Research Operations & Partnerships Specialist

Who We Are

At Michigan Engineering, we develop the talent and technologies that move society forward and serve our state and national interests. Through discovery and innovation, we create the foundational knowledge and practical technologies to solve not only today's most pressing challenges, but also power industries and change lives. Our programs and community are designed to promote personal well-being and achievement - enabling everyone to unlock their potential and contribute with confidence.

Job Summary

Reporting to the Senior Director of Research Relations, the person in this position performs a broad range of professional and administrative responsibilities that help ensure the Office of the Associate Dean for Research (ADR) is well organized, well-informed, and positioned to advance the College's research priorities.
 
Working closely with ADR leadership and the College's Resource Planning and Management (RPM) teams, including Finance and Human Resources, the position coordinates financial, administrative, and operational activities that support research initiatives, strategic investments, research institutes, shared facilities, and other ADR-managed programs. The role collects, analyzes, and communicates financial and operational information to support resource planning, evaluate the effectiveness of ADR investments, and inform leadership decision-making.
 
The position also manages a portfolio of routine external partnerships and organizational memberships, coordinates workshops, corporate visits, advisory meetings, and other strategic engagement activities, supports the administration of research institutes, centers, and shared facilities, and develops tracking systems and dashboards that provide visibility into ADR initiatives, partnerships, and memberships. Through these responsibilities, the position strengthens organizational coordination, supports effective stewardship of resources, and helps maximize the impact of the College's strategic investments and external engagements.

Responsibilities*

• (30%) Serve as the operational liaison between the ADR office and the Resource Planning and Management Finance team as a partner to understand ADR-managed budgets and commitments, for research institutes, shared research facilities, memberships, and strategic initiatives by:
  • Utilizing compiled and analyzed data from RPM Finance, summarize the data for communications and planning with ADR.
  • Track dates for commitments and initiatives related to ADR, including research institutes.
  • Prepare reports, dashboards, and other financial summaries for leadership.
  • Identify trends, variances, and potential issues requiring leadership attention.
  • Provide analyses and recommendations that support strategic planning and informed decision-making.
     
• (10%) Coordinate the collection, organization, and analysis of financial and operational information needed to evaluate ADR investments and initiatives. Prepare reports to help leadership assess resource utilization, measure the effectiveness of strategic investments, and support informed decision-making.
   
• (10%) Support administrative processes related to research institutes, centers, and shared research facilities by gathering information, preparing documentation, tracking approvals, and coordinating with Finance and other administrative units.
   
• (30%) Manage a portfolio of routine corporate, foundation, and association relationships, including scholarship sponsors, industry partners, and organizational memberships, by serving as the primary point of contact, coordinating communications and activities, monitoring commitments, and escalating strategic opportunities to senior leadership as appropriate
  • Conduct corporate prospecting to identify and develop new external partnerships and perform initial vetting of incoming opportunities.
     
• (15%) Coordinate ADR workshops, conferences, advisory meetings, corporate visits, and other strategic engagement activities, including logistics, communications, briefing materials, and follow-up reporting.
   
• (5%) Develop and maintain tracking systems and dashboards for external partnerships, organizational memberships, and other ADR initiatives to help ensure we are realizing value from our investments and engagements.

Required Qualifications*

• Bachelor's degree and three or more years of progressively responsible professional experience in business operations, business development, program administration, finance, research administration, corporate or foundation relations, university-industry engagement, partnership management, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Proficiency with Google Workspace applications (Docs, Sheets, Slides, Drive, and Forms) and Microsoft Office applications, including using spreadsheets and presentation tools to organize, analyze, and communicate information.
• Demonstrated experience analyzing financial and operational data and preparing reports or recommendations to support leadership decision-making.
• Strong project management and organizational skills, with the ability to coordinate multiple priorities, manage competing deadlines, and work effectively across functional areas.
• Demonstrated ability to manage relationships with internal and external partners, coordinate cross-functional initiatives, and provide high-quality customer service while exercising sound judgment and professionalism.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to build collaborative relationships, prepare executive-level communications, synthesize complex information, build collaborative relationships, and exercise sound judgment while working independently.
• Demonstrated experience coordinating complex meetings, events, or strategic initiatives, including logistics, communications, and preparation of supporting materials.

Why Work at Michigan?

In addition to a career filled with purpose and opportunity, The University of Michigan offers a comprehensive benefits package to help you stay well, protect yourself and your family and plan for a secure future. Benefits include:

• Generous time off
• A retirement plan that provides two-for-one matching contributions with immediate vesting
• Many choices for comprehensive health insurance
• Life insurance
• Long-term disability coverage
• Flexible spending accounts for healthcare and dependent care expenses
• Maternity and Parental Leave

Modes of Work

Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes.

Background Screening

The University of Michigan conducts background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer and may use a third party administrator to conduct background checks.  Background checks are performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

Application Deadline

Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days. The review and selection process may begin as early as the eighth day after posting. This opening may be removed from posting boards and filled any time after the minimum posting period has ended.

U-M EEO Statement

The University of Michigan is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.