ABOUT VINUNIVERSITY
VinUniversity (VinUni) is the first private, not-for-profit Vietnamese university established based on international standards. The university integrates the models of excellent international universities with the unique cultural and economic characteristics of Vietnam, to make a breakthrough in Vietnamese higher education and to become a world-class university.
The University has built strategic collaborations with Cornell University and the University of Pennsylvania — a choice that speaks to our commitment to excellence, innovation in research and teaching, and to making a difference in the world. VinUni comprises of College of Arts and Sciences; College of Business and Management; College of Engineering and Computer Science; and College of Health Sciences.
VinUni’s founding benefactor - Vingroup is one of the biggest private conglomerates in Asia with the largest market capitalization value in Vietnam. As a multisector corporation, Vingroup focuses on three main areas: Industrials & Technology; Real Estate & Services; Infrastructure; Green Energy; and Social Enterprises. VinUni is proud to be a part of the Vingroup ecosystem, giving its students the opportunities to connect with pioneering companies (such as VinFast, Vinpearl, Vinmec, Vinschool, and Vinhomes) and a dynamic entrepreneurial ecosystem (such as VinVenture, VinMotion, or VinRobotics, VinSpace…).
In September 2024, VinUni became the youngest and fastest university in the world to achieve QS 5 stars, earning 5 stars in 9 categories: global engagement, good governance, program strength, academic development, teaching, employability, facilities, arts, and social impact. In October 2024, VinUni was appointed by UNESCO as the first and only UNESCO University Chair, focusing on Environmental Leadership, Cultural Heritage, and Biodiversity.
On our journey to become one of the world’s top 100 universities, VinUni is building a dynamic ecosystem of innovation and discovery. Through strategic investments in world-class research centers, state-of-the-art facilities, and transformative technologies, the university empowers collaboration across disciplines, strengthens partnerships with industry and society, and nurtures a thriving global network, who spearheads advancements in AI/Machine Learning, Data Science, Environmental Intelligence, Innovations in Health Sciences, Policy Development and Sustainable Societies.
ABOUT THE POSITION
The Head of Industry Alliances and Strategic Partnerships is a transformational leadership role responsible for architecting VinUni’s institutional model for strategic external partnerships. This position reports directly to the Director of Transformation Management Office of VinUniversity.
This position goes beyond partnership management. It designs and drives a structured pathway from fundamental discovery to translational impact, mobilizing corporations, investors, public agencies, and global partners to co-create research programmes, corporate labs, joint research centres, and flagship innovation initiatives.
Operating at the intersection of academia, industry, and global networks, the role ensures that VinUni becomes a preferred partner for frontier research collaboration in Asia and globally, aligned with VinUni’s Vision 2030.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Institutional Strategy for External Partnerships
- Design and implement a university-wide framework for strategic engagement with external stakeholders that integrates research, education, innovation, and societal impact.
- Identify priority sectors and global corporate partners aligned with VinUni’s research strengths and emerging centers of excellence.
- Position VinUni as a preferred research and innovation partner in the world.
Global Flagship Partnerships & Funding Growth
- Lead the development of high-value, long-term partnerships with leading global corporations and R&D organizations.
- Drive significant growth in industry-sponsored research, competitive international grants, contract research, and co-investment models, diversifying external funding streams.
- Structure complex, multi-party research programmes addressing strategic national and global challenges.
Commercialization Acceleration
- Strengthen the continuum from discovery to deployment, enabling IP generation, licensing, spin-offs, and venture collaboration.
- Facilitate co-creation models where research agendas are jointly defined with external partners.
- Position VinUni as a hub for applied research and innovation in priority domains.
Talent & Ecosystem Development
- Integrate external collaboration into doctoral training, postdoctoral development, and multidisciplinary programmes.
- Expand VinUni’s global network of research and innovation leaders.
Strategic Advisory & Performance Stewardship
- Advise senior leadership on research competitiveness, global benchmarking, and partnership strategy.
- Ensure governance frameworks reflect international best practices in IP, compliance, and ethical collaboration.
POSITION REQUIREMENTS
- PhD from a globally recognized university, with strong academic credibility and interdisciplinary perspective.
- Demonstrated track record in securing and leading competitive research funding in international environments.
- Proven experience building strategic research partnerships with industry, funding agencies, donors, or investors.
- Deep understanding of research commercialization, IP strategy, or innovation ecosystems is highly desirable.
- Strategic thinker with the ability to design scalable partnership models and long-term institutional initiatives.
- Entrepreneurial and opportunity-driven mindset, capable of mobilizing diverse stakeholders toward shared impact.
- Strong global orientation and the ability to engage senior leaders across academia, industry, and government.
- Passion for advancing science, innovation, and sustainable development in Vietnam and globally.
- Alignment with VinUni’s core values (EXCEL): Empathy, Exceptional Capability, Creativity, Entrepreneurial Spirit, and Leadership Mindset.
We thank all applicants for their interest. Please note that only those candidates selected for interviews will be contacted.
