The LUMS Centre for Entrepreneurship (LCE) is seeking a driven and detail-oriented Specialist to join our dynamic R&D and Partnerships Team. The ideal candidate is self-motivated, proactive, and possesses excellent verbal and written communication skills, along with the ability to work independently and exercise sound judgment on partnership and project matters. This role requires a strong commitment to collaboration, timely execution, and the ability to manage multiple responsibilities and competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
Key Responsibilities
Reporting to the Manager – R&D and Partnerships, the Specialist will be responsible for:
- Leading partner outreach and relationship management through a structured, process-driven approach, with a high degree of independence.
- Conducting and documenting meetings with current and potential partners to ensure strategic alignment with LCE’s objectives and proactively identifying opportunities for growth.
- Independently sourcing, evaluating, and prioritizing new opportunities aligned with LCE’s focus areas, including funding, mentorship, and networking for startups.
- Leading the coordination of project execution in collaboration with internal teams such as Learning & Development, Marketing, Finance & Admin, and Makers Lab, ensuring timelines and deliverables are met.
- Building and sustaining effective partnerships across the private sector, government, NGOs, academic institutions, think tanks, and other relevant stakeholders, with growing ownership of key strategic relationships.
- Working with the Marketing team to develop and implement communication plans that highlight partnership outcomes and engagement.
- Contributing to the development of partnership strategy and providing input on team priorities to the Manager.
Required Skills and Competencies
- Independent thinker with strong problem-solving skills and sound judgment in ambiguous situations
- Excellent verbal, written, and presentation skills
- Ability to manage high-intensity workloads and multitask effectively
- Exceptional time management and organizational abilities
- Integrity, accountability, and a collaborative mindset
- Demonstrated ability to manage relationships and projects with minimal supervision
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s (Honours) or Master’s degree in Business, Economics, Sociology, Development Studies, International Relations, or a related field from a reputed local or international university
- Minimum 3-4 years of work experience is required, particularly in project coordination, partnerships, or research roles