Sr Research Professional - Director, Space Technologies and Engineering - 514630

*Pay Grade/Pay Range: *Based on qualifications.
*Department/Organization: *701101 - VP Research
*Normal Work Schedule: *Monday - Friday 8:00am to 4:45pm
*Note to Applicants: *The earliest planned start date is February 1, 2022 with the latest planned start date of May 1, 2022. This is an open, national and rolling search. Review of applications will begin immediately as they are received. Candidates meeting all the required qualifications may be contacted immediately for inquiry and an interview. It is possible that a preferred candidate may be selected as other applications are still being received. Therefore, the most serious and qualified candidates are encouraged to submit their application as soon as possible.
To receive the fullest and timely consideration, applications should be submitted prior to November 12, 2021; however, the position will remain open until filled. Applications submitted after November 12, 2021 will be reviewed and considered as long as the position remains unfilled.
Application materials should include: 1) a complete and updated resume, 2) cover letter summarizing the interest in the position and how the minimum qualifications and any preferred qualifications are met, and 3) a list of four references with full contact information. However, references will only be contacted after written consent of the candidate.
*Job Summary: *The Senior Research Professional must present documented evidence of an established national or international reputation within the scope of their assigned duties. Documented evidence should include success in pursuing external funding as principle investigator and/or Co-PI or Co-I, leading or co-leading contribution to the dissemination of findings or knowledge, including, but not limited to, public access such as on-line and through exhibits, peer-reviewed reports and publications, and presentation at meetings.
*Additional Department Summary: *The University of Alabama (UA) seeks an experienced Director of Space Technologies and Engineering within the Office for Research & Economic Development (ORED).

This position, reporting directly to the Vice President for Research & Economic Development, is a full-time (12 month) administrative position at UA as a Senior Research Professional. If the selected candidate has a strong academic record they may be eligible for a faculty appointment in the appropriate academic department(s) at The University of Alabama.

UA has been formally working with National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and George C. Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) located in Huntsville, AL, for more than a decade. In 2015, UA and MSFC signed a Space Act Agreement on various collaborative projects including: study and control of launch vehicles and structures, thermal performance of CubeSat propulsion systems, low-thrust mission designs, recycling otherwise unusable powder from waste streams resulting from advanced manufacturing, and analysis and methods to commercialize NASA technology and patents, among others. Moreover, on November 6, 2019 UA and MSFC reaffirmed this collaboration by signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to further develop several mutually beneficial areas relating to advanced and in-space manufacturing. The MOU affirmed UA's desires to significantly expand its core excellence in areas of advanced and in-space manufacturing to lead and foster effective collaborations among industry, government, academia, non-profit organizations, and others to ensure a coordinated, global effort toward rapidly closing both standards and workforce/technology development gaps in space technologies, advanced materials, and advanced and in-space manufacturing for future NASA missions. Therefore, this Director position will critically advance UA's partnership with NASA and MSFC in these strategic areas.

In June 2019, the Office for Research & Economic Development (ORED) launched a five-year strategic plan for UA research (2019-2024). The plan - emanating from UA's goal to, "increase the University's productivity and innovation in research, scholarship, and creative activities that impact economic and societal development," - focuses on six strategic themes: (1) Research Environment, (2) Alabama Research Institutes, (3) Transformative Initiatives, (4) Translating Intellectual Property, (5) Economic and Business Engagement, and (6) Assessing Progress and Impact. The overarching goals of ORED's plan are to double the research enterprise in five years and become one of the premier comprehensive research institutions in the southeastern United States. UA's research enterprise has been surging higher for eight consecutive years. For the five-year period from 2014 to 2018, total sponsored awards grew by 85%. In the last three fiscal years (2019-2021), total sponsored awards increased by another 72%. This growth rate strengthens UA's position as one of the fastest growing research institutions in the nation.

The Director of Space Technologies and Engineering will have the following Major Responsibilities:

• Advance UA's partnership with NASA and MSFC.
• Pursue and secure external funding as principal investigator and/or Co-PI or Co-I in the broad areas of space technologies and engineering.
• In areas relating to space technologies and engineering, work effectively and collaboratively with core faculty, selected colleges, and research-designated centers.
• Develop strong relationships with both internal and external constituencies, including faculty, staff and students; campus and system-wide leadership; state and federal government officials; and foundation and industry representatives.
• Develop and secure long-term mutually-beneficial collaborations in the form of public/private and university/university partnerships and consortia with the overall goal to both grow externally sponsored research and create opportunities for students.
*Required Department Minimum Qualifications:* Required Qualifications of the Director of Space Technologies and Engineering. The candidate must meet all the following required qualifications:

• PhD degree in engineering or relevant STEM field with at least 15 years of post-PhD related experience in academic, industrial and/or government settings.
• Evidence of an established national or international reputation within the broad area of space technologies and engineering.
• Extensive multi-disciplinary leadership experience in research and research to applications or operations with evidence of successfully leading large teams to achieve defined objectives and goals.
• Clear ability and capacity to identify needs of both UA and private industry to develop lasting and mutually beneficial public/private partnerships.
• History of successful and effective staff management and professional development.
• Acute understanding of the priorities, operation, and strategies of successfully securing resources to support research and development.
*Preferred Qualifications: *Preferred Qualifications of the Director of Space Technologies and Engineering. In addition to meeting all the required qualifications, the preferred candidate will ideally have one or more of the following:

• Prior research and development and operational experience or collaboration with NASA relating to any or all of the following: space systems development, spaceflight operations, space technologies and engineering, advanced space materials, and advanced and in-space manufacturing.
• Prior research, development and operational experience or collaboration with NASA.
• Documented evidence of pursuing and securing external funding as principal investigator and/or Co-PI or Co-I in areas relevant to this position; and the ability to move secured funding to The University of Alabama.
• Strong academic record and eligibility for faculty appointment in the appropriate academic department at The University of Alabama.
• Strong existing relationships with R&D leaders in industry, universities and federal agencies.
• Prior teaching experience and developing and delivering academic programs and/or training experiences.
• A clear understanding of technology transfer and licensing from a research-intensive university to the private sector.
*Background Investigation Statement:* Prior to hiring, the final candidate(s) must successfully pass a pre-employment background investigation and information obtained from social media and other internet sources. A prior conviction reported as a result of the background investigation DOES NOT automatically disqualify a candidate from consideration for this position. A candidate with a prior conviction or negative behavioral red flags will receive an individualized review of the prior conviction or negative behavioral red flags before a hiring decision is made.
*Equal Employment Opportunity:* The University of Alabama is an Equal Employment/Equal Educational Opportunity Institution. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment or volunteer status without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, age, genetic or family medical history information, disability, protected veteran status, or any other legally protected basis, and will not be discriminated against because of their protected status. Applicants and employees of this institution are protected under Federal law from discrimination on several bases. Follow the link below to find out more. "EEO is the Law" [Poster](https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/migrated_files/employers/poster_screen_reader_optimized.pdf)