Director - Strategic Partnerships (Medical/Pharma)

About the University
A global higher education leader in innovative teaching, research and public service, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill consistently ranks as one of the nation's top public universities. Known for its beautiful campus, world‑class medical care, commitment to the arts and top athletic programs, Carolina is an ideal place to teach, work and learn. Chapel Hill offers excellent professional training opportunities and a comprehensive benefits package, paid leave, and health, life and retirement plans to support a healthy work/life balance.

Position Summary
Bottom line: You will make Carolina the best university partner for the medical and pharmaceutical industry, and help build the next chapter of Carolina's excellence. Reporting directly to the Vice Chancellor for Innovation, Entrepreneurship & Economic Development, the Director owns this vertical end‑to‑end. You own your vertical and will work shoulder‑to‑shoulder with the other Directors of Strategic Partnerships, individual academic units, and Partnership Success Managers.

Key Responsibilities

Develop and execute the full partnership cycle: identify the right organizations, open the door (often through Carolina’s alumni network), discover the partner’s real needs, match them to Carolina’s capabilities, and close institutional‑scale agreements.

Remain the executive relationship anchor for renewal and expansion while Partnership Success Managers drive activation and delivery.

Bring deep industry knowledge and contacts, being able to reach senior leaders in major pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical‑device companies on day one.

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements
Master’s or Bachelor’s degree and 0–2 years of experience; or a combination of related education and experience in substitution.

Required Qualifications, Competencies, and Experience

Bachelor’s degree and 10 years of specific industry experience; or a Master’s degree and 5 years of specific industry experience. ‘Specific industry experience’ means direct, hands‑on experience within, or selling into, the industry vertical relevant to this position.

Deep, current industry experience and contacts in the vertical you bring; an active, personal network of senior leaders you can reach directly.

Proficiency with frontier AI tools, and ability to demonstrate how you use AI to accelerate work.

Self‑directed, autonomous work style, setting own pace and delivering outcomes without close supervision.

Track record of building trusted relationships with senior leaders across business, government, and academia, and translating complex needs into executable solutions.

Excellent written, verbal, and executive‑level communication skills; brevity and credibility to represent Carolina before a C‑suite.

Ability to collaborate across a matrixed institution with other Directors of Strategic Partnerships, deans, faculty, development, legal counsel, and Partnership Success Managers, and to build relationships with individuals and groups from diverse backgrounds.

Creative, strategic, results‑oriented work style and genuine commitment to public service and Carolina’s mission.

Preferred Qualifications, Competencies, and Experience

Personal track record of sourcing and closing $25M+ in cumulative partnerships, sponsored‑research agreements, MOUs, or strategic commercial deals, including at least one institutional‑scale agreement closed with a C‑suite or senior‑executive counterpart at a Fortune 1000 or comparable organization.

Day‑one access to the leaders of at least five marquee firms in your domain; ability to reach VP‑level and above decision‑makers at leading pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical‑device companies.

10+ years of direct experience inside or selling into the medical, pharma, and life‑sciences sector.

Demonstrated ability to translate complex organizational capabilities into customized value propositions, with a written proposal delivered in 30 days or less.

Experience negotiating contracts and partnership agreements in coordination with legal counsel, executive leadership, faculty, and operating partners.

CRM proficiency (Salesforce or comparable); fluency in pipeline management, opportunity forecasting, and deal‑stage discipline.

Familiarity with the university research enterprise, technology transfer, sponsored research administration, or higher‑education industry engagement.

Willingness and ability to travel within North Carolina and nationally as needed.

Special Physical/Mental Requirements
None specified.

Campus Security Authority Responsibilities
Not Applicable.

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement
The University is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes all to apply without regard to age, color, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation. We encourage all qualified applicants to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

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