Partnerships Associate Visa Sponsorship Jobs in Kentucky
Partnerships associate roles in Kentucky are concentrated in Louisville and Lexington, where employers in healthcare, logistics, and technology actively hire for business development functions. Companies like Humana, Tempur Sealy, and LG&E and KU Energy have sponsored international talent in similar commercial roles, making Kentucky a legitimate market for visa sponsorship seekers.
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Get Access To All JobsJob Title: Director, Federal Research and Partnerships
Requisition Number: RE56285
Department Name: 40100:VP of Research
Work Location: Lexington, KY
Grade Level: 50
Salary Range: $83,283-141,565/year
Type of Position: Staff
Position Time Status: Full-Time
Required Education: MA
Required Related Experience: 5 yrs
Required License/Registration/Certification: None
Physical Requirements: Ability to sit for long periods of time.
Shift: Monday – Friday 8:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m.
Job Summary
Advancing Federal Research, Strategic Partnerships, and National Competitiveness
The University of Kentucky is seeking a Director, Federal Research and Partnerships to join the Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR).
This position will help grow and sustain UK’s research enterprise by advancing strategic initiatives and partnerships in defense, national security, dual-use technologies, and areas critical to national competitiveness. Working with research leadership, faculty, government, military, and industry partners, the Director will align UK capabilities with emerging priorities, develop multidisciplinary opportunities, and position research teams for sustained success.
What You’ll Do
- Develop and help execute a university-wide strategy for defense, national security, dual-use technologies, and national competitiveness, identifying opportunities for research growth, strategic investment, capacity building, and institutional differentiation.
- Analyze emerging federal priorities, mission needs, and technologies to identify where UK research capabilities can address near-, mid-, and long-term opportunities.
- Establish and sustain relationships with defense-related agencies, military services, laboratories, acquisition organizations, operational units, national laboratories, and industry partners to expand opportunities for sponsored research and faculty engagement.
- Identify emerging research and funding opportunities and translate sponsor priorities into actionable opportunities for UK faculty and research teams.
- Support the positioning and development of major multidisciplinary proposals, centers, consortia, cooperative agreements, OTAs, IDIQs, and other strategic initiatives while building a pipeline of research opportunities.
- Convene multidisciplinary teams across areas such as health and medical sciences, human performance, energy, critical materials, advanced manufacturing and materials, AI and data science, autonomy, infrastructure, and transportation.
- Mentor faculty and staff on defense organizations, research funding processes, and pathways from research through demonstration and transition.
- Advise research leadership on federal priorities, emerging technologies, major partnerships, institutional investments, proposals, centers, and other strategic defense research opportunities.
- Develop briefing materials, recommendations, decision frameworks, and implementation strategies for initiatives requiring executive review or university-level coordination, and track progress, commitments, risks, and next steps.
What You’ll Bring
- Strong knowledge of federal research programs, defense-related organizations, federal defense research priorities, funding mechanisms, and technology development processes.
- Demonstrated ability to develop partnerships that connect institutional research capabilities with government and industry priorities.
- Knowledge of federal proposal development, cooperative agreements, alternative research funding mechanisms, and complex multidisciplinary research opportunities.
- Strong strategic planning, analytical, and organizational skills with demonstrated ability to develop and implement long-term strategic initiatives.
- Ability to build multidisciplinary teams, connect complementary expertise, and coordinate efforts across colleges, research units, leadership, and external organizations.
- Strong communication and collaboration skills with the ability to translate complex federal priorities and mission needs into actionable research opportunities.
- Ability to monitor strategic initiatives, evaluate progress, identify risks and opportunities, and communicate clear recommendations to university leadership.
Minimum Requirements
- Master’s degree
- 5 years of related experience
What’s In It for You
- Help shape the growth of UK’s research enterprise in defense, national security, dual-use technologies, and areas important to national competitiveness.
- Build high-impact connections among UK faculty, research leadership, federal organizations, military partners, national laboratories, and industry.
- Help develop multidisciplinary research opportunities spanning established and emerging areas of university expertise.
- Hybrid work eligibility with approval.
- UK’s Exceptional Benefits
Why Now?
Federal priorities, emerging technologies, and evolving national security needs are creating new opportunities for universities to contribute research expertise, facilities, and multidisciplinary capabilities to mission-driven challenges. UK can strengthen its competitiveness by connecting those opportunities with institutional research strengths and developing sustained partnerships across government and industry.
This position will help create that connection, building a strategic pipeline from emerging opportunities and faculty engagement through multidisciplinary partnerships and major research initiatives. By coordinating efforts across UK and advising university leadership, the Director will help position the institution for long-term research growth and greater impact in the federal research and innovation ecosystem.
Skills / Knowledge / Abilities
Does this position have supervisory responsibilities? No
Preferred Education/Experience
- Doctoral degree in engineering, science, or related technical field.
- Minimum seven years of experience in each of multiple sectors, including industry, DoW/federal government, and academic research leadership.
- Demonstrated success building or expanding a defense or national-security research enterprise, center, or major portfolio.
- Proven record of transitioning technologies into defense, operational, industrial, or commercial use.
- Established relationships across DoW, defense industry, national laboratories, academia, and the federal research community.
- Experience engaging senior university, federal, and state leaders in support of major research and strategic initiatives.
Deadline to Apply: 11/17/2026
Our University Community
We value the well-being of each of our employees and are dedicated to creating a healthy place for everyone to work, learn and live. In the interest of maintaining a safe and healthy environment for our students, employees, patients and visitors, the University of Kentucky is a Tobacco & Drug Free campus.
The University follows both the federal and state Constitutions as well as all applicable federal and state laws on nondiscrimination. The University provides equal opportunities for qualified persons in all aspects of institutional operations and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnic origin, religion, creed, age, physical or mental disability, veteran status, uniformed service, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information or social or economic status.
Any candidate offered a position may be required to pass pre-employment screenings as mandated by University of Kentucky Human Resources. These screenings may include a national background check and/or drug screen.
Job Title: Director, Federal Research and Partnerships
Requisition Number: RE56285
Department Name: 40100:VP of Research
Work Location: Lexington, KY
Grade Level: 50
Salary Range: $83,283-141,565/year
Type of Position: Staff
Position Time Status: Full-Time
Required Education: MA
Required Related Experience: 5 yrs
Required License/Registration/Certification: None
Physical Requirements: Ability to sit for long periods of time.
Shift: Monday – Friday 8:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m.
Job Summary
Advancing Federal Research, Strategic Partnerships, and National Competitiveness
The University of Kentucky is seeking a Director, Federal Research and Partnerships to join the Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR).
This position will help grow and sustain UK’s research enterprise by advancing strategic initiatives and partnerships in defense, national security, dual-use technologies, and areas critical to national competitiveness. Working with research leadership, faculty, government, military, and industry partners, the Director will align UK capabilities with emerging priorities, develop multidisciplinary opportunities, and position research teams for sustained success.
What You’ll Do
- Develop and help execute a university-wide strategy for defense, national security, dual-use technologies, and national competitiveness, identifying opportunities for research growth, strategic investment, capacity building, and institutional differentiation.
- Analyze emerging federal priorities, mission needs, and technologies to identify where UK research capabilities can address near-, mid-, and long-term opportunities.
- Establish and sustain relationships with defense-related agencies, military services, laboratories, acquisition organizations, operational units, national laboratories, and industry partners to expand opportunities for sponsored research and faculty engagement.
- Identify emerging research and funding opportunities and translate sponsor priorities into actionable opportunities for UK faculty and research teams.
- Support the positioning and development of major multidisciplinary proposals, centers, consortia, cooperative agreements, OTAs, IDIQs, and other strategic initiatives while building a pipeline of research opportunities.
- Convene multidisciplinary teams across areas such as health and medical sciences, human performance, energy, critical materials, advanced manufacturing and materials, AI and data science, autonomy, infrastructure, and transportation.
- Mentor faculty and staff on defense organizations, research funding processes, and pathways from research through demonstration and transition.
- Advise research leadership on federal priorities, emerging technologies, major partnerships, institutional investments, proposals, centers, and other strategic defense research opportunities.
- Develop briefing materials, recommendations, decision frameworks, and implementation strategies for initiatives requiring executive review or university-level coordination, and track progress, commitments, risks, and next steps.
What You’ll Bring
- Strong knowledge of federal research programs, defense-related organizations, federal defense research priorities, funding mechanisms, and technology development processes.
- Demonstrated ability to develop partnerships that connect institutional research capabilities with government and industry priorities.
- Knowledge of federal proposal development, cooperative agreements, alternative research funding mechanisms, and complex multidisciplinary research opportunities.
- Strong strategic planning, analytical, and organizational skills with demonstrated ability to develop and implement long-term strategic initiatives.
- Ability to build multidisciplinary teams, connect complementary expertise, and coordinate efforts across colleges, research units, leadership, and external organizations.
- Strong communication and collaboration skills with the ability to translate complex federal priorities and mission needs into actionable research opportunities.
- Ability to monitor strategic initiatives, evaluate progress, identify risks and opportunities, and communicate clear recommendations to university leadership.
Minimum Requirements
- Master’s degree
- 5 years of related experience
What’s In It for You
- Help shape the growth of UK’s research enterprise in defense, national security, dual-use technologies, and areas important to national competitiveness.
- Build high-impact connections among UK faculty, research leadership, federal organizations, military partners, national laboratories, and industry.
- Help develop multidisciplinary research opportunities spanning established and emerging areas of university expertise.
- Hybrid work eligibility with approval.
- UK’s Exceptional Benefits
Why Now?
Federal priorities, emerging technologies, and evolving national security needs are creating new opportunities for universities to contribute research expertise, facilities, and multidisciplinary capabilities to mission-driven challenges. UK can strengthen its competitiveness by connecting those opportunities with institutional research strengths and developing sustained partnerships across government and industry.
This position will help create that connection, building a strategic pipeline from emerging opportunities and faculty engagement through multidisciplinary partnerships and major research initiatives. By coordinating efforts across UK and advising university leadership, the Director will help position the institution for long-term research growth and greater impact in the federal research and innovation ecosystem.
Skills / Knowledge / Abilities
Does this position have supervisory responsibilities? No
Preferred Education/Experience
- Doctoral degree in engineering, science, or related technical field.
- Minimum seven years of experience in each of multiple sectors, including industry, DoW/federal government, and academic research leadership.
- Demonstrated success building or expanding a defense or national-security research enterprise, center, or major portfolio.
- Proven record of transitioning technologies into defense, operational, industrial, or commercial use.
- Established relationships across DoW, defense industry, national laboratories, academia, and the federal research community.
- Experience engaging senior university, federal, and state leaders in support of major research and strategic initiatives.
Deadline to Apply: 11/17/2026
Our University Community
We value the well-being of each of our employees and are dedicated to creating a healthy place for everyone to work, learn and live. In the interest of maintaining a safe and healthy environment for our students, employees, patients and visitors, the University of Kentucky is a Tobacco & Drug Free campus.
The University follows both the federal and state Constitutions as well as all applicable federal and state laws on nondiscrimination. The University provides equal opportunities for qualified persons in all aspects of institutional operations and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnic origin, religion, creed, age, physical or mental disability, veteran status, uniformed service, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information or social or economic status.
Any candidate offered a position may be required to pass pre-employment screenings as mandated by University of Kentucky Human Resources. These screenings may include a national background check and/or drug screen.
Partnerships Associate Job Roles in Kentucky
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Search Partnerships Associate Jobs in KentuckyPartnerships Associate Jobs in Kentucky: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies in Kentucky sponsor visas for partnerships associate roles?
Louisville-based employers in healthcare and logistics have the strongest track record of H-1B visa sponsorship for business development and partnerships roles. Humana, Kindred Healthcare, and logistics firms tied to UPS's regional operations have filed LCAs for commercial roles. Technology companies in the Lexington corridor, including smaller SaaS and analytics firms, have also sponsored international workers in partnerships and alliances functions.
Which visa types are most common for partnerships associate roles in Kentucky?
The H-1B is the most common visa category for partnerships associates in Kentucky, provided the role requires a bachelor's degree in a specific field such as business, marketing, or communications. Candidates already holding O-1 visa or TN visa status may also find employers willing to support those categories. The role must qualify as a specialty occupation, which typically means documenting a clear degree requirement tied to the position.
How to find partnerships associate visa sponsorship jobs in Kentucky?
Migrate Mate filters job listings specifically by sponsorship availability, so you can search partnerships associate roles in Kentucky without sorting through positions that won't support a visa. The platform aggregates openings from employers with documented sponsorship history, which is especially useful in a mid-sized market like Kentucky where sponsoring companies are concentrated in Louisville and Lexington rather than spread statewide.
Which cities in Kentucky have the most partnerships associate sponsorship jobs?
Louisville accounts for the majority of partnerships associate sponsorship opportunities in Kentucky, driven by its concentration of Fortune 500 headquarters in healthcare, financial services, and consumer goods. Lexington is a secondary hub with growing activity in technology and life sciences tied to the University of Kentucky research ecosystem. Bowling Green has limited but emerging opportunities linked to manufacturing and regional business development.
Are there any state-specific considerations for partnerships associates pursuing visa sponsorship in Kentucky?
Kentucky does not have a state-level visa program, so sponsorship depends entirely on the individual employer. The Department of Labor's prevailing wage requirements for LCA filings apply uniformly, and wages in Louisville are generally benchmarked to national metropolitan levels for partnerships roles. University pipelines through the University of Louisville and University of Kentucky produce candidates in business and communications who sometimes transition into partnerships functions with local employers that already have sponsorship infrastructure in place.
What is the prevailing wage for sponsored partnerships associate jobs in Kentucky?
U.S. employers sponsoring a visa must pay at least the prevailing wage, which is what workers in the same role, area, and experience level typically earn. The Department of Labor sets this rate to make sure companies aren't hiring foreign workers simply because they'd accept lower pay than a U.S. worker. It varies by job title, location, and experience. You can look up current prevailing wage rates for any occupation and location using the OFLC Wage Search page.