Head of Corporate Research Partnerships (gn*)

We are seeking for

Kühne Logistics University, located in Hamburg’s HafenCity, is looking for a Head of Corporate Research Partnerships to strengthen and expand our strategic, impact-oriented research collaborations with companies and other organizations.

This is a highly relational and strategic role, requiring someone who can build trust externally, create alignment internally, and identify opportunities where research, practice, and societal impact come together. The position is particularly suited to someone who enjoys working across boundaries, shaping new initiatives, and turning relationships into concrete, externally funded research projects. By developing strategic research partnerships, the successful candidate will contribute to increasing third-party research funding, strengthening societal impact, and positioning KLU as a valued research partner for business and society.

Acting as a bridge between university leadership, faculty, and external organizations, the successful candidate will identify partner needs, connect them with academic expertise, develop opportunities for collaboration, and manage long‑term relationships. The role requires strong strategic relationship‑building skills, an understanding of research and impact, and the ability to thrive in a small, entrepreneurial academic institution.

While directly reporting to the Dean of Research, the role is part of KLU's shared corporate relationship management framework, with regular cross‑functional meetings involving Executive Education and Business Solutions to coordinate partnerships, facilitate mutual referrals, and ensure a consistent external presence.

The position offers considerable scope for initiative and the opportunity to shape KLU's corporate research partnerships while working closely with leading academics and business executives.

Your Responsibilities

• Develop and implement the third‑party funded research strategy
  The Head of Corporate Research Partnerships will translate KLU's third‑party research funding strategy into concrete initiatives with companies and other organizations, ensuring a systematic and proactive approach aligned with the university's research strengths, educational mission, and societal impact ambitions.
• Build strategic partnerships with companies and other organizations
  The role will focus on developing high‑quality, mutually beneficial research partnerships with external organizations and companies of all sizes, with a clear emphasis on generating externally funded research projects. Broader corporate relationship development will be coordinated through KLU's shared corporate relationship management framework and regular cross‑functional partnership meetings.
• Increase third‑party research funding
  A key objective of the role is to generate additional externally funded research opportunities by supporting faculty in developing and managing relationships with companies and organizations, while proactively identifying and engaging potential new partners.

Reporting line

The Head of Corporate Research Partnerships reports to the Dean of Research at KLU.
The role is embedded in KLU's shared corporate relationship management framework, ensuring coordinated account development, mutual referrals, and a coherent external presence.
Close working relationships also extend to faculty and research centers, research funding management, Career Services, Alumni Relations, and Communications and Marketing.

Your qualifications

The ideal candidate combines strategic relationship‑building skills with a strong understanding of academic environments, research funding, and organizational decision‑making.

They should be comfortable working with senior corporate executives, professors, public‑sector representatives, foundations, and internal administrative teams. The role calls for diplomacy, persistence, intellectual curiosity, and the ability to create value across different professional cultures.

The candidate should bring knowledge of logistics and supply chain management, alongside an understanding of broader business and management topics, as well as an established professional network in Hamburg and beyond.

Corporate research partnerships should be developed within the logistics, operations, and supply chain management sector, but also across a variety of other business and management fields.

Required qualifications and experience

• Relevant university degree, preferably at master's level, or equivalent experience.
• Significant experience in corporate relations, business development, partnership management, research collaboration, or fundraising, ideally in connection with universities, research institutions, or other knowledge‑intensive environments.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and manage strategic external relationships.
• Experience working with senior stakeholders in business, the public sector, or academia.
• Strong understanding of how partnerships can support research, innovation, and societal impact.
• Proven ability to navigate complex stakeholder environments.
• Excellent communication, facilitation, and negotiation skills.
• Ability to work independently and proactively in a small, entrepreneurial institution headquartered in Hamburg, with additional hubs in Bogotá, Johannesburg, and Sai‑gon (either established or under development).
• Fluency in German and English

Desirable qualifications and experience

• Experience in a university, business school, research institute, foundation, funding body, or knowledge‑intensive professional services environment.
• Familiarity with third‑party research funding and collaborative research, including public‑private research projects.
• Experience in developing partnership models.
• International experience and the ability to work across cultures.

We offer

At KLU, you’ll work alongside open‑minded and ambitious colleagues in an international, multicultural atmosphere in the attractive HafenCity location. The campus not only offers breathtaking views of the Elbphilharmonie, the container terminals and the newly developing areas of Hamburg’s HafenCity, but also modern workspaces. Our staff benefit from family‑friendly working hours, the option to work from home, a company pension scheme, sports facilities and a subsidy towards the Deutschlandticket.

We value diversity

We value diversity and therefore welcome all applications regardless of gender, nationality, ethnic and social origin, religion and worldview, disability, age, sexual orientation, and identity.