Strategic Partnerships Lead

This position has been deemed critical by the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability Dean’s Office and is exempt from the hiring pause.

This position is based on Stanford’s main campus with consideration given to the option for a hybrid work schedule (partially onsite and offsite), subject to operational need. Interested candidates must include a resume and cover letter to be considered for this position.

Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa.

About Us 

The Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability strives to create a future when humans and nature thrive in concert and in perpetuity. The school is made up of a three-part structure to drive global impact: Our academic departments and programs educate students and create new knowledge across areas of research that are crucial for advancing the long-term prosperity of the planet and people; Institutes bridge scholarship at Stanford and beyond, bringing multiple viewpoints to bear on urgent challenges; The Sustainability Accelerator drives new policy and technology solutions through a worldwide network of partners who work with our teams to develop solutions at a global scale. The school is dedicated to creating and supporting a community with the richness of experience and background needed to create solutions that benefit all people, particularly those affected by environmental damage and climate change.

For more information on the school, click here.

Precourt Institute for Energy

As part of the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability, the Precourt Institute for Energy concentrates the talents of the University on energy research and education, from basic science and technology to policy and business. We disseminate research results and help the University develop energy-literate leaders as part of its educational mission. We work across campus in all seven of Stanford’s schools.  We also build collaborations globally with industry, other research institutions, government, and civic organizations in pursuit of sustainable, affordable, secure energy for all people. This role will draw upon expertise within the Institute as well as its expansive networks both on and off campus to provide support for more ecopreneurs.

For more information, please click here.

STEER

STEER is an initiative at Stanford focusing on the intersection of engineering, economics, and innovation. The core approach of STEER is to overcome technology uncertainties to guide strategic investments and innovation. Leveraging a technology-centric focus and an understanding of deployment roadmaps, STEER forecasts economic competitiveness of various technology offerings based on upstream supply chain considerations and downstream market needs. This enables quantitative comparisons of technologies to inform what to build, where to innovate, and how to invest. The five key analytical horizontals of STEER are supply chain, technology, deployment, economic feasibility, and energy systems, which cut across a multitude of technology verticals. The four key functions of STEER are (1) Scouting, (2) Analysis & Strategy, (3) Solutions, and (4) Operations.

Seeking Strategic Partnerships Lead:

The Precourt Institute for Energy is seeking exceptional candidates to serve as the Strategic Partnerships Lead. The role falls primarily in the scouting function of STEER—a critical function of the organization to maintain relevance with industry and ensure STEER is asking and answering the right questions. This role will be focused on business development, responsible for scouting, developing, and maintaining industry connections, identifying key white spaces in the intersections of STEER horizontals and verticals, developing analysis prospectuses and white papers for STEER to launch into new areas, and organize strategic executive convenings to obtain industry feedback. This role will also manage the scouting and onboarding of industry partners as members of the Industrial Affiliates Program (IAP) associated with STEER, and assistance in fundraising would be expected. As new working groups get launched, this role is expected to stay abreast of technical analysis results and act as a liaison for industry feedback.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Industry Scouting & Business Development

• Identify and develop relationships with industry leaders. Develop and maintain CRM/database of prospective/current partners and industry participants, including engagement history and opportunity pipelines.
• Identify emerging technology interests, policy developments, and market shifts to inform STEER’s strategic priorities.

Strategic Development & White Space Identification

• Manage strategic identification of “white spaces” ripe for STEER’s analytical value proposition, such as identifying intersectional nodes between horizontals and technology verticals.
• Develop Strategic Landscaping White Papers and other framing documents to position STEER for new areas of analysis or convening.
• Activate STEER’s Analysis & Strategy Staff to translate qualitative market signals into actionable analytical products.

Partnership Management & Fundraising 

• Manage sourcing and development of new Industrial Affiliates Program (IAP) members.
• Maintain regular communication with partners to ensure alignment between technical workstreams and stakeholder needs.

Strategic Liaison & Industry Feedback Integration

• Connect STEER’s analytical staff with industry partners to integrate real-world feedback into ongoing research. 
• Manage strategic planning and reporting cycles across STEER’s working groups.
• Translate complex technical findings into actionable insights for diverse audiences.

Program & Convening Leadership

• Design and manage high-level executive convenings (e.g., Roundtables, Forums, Summits) that engage industry and government leaders around key technology challenges.
• Translate outcomes from convenings into Executive Summaries, internal strategy documents, and external briefings.
• Professionalism: Ability to represent Stanford and STEER in high-level external settings with credibility and diplomacy.

CORE DUTIES:

• Lead the planning and operations for programs or functions that have significant business, regulatory and/or technical challenges requiring subject matter expertise.
• Evaluate programs or functions, policies and procedures. Identify issues, and develop alternative solutions which may include changes to programs, policies and procedures. 
• Review and analyze trends to advise and develop recommendations to achieve or modify the goals of the program or function.
• Represent the program or function within the department, unit or school by committing resources and provide information and/or training. Represent the program or function at the university level and/or to external/internal stakeholders and constituencies. 
• Manage and contribute e to the development of outreach strategy that may include relationship development, communications and compliance. 
• May develop and/or oversee budgets; manage finances including monitoring, analyzing, forecasting, and reporting.
• Assess training needs and may develop associated training.
• May direct and/or supervise staff.

* The job duties listed are typical examples of work performed by positions in this job classification and are not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, tasks, and responsibilities. Specific duties and responsibilities may vary depending on department or program needs without changing the general nature and scope of the job or level of responsibility. Employees may also perform other duties as assigned.