Career Center

PROGRAM DIRECTOR, Corporate Relations-Industrial Liaison Program (ILP), will create, plan, develop, and facilitate productive and growing relationships between MIT and U.S.-based government agencies, defense organizations, and industry partners through ILP participation. The director will manage a portfolio of member organizations and expand the portfolio by identifying prospects and securing new memberships; develop a deep government, defense, and related industry organizations; maintain knowledge of MIT research, activities, and resources and accurately matching them to the needs of ILP government and defense members; build and sustain productive relationships with MIT departments, laboratories, and faculty; encouraging collaboration and identifying new opportunities for MIT-government/defense engagement; plan and execute a series of organization-specific meetings and events with MIT faculty and researchers; proactively identify developments and opportunities of potential value and bringing them to the attention of member contacts; and participate in office-wide programs, conference development, faculty liaison activities, and faculty travel planning.

REQUIRED: Bachelor's degree in a relevant technical discipline such as engineering, computer science, or related field; a minimum of seven years of experience with some experience working with some mix of U.S. government, the defense industry and startups, and/or Congressional staff in a business development, program management, corporate relations, or strategic partnership role; ability to relate effectively to faculty and to manage relationships with senior executives and government/defense leaders; proven ability to understand, communicate, and present complex technical and business information in both sales and service contexts; and demonstrated success in developing, managing, and closing complex sales or partnership agreements. PREFERRED: Advanced degree.

3/31/2026