Jobs / United States / Harvard University
Executive Director of Corporate Research Partnerships
Harvard University · 🇺🇸 Allston, MA, US
Sponsorship verdict
Sponsorship possible
One solid signal, not two — worth applying, and worth asking about sponsorship early.
- Employer is on a government sponsor recordThe US Department of Labor certified 123 H-1B/E-3 labor condition applications for this employer between Oct 2025 and Jun 2026 (latest Jun 2026) — the step every H-1B hire needs first. USCIS also records 73 H-1B approvals in FY2023. Source: LCA disclosure data (US Department of Labor (OFLC)).
- The posting doesn’t mention sponsorshipSilence isn’t a refusal — ask the recruiter before investing much time.
- No salary bar for this routeH-1B has no fixed salary bar: the employer must pay at least the prevailing wage for the role and area. Cap-subject employers enter a lottery weighted by wage level. Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/12/29/2025-23853/weighted-selection-process-for-registrants-and-petitioners-seeking-to-file-cap-subject-h-1b, rules effective 2026-02-27.
- What Harvard University paid sponsored hires in similar roles37 certified filings for “Research Fellow” (Molecular and Cellular Biologists) in MA: $76k–$81k, median $76k. Most were filed at wage level I (73%) — 1 lottery entry, ≈15% projected selection odds for cap-subject employers. Source: US Department of Labor LCA disclosure data (Oct 2025 – Jun 2026).
- Confirmed live todayWhen a source last listed this job as open.
US H-1B: cap-subject employers enter a lottery weighted by wage level — Level I gets 1 entry, Level IV gets 4 (DHS projected selection odds ≈15% at Level I to ≈61% at Level IV). Universities and non-profit research employers are cap-exempt. The $100,000 fee for new petitions from abroad is currently blocked by a court order (appeal pending).
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Sponsor Radar — Harvard University
The US Department of Labor certified 123 H-1B/E-3 labor condition applications for this employer between Oct 2025 and Jun 2026 (latest Jun 2026) — the step every H-1B hire needs first. USCIS also records 73 H-1B approvals in FY2023. Source: LCA disclosure data (US Department of Labor (OFLC)).
Past sponsorship or register membership never guarantees sponsorship for this vacancy or for you. Full Sponsor Radar for Harvard University →
About the role
Job Summary: The Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) seeks an entrepreneurial and externally oriented business development leader to serve as its inaugural Executive Director for Corporate Research Partnerships. Reporting to the Dean for Research, the Executive Director works in close partnership with the Dean for Research and the Dean of SEAS to develop and execute the School's strategy for corporate research partnerships. The Executive Director serves as SEAS's principal external representative to industry and the corporate research community. Working closely with School leadership and faculty, the Executive Director will identify, cultivate, and advance transformative research partnerships that accelerate scientific discovery, strengthen interdisciplinary research, and increase external investment in Harvard SEAS. This is a highly external-facing leadership role requiring executive presence, technical fluency, strategic judgment, and strong relationship-building skills. In the first year, the Executive Director will be expected to build a strong pipeline of prospective partners and, over time, translate that pipeline into flagship alliances (multi-year, multi-million-dollar) and measurable growth in industry sponsored research funding. Job-Specific Responsibilities: Corporate Partnership Strategy and Business Development : • Develop and execute SEAS's corporate research partnership strategy, including a prioritized portfolio of high-potential companies and engagement plans aligned with the School's research strengths and faculty interests. • Originate, develop, and close high-value research funding opportunities from initial engagement through multi-year research collaborations and alliances. • Build trusted relationships with CTOs, Chief Scientists, Heads of Research, senior R&D executives, and other corporate leaders, representing Harvard SEAS and cultivating new funded research opportunities. • Develop compelling alliance concepts and models that align corporate priorities with SEAS faculty expertise and create mutual long-term value. • Advise the Dean for Research, the Dean of SEAS, and School leadership on trends in corporate R&D, emerging technologies, research investment, and strategic opportunities. • Engage with philanthropic science foundations when their interests create meaningful opportunities to support SEAS research. Faculty Engagement and Opportunity Development : • Build strong relationships with SEAS faculty to understand emerging research directions and identify opportunities for external collaboration. • Translate leading-edge research into compelling strategic narratives for corporate sponsors and, where appropriate, foundations and donors. • Bring together faculty across disciplines to develop ambitious, multi-investigator research collaborations in response to major external opportunities. • Help faculty and external partners move from exploratory conversations to well-defined funded research collaborations with clear scientific and strategic value. Leadership and Institutional Collaboration : • Lead and manage the Program Manager for Industry Partnerships, providing direction, mentorship, and professional development. • Serve as SEAS's representative on the University Corporate Engagement Council and collaborate closely with the Office of the Vice Provost for Research (OVPR), the Office of Technology Development (OTD), and University and school development offices to advance major opportunities efficiently. Working Conditions: The work will be performed primarily in an office environment on campus. Occasional local, national and international travel may be required. Basic Qualifications: • Bachelor’s or advanced degree in engineering, computer scie