Economic Development Jobs in Portland, OR (NOW HIRING)

Proposed Start Date

Proposed Start Date 09/01/2026

Classification Title

Classification Title Academic Services

Rank

Rank N - No Rank

Working Title

Working Title Executive Director of Strategic Partnerships

Department

Department 270101 - EAS MCECS Dean Maseeh College

Position Number

Position Number D99126

Representation

Representation UU - Unclassified Unrepresented

Renewable

Renewable Renewable

End date, if applicable

End date, if applicable 06/30/2028

Position FTE

Position FTE 1.0

Tenure Status F - Fixed Term

Position Summary

Brief Description of PSU/School/Dept

Portland State University is Oregon’s most innovative, diverse, and affordable public research university, located in one of the nation’s most desirable places to live, and the Maseeh College of Engineering and Computer Science is your testing ground for putting new ideas into action. We believe in involving everyone—from freshmen to faculty to community—in solving the problems facing our region and our world. Maseeh College includes five departments, 132 faculty members, and more than 2,700 students. We offer academic programs that provide transformative opportunities within the classroom and beyond. Our faculty includes six National Science Foundation ( NSF ) CAREER Award winners and two members of the National Academy of Engineering. When you join our college, you’ll be at the heart of an intellectually-challenging, personally rewarding, and purposefully inclusive environment, connected to Portland’s “silicon forest,” a nexus of growing, innovative industries and agencies.

Position Summary

Maseeh College of Engineering and Computer Science seeks a collaborative, entrepreneurial, and relationship-driven leader to advance the College’s strategic partnerships and external engagement efforts. The ideal candidate is a skilled convener who builds trust across diverse constituencies, identifies opportunities for mutually beneficial collaboration, and translates strategic vision into measurable outcomes that support the College’s mission and long-term growth.

The Executive Director of Strategic Partnerships leads and advances initiatives that strengthen the College’s connections with industry, government, educational institutions, alumni, and community stakeholders. Working in close partnership with the Dean’s office leadership team, the Executive Director identifies and develops opportunities that support enrollment, workforce development, research collaborations, innovation, and community engagement. As a central coordinator for strategic initiatives, the Executive Director aligns internal priorities with external opportunities to expand the College’s impact and advance institutional goals.

This is a full-time (1.0 FTE), 12-month unclassified position reporting to the Interim Dean of Maseeh College of Engineering and Computer Science. The incumbent serves as a strategic ambassador for the College, fostering meaningful collaborations and advancing initiatives that enhance institutional visibility, strengthen external partnerships, and support the College’s long-term success.

Minimum Qualifications

Education & Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field and 7+ years of progressive professional experience, OR
• Master’s degree in a related field and 6+ years of progressive professional experience.

Leadership Experience: Demonstrated experience directly managing a team of individual contributors.

Domain Expertise: Advanced knowledge of management principles and core practices within the designated functional area.

Problem-Solving Ability: Proven track record of designing systems and solving complex problems that span across multiple programs, systems, and business functions.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with industry, government, educational institutions, or workforce development organizations.
• Experience in business development, economic development, higher education administration, corporate relations, workforce development, or nonprofit leadership.
• Strong relationship-building and networking skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with executives, community leaders, educators, and government representatives.
• Experience managing partnerships, strategic initiatives, or external relations activities.Excellent communication and organizational skills.
• Understanding of higher education, workforce development, and regional economic trends.
• Create an environment that acknowledges, encourages, and celebrates differences.
• Function and communicate effectively and respectfully within the context of varying beliefs, behaviors, orientations, identities, and cultural backgrounds.
• Seek opportunities to gain experience working and collaborating in diverse, multicultural, and inclusive settings with a willingness to change for continual improvement.
• Adhere to all of PSU’s policies including the policies on Prohibited Discrimination & Harassment and the Professional Standards of Conduct.

Contributes to a culture of environmental stewardship, practices resource conservation, and actively works toward achieving long-term sustainability goals.

Work Days/Hours

Total Compensation Range & Benefits Statement

Salary is dependent on several factors, and new employees will typically start around the Q1 level to allow for later growth within the salary band. PSU has a structured process for determining starting compensation, taking into account years of related experience, applicable skills, knowledge and abilities, market parity, and internal equity. The starting annual salary for this position will be between $100,000 – $105,000 but may be negotiated above this rate dependent upon the factors above, the budget of the hiring department, and approval from HR. An excellent benefits package includes 95% premium paid healthcare; a generous retirement and vacation package; and reduced tuition rates for employee, spouse or dependent at any of the Oregon University System schools : https://www.pdx.edu/human-resources/benefits-overview. Please visit our total compensation calculator to see the full value of our benefits package : https://www.pdx.edu/human-resources/psu-total-compensation-calculator

Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled