5108

Job Location: Oak Brook - Illinois - United States

Category for Job Posting: Engineering and Technical

Job Type for Job Posting: Full Time

Working Mode for Job Posting: Hybrid

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Job Purpose

The North America University Partnerships Open Innovation Manager is responsible for developing, coordinating, and expanding CNH's strategic relationships with universities, research institutes, and academic innovation ecosystems across North America.

This role serves as the primary interface between CNH and leading academic institutions, transforming external research, talent, and innovation opportunities into measurable business value. The position focuses on building long-term strategic partnerships that support technology development, talent attraction, workforce upskilling, innovation co-development, and access to research funding.

The successful candidate will work closely with Engineering, Product Development, Advanced Technology, Manufacturing, Digital, HR, Talent Acquisition, and Corporate Strategy teams to align university collaborations with CNH's strategic priorities and innovation roadmap.

Key Responsibilities

University Strategy & Relationship Management

1. Develop and execute CNH's North America University Partnership Strategy aligned with business and technology priorities.
2. Identify, evaluate, and manage strategic university partnerships across the United States and Canada.
3. Build long-term executive and working-level relationships with university leadership, faculty members, research centers, and innovation offices.
4. Continuously assess the value, impact, and strategic fit of existing academic partnerships.

Innovation & Research Collaboration

1. Facilitate innovation co-development projects between CNH business units and academic partners.
2. Connect CNH technical needs with relevant university expertise, laboratories, research programs, and emerging technologies.
3. Support the identification and execution of Proofs of Concept (PoCs), pilot projects, student projects, and collaborative research initiatives.
4. Monitor technology trends and research developments emerging from the academic ecosystem.

Talent Development & Talent Attraction

1. Collaborate with HR and Talent Acquisition teams to strengthen CNH's talent pipeline through university engagement.
2. Coordinate internship programs, capstone projects, student competitions, fellowships, PhD collaborations, and talent-development initiatives.
3. Position CNH as a preferred innovation and employment partner within target universities.

Ecosystem Development & External Engagement

1. Represent CNH at university events, research symposiums, innovation conferences, and industry-academia forums.
2. Expand CNH's visibility within North America's innovation ecosystem.
3. Create opportunities for collaboration between universities, startups, technology partners, and internal CNH teams.

Governance, KPI & Reporting

1. Develop and maintain metrics to measure partnership effectiveness, business impact, talent outcomes, innovation results, and return on investment.
2. Maintain a centralized database of university engagements, activities, budgets, and outcomes.
3. Communicate successes, best practices, and partnership achievements to internal stakeholders and leadership.

Experience Required

Bachelor's Degree in:

• • Engineering
  • Business Administration
  • Agronomy
  • Computer Science
  • Technology Management

5+ years of experience in one or more of the following areas:

• • • Open Innovation
    • University Relations
    • Research Partnerships
    • Product Development
    • Technology Strategy
    • Innovation Management
    • Corporate R&D
    • Ecosystem Development

Preferred Qualifications

Technical Skills

• Project Management
• Advanced or fluent English proficiency
• Stakeholder Management
• Innovation and Technology Scouting
• Research Partnership Management
• Workshop Facilitation
• Strategic Planning and KPI Management
• Budget Management
• Knowledge of North American university ecosystems and research programs

Interpersonal Skills

• Curiosity and continuous learning mindset
• Emotional intelligence
• Strong communication and presentation skills
• Leadership and influence without direct authority
• Creativity and entrepreneurial thinking
• Flexibility and adaptability
• Problem-solving ability
• Results-oriented mindset
• Relationship-building and networking skills
• Ability to operate effectively in cross-functional and multicultural environments

Pay Transparency

The annual salary for this role is $74,625 - $132,825 plus any applicable bonus (Actual salaries will vary and will be based on various factors, such as skill, experience and qualification for the role.)

For roles open across multiple locations, the salary range indicated refers to the primary location. If a different location is considered, the applicable salary range will be communicated to candidates prior to the first interview.

What We Offer

We offer dynamic career opportunities across an international landscape. As an equal opportunity employer, we are committed to delivering value for all our employees and fostering a culture of respect.

At CNH, we understand that the best solutions come from the diverse experiences and skills of our people. Here, you will be empowered to grow your career, to follow your passion, and help build a better future. To support our employees, we offer regional comprehensive benefits, including:

• Flexible work arrangements
• Savings & Retirement benefits
• Tuition reimbursement
• Parental leave
• Adoption assistance
• Fertility & Family building support
• Employee Assistance Programs
• Charitable contribution matching and Volunteer Time Off

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