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Position Title:

Chief Innovation & Partnership Officer (CIPO)

Job Category:

Limited

Employment Type:

Regular

Job Profile:

Innovation and Strategy Dir

Job Duties:

The position is the front door to the university for corporations, government bodies, elected officials, and other organizations, to collaborate, connect with, and access the wealth of strengths, contributions and resources of UWM students, faculty, staff and alumni. to access UWM’s strengths, resources and contributions.

This role reports to the Vice Chancellor of Research as part of the Office of Research and will work operationally in the Office of Research (e.g., for purposes of payroll, leave requests, Workday, and other logistical purposes). The role also functions as a direct report to the Chancellor and is part of the Chancellor’s Cabinet and senior leadership team, known as the “Chancellor’s Direct Reports.”

As a leader of the unit of Strategic Partnerships, this role leads UWM’s strategic partnerships with corporations and other organizations that collaborate with the university to support the academic enterprise, advance research opportunities, raise philanthropic funding, develop curriculum and improve student career experiences. The office currently oversees the following initiatives:

Connected Systems Institute
Lubar Entrepreneurship Center
Northwestern Mutual Data Science Institute

Key Job Responsibilities:

Work collaboratively with the faculty, staff, senior academic leadership, and other internal partners to initiate, support and strengthen key corporate and other partnerships that provide significant value to UWM academics, research, student success, and other strategic drivers for the University.

Exhibit strong relationship-building abilities and be a sophisticated communicator with an ability to influence decision-makers. This includes relationships with senior leaders at corporate partners and other organizations, government and local agency contacts, elected officials, faculty, staff, campus leadership, and contacts within schools/colleges with responsibility for corporate and other organization relations.

Serve as an experienced facilitator of the University’s partnerships and a self-starter who thrives on building and enhancing innovative and collaborative relationships with external organizations.

Lead outreach efforts with key corporate partners, coordinating with senior company leadership, and exploring alignment of business needs with UWM strengths; lead and support outreach efforts with other partners, identifying alignment of UWM capabilities with missions of these partner organizations.

Provide concierge service to corporate and other external organization contacts at the national and international levels.

Represent UWM, both in person and virtually, to local, national and international contacts in meetings, events, ceremonies and conferences, skillfully advocating and negotiating for growth and advancement of the University’s strategic goals.

Collaborate closely with UWM’s Office of the Chancellor, Office of External Relations & Government Relations, and Division of University Advancement on strategy and tactics in connections and communications with existing and potential corporate and other partners, ensuring that UWM’s goals and interests are represented in a coordinated and consistent manner.

The role must become knowledgeable about UWM’s mission and strategic vision and goals and develop a working knowledge of UWM’s key academic programs, research centers and leadership of campus academic units.

Develop and articulate appropriate program concepts and strategies for partnerships. This includes development and completion of case statements, memoranda of understanding, white papers, proposals, agreements, schematics, visual graphics, and other sophisticated presentation materials that effectively advance UWM’s advocacy and success with partners.

Develop and execute effective and timely strategies to increase the number of UWM’s quality partnerships. Success in this responsibility will be measured by established metrics. Prepare and present regular reports on metrics progress.

Compensation:

The target hiring range is $180,000-$215,000/annually. The final salary offer is contingent upon skills, knowledge, and abilities as demonstrated throughout the selection process.

Required Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree.
One of the following:
- At least five years of successful, progressively responsible, direct experience in corporate or non-profit engagement/relations or advancement role at a college/university, including completion of corporate or non-profit partnership agreements or solicitation of major gifts; or
- At least eight years of successful, progressively responsible, direct experience in industrial sales, marketing, planning, research, manufacturing, or engineering in a technology-based organization.
Experience managing budgets, fiscal planning, and resource allocation, as well as supervising and developing personnel.
Exceptional critical thinking, writing, speaking, interpersonal and intercultural communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

Advanced degree.
Professional work background in business, engineering, entrepreneurship, health care, information systems, manufacturing, research, science or another related field.
Experience in managing corporate relationships for an institution of higher education.
Experience in utilizing latest technologies for innovative operations and strategic efforts.
Experience monitoring and regular reporting on metrics.
Experience fostering partnerships and collaborating with diverse internal and external stakeholders.
Experience working with and serving diverse populations.
Experience advising leaders on sensitive or high-visibility issues.

Skills and Abilities

Develop and maintain effective relationships with corporate and other partners. This includes the ability to think strategically and creatively to anticipate and understand the needs and interests of corporations and other organizations to grow relationships and determine how to best market UWM’s resources, expertise and strengths.
Ability to promote UWM’s strategic priorities and strengths in student success, research excellence, and community through excellent working relations with senior corporate executives, other organizations leaders, elected officials, government agencies, Universities of Wisconsin leaderships, faculty, senior academic leaders, and other colleagues.
Demonstrated leadership and the ability to successfully manage multi-functional areas and work with diverse groups.
Exceptional critical thinking, writing, speaking, interpersonal and intercultural communication skills.
Consistently produce high quality and quantity of work, approaching projects analytically, strategically, creatively and professionally.
Coordinate efforts that span across UWM units, facilitating meetings with stakeholders at UWM and corporate and partner organizations, organizing and tracking progress of key deliverables, and providing follow up with leadership.
Ability to manage varied and extensive portfolio of projects and work under pressure in a fast-paced environment with urgent deadlines and goals, demonstrating superior client service instincts and creative problem-solving skills.
Experience in effectively communicating the University’s mission and strategic vision to a wide range of constituents.
Experience with Microsoft Office.
Some travel.

How to Apply:

Interested applicants are required to apply online and provide a cover letter and detailed resume/CV that addresses your professional level work experience as it relates to all required and preferred qualifications.

PLEASE NOTE: resume and cover letter will need to be uploaded to the same area in the application. 

Note: Applicants must complete all required fields and attach all required documents prior to submitting the online application to ensure full consideration. Additional documents submitted aside from a cover letter and resume will not be considered. 

In instances where the Search and Screen Committee is unable to ascertain from the candidates' application materials whether they meet any of the qualifications, they may be evaluated as not meeting such qualifications. 

Finalist candidates(s) will be asked to provide three professional/supervisor references through an external reference checking tool. References will not be contacted prior to candidates being notified.

Apply electronically by the application deadline date of  April 30, 2026. Questions about this position should be directed to Jackson Prowse at prowse@uwm.edu.

Reasonable Accommodations
Pursuant to university policy, UWM provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities who are employees or applicants for employment. Employment opportunities will not be denied because of the need to make reasonable accommodations for a qualified individual with a disability. If you need assistance or accommodation in applying because of a disability, please contact uwm-jobs@uwm.edu or 414-229-4463. This job announcement and other material on this site will be made available in alternate formats upon request to an individual with a disability.

Confidentiality of Applicant Materials
UWM is a State agency and subject to Wisconsin’s Open Records Law. UWM will not, however, reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing except as may be required by Wisconsin’s Open Records law. In certain circumstances, the identities of “final candidates” and/or the identity of the appointed applicant must be revealed upon request.

CBC and Reference Check Policy
Employment will require a criminal background check. UWM takes the prevention of sexual misconduct seriously. As such, you and your references will be required to answer questions regarding any past findings of sexual violence and sexual harassment or any pending allegations of sexual violence or sexual harassment.

Annual Security and Fire Safety Report (Clery Act)
For the UWM Annual Security and Fire Safety Reports (i.e., Clery Report), which includes statistics about reported crimes and information about campus security policies, see http://www.cleryact.uwm.edu/, or call UWM’s Dean of Students Office, Student Union 345 at (414) 229-4632 for a paper copy.

Employment Authorization
In compliance with federal law, all persons at the time of their start date will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.

UW is an Equal Opportunity Employer
Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other bases protected by applicable federal or State law and UW System policies. We are committed to building a workforce that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills, and encourage all qualified individuals to apply.