Partnerships Manager Visa Sponsorship Jobs in Kentucky
Kentucky's partnerships manager roles are concentrated in Louisville, Lexington, and the Northern Kentucky corridor near Cincinnati, with employers in healthcare, logistics, and manufacturing actively hiring. Companies like Humana, Tempur Sealy, and regional distribution firms have sponsored work visas for business development and alliance management roles in this state.
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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 Manager Job Roles in Kentucky
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Search Partnerships Manager Jobs in KentuckyPartnerships Manager Jobs in Kentucky: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies in Kentucky sponsor visas for partnerships manager roles?
Louisville-based Humana is among the most active visa sponsors in Kentucky for business and partnerships roles, given its scale in health insurance and provider networks. Logistics and manufacturing firms in the Louisville and Northern Kentucky corridor, including operations tied to UPS and Toyota's regional supply chain, have also filed sponsorships for partnership-focused positions. Mid-size healthcare and technology companies in Lexington represent additional sources of sponsorship activity.
Which visa types are most commonly used for partnerships manager jobs in Kentucky?
The H-1B visa is the most common visa category for partnerships manager roles in Kentucky, provided the position qualifies as a specialty occupation requiring at least a bachelor's degree in a relevant field such as business, marketing, or a related discipline. The L-1A is relevant for international managers transferring within a multinational company. Australian citizens may also qualify for the E-3 visa, and Canadian or Mexican nationals may explore TN visa status under the business category.
How to find partnerships manager visa sponsorship jobs in Kentucky?
Migrate Mate filters job listings specifically by visa sponsorship willingness, making it more efficient than general job searches for partnerships manager roles in Kentucky. You can narrow results to Kentucky and search by role type to surface employers in Louisville, Lexington, and Northern Kentucky who have a documented history of sponsoring work visas. Checking Migrate Mate regularly is practical because sponsorship-eligible openings in this role are added as employers post them.
Which cities in Kentucky have the most partnerships manager sponsorship jobs?
Louisville is the primary hub for partnerships manager roles with visa sponsorship potential in Kentucky, driven by its concentration of large employers in healthcare, logistics, and financial services. Lexington sees activity from healthcare networks and university-adjacent technology companies. The Northern Kentucky cities of Covington and Florence benefit from proximity to the Cincinnati metro, where multinational employers sometimes post Kentucky-based positions.
Are there any Kentucky-specific considerations for partnerships manager visa sponsorship?
Kentucky's economy is weighted toward healthcare, logistics, and advanced manufacturing, so partnerships manager roles with sponsorship potential tend to be aligned with those industries rather than the technology sector more common in coastal markets. The University of Kentucky and University of Louisville generate graduate pipelines in business and health administration that some employers factor into local hiring. Prevailing wage requirements under the H-1B program apply based on the specific geographic area of employment, so Louisville, Lexington, and Northern Kentucky may each reflect different wage levels for the same role.
What is the prevailing wage for sponsored partnerships manager 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.