Director of Ohio-Israel Business Partnerships

Organization: Ohio-Israel Agriculture & Clean Tech Initiative (OIACI), The Negev Foundation

Contact: Sam Hoenig shoenig

Title: Director of Ohio-Israel Business Partnerships

Position Type: Full-time, on-site (Ohio-based role).

This position requires current Ohio residency. Candidates residing outside of Ohio will not be considered. Remote work may be authorized for Ohio residents living outside the Greater Cleveland area, with required attendance at occasional on-site meetings and special events.

The Ohio-Israel Agriculture & Clean Tech Initiative (OIACI) is a program of the Negev Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization based in Cleveland, Ohio. OIACI strengthens trade, investment, and research relationships between Ohio and Israeli companies in the agriculture, food, and water sectors. The Initiative serves as a matchmaker and facilitator
, connecting companies, institutions, and government partners to advance collaboration, pilot activity, and market entry.

The Program Director is a leadership role that works directly with Israeli and Ohio-based companies, partners, and institutions to facilitate trade, build strategic partnerships, and drive business matchmaking. This is not a service-delivery or educational role; it requires actively engaging executives, founders, government officials, and economic development stakeholders to translate relationships into concrete collaborations and market-facing opportunities.

For example, this role supports the Initiative’s efforts to identify, connect, and advance Israeli agriculture, water, food, and Clean Tech solutions that address Ohio’s sector needs, while facilitating trade and partnership opportunities for Ohio-based companies in the Israeli market.

The role helps position Ohio as a competitive entry point for building a U.S. presence by leveraging the state’s central geography, strong agricultural and industrial base, access to customers and supply chains, and favorable cost structure, as well as relevant state programs and incentives.

In practice, the role works hands-on with companies to identify and develop pilot and proof-of-concept opportunities, coordinate relationships with commercial, academic, and research partners, and help navigate state, regional, and institutional resources.

• Facilitate business and trade partnerships between Ohio and Israeli companies in the agriculture, food, and water sectors.
• Identify and advance opportunities for pilot projects, demonstrations, and collaborative initiatives.
• Build and maintain relationships with business leaders, economic development organizations, and state and local government partners.
• Represent OIACI at professional events, conferences, trade-related meetings, and stakeholder convenings.
• Maintain and grow OIACI’s database of Ohio and Israeli companies and partner organizations.
• Develop and implement a program action plan with measurable outcomes for partnership and trade-related activities.
• Prepare written progress reports and provide regular status updates to leadership and advisory stakeholders.
• Identify grant and funding opportunities related to trade, innovation, and collaboration, and assist with proposal development.
• Stay informed on emerging trends in agriculture, clean technology, water, and climate-smart solutions.

• Currently living in Ohio.
• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Business, Economics, Agribusiness, International Business, or a closely related field.
• Minimum of 3–5 years of experience in trade facilitation, business partnerships, economic development, or investment attraction.
• Demonstrated experience working in an external-facing, relationship-driven role with businesses and public-sector stakeholders.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including presentation experience.
• Ability to manage multiple initiatives simultaneously in a small, collaborative team environment.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, and database or CRM systems.
• English fluency required;
  Hebrew proficiency is a plus but not required.

$70,000 - $75,000

401(k)

401(k) matching

Health Insurance Stipend

Generous Paid Time Off

Paid Holidays

Paid Sick Leave