Senior Manager of Partnerships

Position Summary

University City District (UCD) is seeking a Senior Manager of Partnerships & Programs to strengthen UCD's relationships with businesses, property owners, institutions, and other stakeholders; create meaningful opportunities for the University City business community to connect and engage; and grow private-sector support for UCD programs and initiatives.

The Senior Manager of Partnerships and Programs will serve as a key connection between UCD and the University City business community, developing strong relationships with employers, retailers, property owners, developers, and other private-sector partners. The position will work to understand stakeholder needs, connect businesses with UCD resources and initiatives, identify opportunities for collaboration, and ensure UCD remains responsive to the economic and operating environment of the district.

A central responsibility of the position will be to develop and execute events and convenings that strengthen connections among University City businesses, institutions, and stakeholders. The Senior Manager of Partnerships & Programs will lead planning and execution of UCD's annual signature State of University City event and develop other networking, informational, and engagement opportunities throughout the year. These events should provide tangible value to the University City business community while strengthening relationships with UCD and one another.

The Senior Manager of Partnerships & Programs will also lead UCD's sponsorship strategy, developing partnerships that generate financial and in-kind support for UCD events, programs, public spaces, commercial corridor initiatives, and other activities. The position will identify opportunities to connect UCD's relationships, events, and organizational assets with the interests of prospective corporate and institutional partners.

The ideal candidate is an energetic and highly relational professional who is equally comfortable cultivating a CEO, convening a group of small business owners, developing a sponsorship proposal, and managing the many details required to execute a high-quality event. This person should enjoy connecting people and organizations and translating those relationships into tangible value for UCD and the University City community.

Key Responsibilities

Business Engagement & Relationship Management

• Serve as a key relationship manager for businesses, employers, property owners, developers, retailers, and other private-sector stakeholders throughout University City.
• Develop and maintain a systematic approach to business outreach and relationship management, ensuring UCD regularly engages with key district stakeholders.
• Conduct regular outreach and visits with University City businesses to understand their needs, challenges, priorities, and opportunities for growth.
• Connect businesses with relevant UCD programs, services, data, events, workforce resources, public space initiatives, and other opportunities.
• Work across UCD to respond to business needs and identify opportunities where the organization can provide value or facilitate connections.
• Strengthen UCD's engagement with commercial corridors, small businesses, and business associations throughout the district.
• Identify emerging issues affecting University City businesses and communicate those trends internally to help inform UCD strategies and priorities.
• Maintain accurate information about stakeholder relationships, interactions, needs, and opportunities using UCD's relationship-management systems.

Events, Convenings & Business Community Engagement

• Lead the planning and execution of UCD's stakeholder events, including the annual State of University City event, working across the organization to develop events that showcase University City's accomplishments, UCD's impact, and the people and organizations shaping the district.
• Manage all aspects of stakeholder event planning, including venue selection, event logistics, program development, speakers, invitations, registration, vendors, sponsorship activation, and day-of execution. Work closely with UCD leadership, Marketing & Communications, Advancement, and other teams to develop the content, messaging, and experience for stakeholder events, including State of University City events.
• Create an annual calendar of events and convenings that respond to the interests and needs of the local business community and provide meaningful networking and engagement opportunities for businesses, institutions, property owners, and other stakeholders to connect with one another.
• Develop a range of engagement formats, including networking events, business roundtables, briefings, panels, stakeholder meetings, and other convenings