Department/Organization
704102 - Office for ASSIST
Rank
Associate/Full Professor
Position Summary
To lead this charge, we are seeking a visionary, peer-level leader to serve as the Director for Research Engagement. This unique 50% faculty appointment is designed for an active, highly respected scholar who possesses deep credibility "in the trenches" of academic grant-seeking. The successful candidate will be a collaborative, multidisciplinary generalist with a proven track record of securing and executing major, center-scale federal programs (such as DoD, DoE, NIH, or NSF initiatives). Overseeing the Research ASSIST Office, this leader will champion an end-to-end institutional framework focused strictly on proactive research development rather than administrative compliance. They will build a trusted, visible ground game across campus, working non-invasively alongside Deans, Center Directors, and Institute Directors to build consensus and cross-functional teams.
Detailed Position Information
The ideal candidate will bring a proven and active history of leadership as a Principal Investigator or Co-PI, with a demonstrated track record in securing, executing, and scaling major federal grants and center-level programs across agencies such as the DoD, DoE, NIH, or NSF. They must possess exceptional success in building proactive, multi-year relationships with national laboratories, federal funding agencies, and industrial consortia to advance institutional research agendas. Furthermore, this leader must be a true champion for multidisciplinary advocacy, showing a deep capacity to understand, respect, and support diverse fields of scholarship while exhibiting a genuine commitment to advancing the entire university enterprise across both STEM and non-STEM disciplines.
Interpersonal excellence, tactical diplomacy, and high emotional intelligence are absolutely paramount for this role, as the Director will need to navigate deep institutional complexities, bridge administrative silos, and seamlessly coordinate across diverse colleges. We are looking for someone who can establish an active, trusted "ground game" with faculty peers, building administrative consensus and mutual respect without imposing top-down compliance burdens. This requires elite written and verbal communication skills, characterized by transparency, reliable accessibility, and an open, approachable communication style that resonates across all levels of university leadership and operational staff.
Finally, the successful candidate must exhibit strong operational resilience and the adaptability required to thrive in a highly dynamic, fast-paced research environment. They should demonstrate patience, reliability, and emotional stability when balancing the competing priorities of diverse stakeholders under pressure. This role demands advanced strategic planning skills paired with the realistic foresight to manage constrained operational resources, pace deliverables, and establish multi-year, "long-runway" planning. Ultimately, we are seeking a motivational leader with a collaborative demeanor who naturally inspires and mentors faculty, builds effective research teams, and acts as a cultural catalyst for cross-disciplinary team science
Minimum Qualifications
Tenured Associate Professor or higher academic rank, with preference given to candidates at the Full Professor level. Terminal Degree.
Preferred Qualifications
Demonstrated track record of securing competitive external funding from multiple federal, state, industry, or other external funding agencies.
Instructions and Required Materials for Application
All applicants need to upload a current CV/resume, a cover letter and a list of references.
