
BUSINESS ASSOCIATE
At the core of every high-performing engineering team is a strong foundation of strategic thinking, partnerships, and financial planning. The Business & Finance subteam ensures that Team Polar not only builds cutting-edge solutions, but also builds lasting relationships with the industry, secures essential funding, and creates a sustainable operational model.
As a Business or Finance Associate, you are more than just a support role, you are a key player in driving Team Polar forward. From identifying potential sponsors and forging partnerships to shaping the team’s long-term business strategy, your contributions are critical to our continued growth and success.
A central aspect of this role involves delivering compelling pitches, both within the university and to external companies. Whether presenting at campus events, sponsor meetings, or industry conferences, you help communicate Team Polar’s mission, impact, and value to a broad and influential audience.
On the financial side, the team is responsible for budgeting the full scope of the project, ensuring that funds are allocated efficiently across subteams to meet technical and operational goals. This includes planning, tracking expenses, and making sure resources are used strategically to maximize performance and output.
This is a role for someone who thrives on making connections, thinking strategically, and transforming ideas into action. It offers the chance to develop real-world business and finance experience in a dynamic, multidisciplinary student-team environment.
RESPONSIBILITIES
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Identify and approach potential sponsors, donors, or strategic partners
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Conduct market and industry research to discover new opportunities
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Develop compelling partnership proposals and pitch materials
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Deliver professional pitches and presentations to university bodies, companies, and at partners
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Build and maintain strong relationships with sponsors and external partners
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Lead budgeting efforts across the team and ensure transparent, strategic allocation of funds to all subteams
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Track and manage team expenses, ensuring financial health and accountability
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Collaborate with technical subteams to align funding with project milestones and needs
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Represent Team Polar at networking events, meetings, and conferences
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Support in the development of business plans, strategy decks, and reporting documents
QUALIFICATIONS
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Strong communication and presentation skills, with confidence in public speaking
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Interest in business development, finance, partnerships, or strategic planning
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Ability to think critically and identify growth or funding opportunities
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Solid organizational skills and attention to detail, especially in financial planning
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Proactive and self-driven, with a team-oriented mindset
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Comfortable taking ownership of budgeting responsibilities and working with numbers
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Open to learning and collaborating with both technical and non-technical stakeholders
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Prior experience in finance, fundraising, or event planning is a plus, but not required
WHAT DO WE OFFER?
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A unique environment where you work with a group of ambitious students towards one goal
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A diverse team with whom you often do fun things
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The chance to build a network with our partners
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The perfect opportunity to enhance your CV
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The opportunity to follow different trainings offered by our partners
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Enough freedom, but also set goals to make the most of your time at Team Polar