Job Summary
Job Description
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) is hiring an OceanWorks Senior Business Development & Partnerships Manager to support OceanWorks, WHOI’s hub for innovation, industry engagement, and research translation. This full-time, on-site role is responsible for leading the development, structuring, and advancement of external engagement opportunities that connect WHOI’s scientific capabilities with commercial and industrial partners.
This position plays a central role in growing industry- and commercially funded research, working across WHOI researchers, OceanWorks leadership, and external stakeholders to translate scientific capabilities into fundable collaborations, consortia, and partnership-based initiatives. The Senior Business Development & Partnerships Manager leads complex, multi-stakeholder engagement efforts from early-stage opportunity identification through project formation and launch, while also ensuring effective coordination, continuity, and relationship management across the broader body of associated work.
This role requires extensive engagement with WHOI researchers and research teams to understand their scientific capabilities, interests, and readiness for external collaboration, particularly with commercial and industrial partners. The position also requires sustained external outreach and relationship development with prospective partners and funders. The successful candidate brings relevant domain knowledge and an existing network of relationships that can be leveraged to accelerate partnership development and funding growth.
This role operates with significant independence and is responsible for ensuring that projects, partnerships, and multi-party engagements are well-structured, aligned, and effectively supported over time, particularly in cases involving multiple stakeholders, funders, or interconnected activities.
Reporting to the Chief Innovation Officer, this role works closely with Principal Investigators, OceanWorks staff, Communications, and external partners to expand WHOI’s engagement portfolio and strengthen long-term external relationships.
Essential Functions and Responsibilities
Business Development & Opportunity Leadership
Lead the identification, development, and advancement of external engagement opportunities with commercial and industrial partners
Translate WHOI scientific capabilities into structured partnership opportunities, including sponsored research, pilot projects, technical collaborations, and consortia
Define opportunity scope, value proposition, engagement approach, and potential deliverables in collaboration with researchers and leadership
Drive opportunities from initial concept through stakeholder alignment to project formation and launch
Build and maintain a pipeline of engagement opportunities aligned with OceanWorks priorities
Serve as the primary point of coordination and accountability for advancing opportunities to funded outcomes
Internal Researcher Engagement & Alignment
Engage deeply with WHOI researchers and research teams to understand scientific capabilities, research priorities, and interest in commercial or industrial collaboration
Identify and assess opportunities where research activities align with external partner needs and funding opportunities
Help researchers articulate externally relevant value propositions and engagement pathways
Advise on positioning, timing, and structuring of engagements based on researcher readiness and partner expectations
Facilitate alignment across researchers, OceanWorks leadership, and external stakeholders to ensure opportunities are well-scoped, feasible, and strategically aligned
External Engagement & Relationship Development
Serve as a key external-facing representative for OceanWorks in interactions with industry and institutional partners
Conduct sustained, proactive outreach to prospective commercial and industrial partners to identify and develop new engagement opportunities
Lead engagement discussions, exploratory meetings, and follow-up activities with prospective partners
Align partner needs with WHOI capabilities, timelines, and engagement models
Build and maintain a portfolio of external relationships that support long-term partnership development and funding growth
Leverage existing professional networks and industry knowledge to accelerate opportunity identification and engagement
Maintain ongoing engagement with partners and prospects to understand evolving needs and identify new collaboration opportunities
Portfolio Coordination & Engagement Oversight
Provide oversight and coordination across multiple related projects and engagements, ensuring alignment, continuity, and effective execution across the broader body of work
Support the management of multi-project initiatives and consortia, ensuring clear roles, expectations, timelines, and communication across participating stakeholders
Identify and manage interdependencies, risks, and stakeholder dynamics across related efforts
Facilitate alignment between individual project activities and broader engagement objectives, without assuming formal program ownership
Ensure effective engagement and continuity across funders, researchers, and participating organizations in multi-party initiatives
Funder & Research Relationship Management
Serve as a central point of coordination to ensure strong, continuous relationships between external funders and WHOI research teams
Support clear communication, expectation-setting, and follow-through across all phases of engagement
Ensure that both funder and researcher needs are understood and addressed, helping to maintain alignment and satisfaction
Coordinate issue resolution, communication flow, and ongoing engagement to support long-term partnership success
Maintain continuity across project phases to ensure a seamless experience from initial engagement through project delivery
Project Formation & Execution Leadership
Lead the transition of opportunities into defined projects, including scope development, stakeholder alignment, and execution planning
Develop and manage project plans for early-stage and active engagements, including timelines, milestones, and deliverables
Coordinate cross-functional teams including researchers, communications, and administrative partners
Identify and manage risks, dependencies, and critical issues during project formation and early execution
Ensure projects are well-structured, feasible, and aligned prior to full technical execution by research teams
CRM, Pipeline, and Engagement Systems
Lead use and continuous improvement of the OceanWorks Salesforce CRM platform
Track engagement activity, opportunity development, stakeholder interactions, and project progression
Develop dashboards and reporting tools to support pipeline visibility, prioritization, and decision-making
Ensure high-quality data management to support institutional memory and long-term relationship continuity
Market, Scientific & Stakeholder Intelligence
Maintain awareness of relevant industry sectors, scientific trends, and funding landscapes aligned with WHOI research
Identify emerging opportunities for engagement and partnership development
Track stakeholder priorities and evolving needs to inform opportunity development and positioning
Team Leadership & Mentorship
Provide guidance and coordination to project coordinators, analysts, or supporting team members as applicable
Mentor junior staff and contribute to the development of engagement and project management practices within OceanWorks
Foster collaboration, accountability, and effective teamwork across internal and external participants
Decision-Making & Problem Solving
Exercise independent judgment in managing complex stakeholder environments and advancing evolving opportunities
Identify pathways forward in ambiguous or multi-party engagement scenarios
Resolve coordination challenges across projects, partners, and internal teams
Escalate high-risk or institutionally significant issues as appropriate
Required Qualifications and Education
Bachelor’s degree in science, engineering, environmental studies, business, communications, or a related field, or equivalent experience
7–10+ years of experience in business development, stakeholder engagement, project management, or related roles in a scientific, technical, or innovation-driven environment
Demonstrated experience working closely with scientific or technical teams to develop externally funded projects or partnerships
Proven success in developing and advancing external relationships, partnerships, and/or funding opportunities
Demonstrated ability to manage complex, multi-stakeholder efforts spanning internal and external participants
Strong ability to engage credibly with both scientific and external stakeholder audiences
Excellent communication, relationship management, and organizational skills
Ability to work independently with a high degree of initiative and accountability
Willingness and ability to work on-site at WHOI’s Woods Hole, MA campus
Preferred Qualifications
Master’s degree in a relevant field (science, business, environmental management, or related discipline)
Experience in research translation, technology transfer, or industry engagement within a scientific or academic environment
Experience supporting or managing consortia or multi-party collaborations
Established network of relationships in relevant industry sectors, government, or institutional partners
Familiarity with ocean science, climate, environmental systems, or related domains relevant to WHOI
Experience using Salesforce CRM or similar systems for pipeline and relationship management
Experience managing or contributing to digital platforms or engagement tools (e.g., WordPress or similar CMS tools)
Additional Job Requirements
Salary Range: $128,560 - $168,003
The salary range provided for this position reflects the expected minimum and maximum base pay for new hires. Actual level placement and compensation will be determined based on factors such as relevant skills, experience, and qualifications, as well as internal equity and market conditions. In addition to base salary, eligible employees also receive a comprehensive benefits package.
WHOI accepts applications on a rolling basis - applications will be reviewed as they are received, and we encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible to ensure full consideration. While we will continue to review applications until the position is filled, and early applicants may have an advantage in the selection process.
EEO Statement
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.
It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.
