Business Development Manager, Ershaghi Center for Energy Transition (E-CET), USC Viterbi School of Engineering [Fixed Term]

The Viterbi School of Engineering’s Ershaghi Center for Energy Transition (E-CET) seeks to recruit a Business Development Manager to join its team. The mission of E-CET is to develop and promote engineering research and education programs focused on the frontiers of energy technologies to find ways to reduce environmental pollution of greenhouse gases and solve fundamental problems in existing and new energy sources.

The Business Development Manager will support E-CET’s mission by liaising with key internal and external stakeholders to ensure a holistic approach to corporate and government outreach, synthesizing and executing various internal needs, and translating these needs to facilitate engagement. The ideal candidate will have in-depth experience in academic-industry relations and evaluating technologies with translational potential. They will have a track record of building mutually beneficial partnerships between academia, industry, and the public sector, and can provide evidence of thinking creatively and translating complex materials to diverse audiences.

E-CET’s Business Development Manager is expected to contribute to the overall success of the Center, serving as a key contributor to a high performing organizational culture. This position reports to the Senior Director of the Viterbi Office of Research, and works in close partnership with the Executive Director of E-CET.

This is a one-year, fixed term position that may be extended subject to funding availability. 

Primary Responsibilities Include:

• Conducts outreach to faculty and stakeholders of E-CET to understand their research and gauge their interest in collaborating with industry and/or local government.

• Researches information on companies, foundations, and investors and provides summaries of research areas of interest and market needs. 

• Identifies opportunities for sponsored research projects and joint proposal submissions.

• Prepares personalized briefings for VOR leadership and the E-CET Executive Director about opportunities, presenting information to individuals, groups of varying sizes and levels of executive leadership at USC, and prospective partners.

• Translates priority research areas into value propositions and inspiring marketing collateral that are differentiators for potential prospects. 

• Provides a bridge across USC and collaborates with internal offices, such as the Office of Research, Contracts and Grants, USC Stevens Center for Innovation (for licensing and commercializing opportunities), and Advancement. 

• Builds external relationships that could support faculty research by identifying and cultivating funding prospects and, eventually, developing and managing a portfolio of relationships.

• Executes campus visits for corporate and government representatives that showcase cutting-edge academic and research programs, world-class faculty, and talented students. 

• Supports the Executive Director, E-CET faculty, and support staff on strategic planning initiatives, fundraising efforts, arrangements of summits and forums, and community outreach.

• Manages and anticipates projects; proactively takes the necessary steps to keep projects moving forward and resolves process issues within USC and in relationships with outside agencies.

• Supports the operations of public education programs in conjunction with faculty and other program directors.

• Plans and coordinates virtual or in-person meetings and events, including large, complex multi-day conferences and summits.

• Directs the overall fundraising of the E-CET across all potential funding groups including gifts, research, and outside contracts.

• Coordinates updates with website developers to update and maintain the E-CET website.

The E-CET team prizes colleagues that work efficiently and harmoniously with a wide range of stakeholders. We seek a candidate that demonstrates excellent interpersonal communication, a passion for process, a knack for numbers, an innate attention to detail, strong organizational and writing skills, and an ability to thrive in a high-volume, multi-task-oriented environment. This is envisioned as a hybrid position with scheduled in-person presence required, particularly during sponsors’ visits and scheduled conferences and workshops. This position is not eligible for fully remote work.

The Business Development Manager is expected to maintain the highest ethical standards and to maintain strict confidentiality across all facets of activities and projects. We seek a candidate that will promote an environment that fosters inclusive relationships and creates unbiased opportunities for contributions through ideas, words, and actions that uphold principles of the USC Code of Ethics.

Additional Information:

The annual base salary for this position is $97,070.16 -$115,684.53. When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope of responsibilities of the position, the candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, federal, state, and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, as well as external market and organizational considerations.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Masters in related area. Ph.D. preferred.

• Minimum of 5 years of relevant experience with a demonstrated track record in building corporate partnerships.

• Must demonstrate a thorough knowledge of both the academic research process and the industry research and product development process.

• In-depth experience in facilitating research collaboration and strategic alliances, including (but not limited to) sponsored research, technology transfer, and economic development.

• A strong customer service-oriented individual who will be responsive to the needs of faculty and industry affiliates.

• Outstanding judgment and capability to manage highly complex issues and relationships and demonstrates the ability to work effectively and collegially with internal constituents (faculty, staff, and University administration).

• Ability to influence and manage challenging situations using scientific, legal and/or industry knowledge and outstanding interpersonal skills.

• Strong multi-tasking and time management skills in a fast-paced environment.

Minimum Qualifications:

Minimum Education:

• Bachelor's degree

• Combined experience/education as substitute for minimum education

Minimum Experience:

• 1 year

Minimum Field of Expertise:

• Experience with the process of new business development. Exceptional communication, presentation, and negotiation skills required. Demonstrated analytical, relationship-building and problem solving skills.

Required Applicant Documents:

A resume/CV and a cover letter are required. Please feel free to upload your application materials in a single document.

USC and the Viterbi School:

The University of Southern California (USC), founded in 1880, is in the heart of downtown L.A. and is the largest private employer in the City of Los Angeles. As an employee of USC, you will be a part of a world-class research university and a member of the “Trojan Family,” which is comprised of the faculty, students, and staff that make the university what it is.

Founded in 1905, the USC Viterbi School of Engineering is named for Andrew Viterbi who developed an algorithm to connect the world’s citizens. Similarly, the school, located in Los Angeles, a global center for arts, technology and international business in the heart of the Pacific Rim, is a hub for entrepreneurship that connects students from 64 countries.

USC Viterbi is a pioneer in restoring sight to the blind; restoring memory to sufferers of Alzheimer’s; and socially assistive robots to aid seniors with stroke or children with autism. It is the home of the first operational quantum computing center in academia. Our alumni include Neil Armstrong, first human on the moon; A.C. Mike Markkula, co-founder of Apple; and Wanda Austin, former CEO of the Aerospace Corporation.

The USC Viterbi School is consistently ranked among the top graduate programs (U.S. News and World Report). Under the leadership of Dean Yannis C. Yortsos, the school helped re-imagine the 21st century engineer, pioneering the Grand Challenge Scholars Program in schools across the globe. Our mission is to serve California, the nation and the world. At USC Viterbi, we call this the enabling power of Engineering .

Minimum Education: Bachelor's degree; Combined experience/education as substitute for minimum education Minimum Experience: 1 year Minimum Field of Expertise: Experience with the process of new business development. Exceptional communication, presentation, and negotiation skills required. Demonstrated analytical, relationship-building and problem solving skills.