work. We share an urgency to make lasting changes at UNC Kenan-Flagler. Real change – nothing less.
Our mission is to build and inspire business leaders who make the world a better place. We are developing our students’ knowledge, understanding and skills so they graduate ready to be team members and leaders who understand the value of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI).
Just as importantly, we recognize our responsibility to be an organization that models the behaviors we call for in others. DEI is a strategic priority for UNC Kenan-Flagler – it is critical to our success as individuals and as a business school. We want to represent the communities in which we live, work and serve, and we are working to build a diverse, inclusive community where we:
We are committed to being part of the change we all need to build a just world.