Assistant Director of Research Development
About MSI STEM Research & Development Consortium
The MSI STEM Research & Development Consortium (MSRDC) is a 501c3 nonprofit with a membership of more than 70 minority-serving institutions of higher education, majority universities and private industry collaborative partners conducting basic and applied research as well as advanced technology development in a variety of scientific and engineering disciplines for both federal defense and civilian agencies. Since its inception in 2015 and with an initial list of milestones and successes, the Consortium is positioned to expand from an early-stage organization to a full-service research & development enterprise. We are an EOE with a diverse workforce.
About the Assistant Director of Research Development
The Assistant Director of Research Development (with primary responsibility for student research) will work to engage undergraduate and graduate students as well as postdoctoral associates in the conduct of federally funded, mission-critical research across defense and civilian agencies. As a thought leader, the senior manager will design and deliver an innovative approach to workforce development programs and connect them with federal research programs focused on addressing some of society’s largest challenges in a variety of technical domains.
The Assistant Director of Research Development will manage components of two agency projects and will be charged with identifying and executing strategies to further grow the portfolio. S/he will design and/or improve existing systems to ensure full and meaningful processes, reporting, and learning, with a focus on driving successful outcomes. Timely, consistent, and meaningful communication with project sponsors is crucial to sustaining these cornerstone relationships.
Qualifications:
- Experience leading STEM-related programs in a mission-driven organization, with a minimum of three years in a team management role (building successful teams)
- Demonstrated ability to oversee a portfolio of programs that involves managing many moving parts, people, and processes, and driving them toward successful outcomes through your direct leadership. Ability to identify and comply with any applicable regulations.
- A commitment to run programs from the bottom up, taking ownership of all aspects of the program, and participating in all components of its execution.
- Experience, or desire to, work in a lean entrepreneurial environment that follows an apprenticeship model in which you learn by doing, often with no training manual.
- Broad understanding of, and experience with STEM education, workforce development, and diversity and inclusion policies and practices.
- Knowledge of, or experience with, working with higher-education R&D programs at either the investigator or executive level.
- Direct experience in managing federally funded science& engineering research projects, with a particular understanding and ability to comply with applicable regulations.
- Demonstrated ability to oversee a significant portfolio that involves managing many moving parts, people, and processes, and driving them toward successful outcomes through your direct leadership.
- Experience working with a variety of external stakeholders, and across an organization, and successfully managing team members across a wide range of professional and organizational experience (“managing up and down”)
- Proven ability to manage high-profile relationships tied to revenue.
- Inside knowledge of or experience working in academic leadership is a plus.
- Deep alignment with the MSRDC mission and vision
Required Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities:
- Proven ability to make complex information understandable to a broad range of audiences.
- Strong ability to apply critical thinking skills to translate abstract ideas into comprehensive strategies and the ability to execute the strategies.
- Must be able to write clearly and concisely with strong verbal interpersonal and communication skills to effectively interact with individuals at all levels in the organization.
- Must be able to balance the needs of multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-paced, often deadline-driven environment where priorities change in response to external needs and opportunities.
- Must be able to work independently and as part of a team.
- Adaptable to work in a virtual organizational environment with flexibility for occasional travel for meetings
Required Experience:
- 10+ years of work with nonprofits, grants and contracts, with an emphasis on federal research contracting/procurement.
- 10+ years of high-level public policy experience in government, think tank, business or academia.
Required Education:
Master’s degree in STEM discipline; Doctorate highly preferred.
If you qualify, please send your resume to: [email protected]