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Director, Office for Research Initiatives & Communications - 516040

Employer
The University of Alabama
Location
Tuscaloosa County, AL
Closing date
May 28, 2022

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Sector
Other
Organization Type
Corporate
*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 planned start date is June 1, 2022 but is negotiable. Only applicants currently legally eligible to work in the United States will be considered. 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 May 3, 2022; however, the position will remain open until filled. Applications submitted after May 3, 2022, will be reviewed and considered if the position remains unfilled. Application materials should include:
1. Full and updated resume
2. Cover letter summarizing the interest in the position and how the minimum qualifications and any preferred qualifications are met
3. Sufficient examples of publication and/or writing samples to demonstrate required minimum qualifications are met
4. List of four references with full contact information (however, references will only be contacted after written consent of the candidate).
*Department Summary: *In June 2019, the Office for Research & Economic Development (ORED) launched a five-year strategic plan (2019-2024) for research at The University of Alabama (UA). 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 and is attributed to successful investments in infrastructure and world-class faculty, the establishment of signature research areas represented by the Alabama Research Institutes: Alabama Transportation Institute (ATI), Alabama Water Institute (AWI), Alabama Cyber Institute (ACI), Alabama Life Research Institute (ALRI), as well as the Alabama Analytical Research Center (AARC), all of which are under the ORED umbrella. Together, ORED and the Alabama Research Institutes are developing and leading major transformational research initiatives with local, state, national and international impact, as well as pursuing lasting economic development initiatives.

Also in June 2019, UA's Economic Development Council, chaired by the Vice President for Research & Economic Development, announced the five-year economic development priorities and strategic goals for UA (2019-2024). Originating directly from UA's mission, vision and strategic plan, the economic development priorities and strategic goals focus on four priority themes: (1) Provide Economic Development Services, (2) Prepare Current and Future Workforce and Retain Talent in the State, (3) Start, Recruit and Partner with Companies, and (4) Measure and Evaluate the Overall Impact of UA on the Statewide Economy. UA economic development assets received a significant increase in external award funding in fiscal year 2020 compared to fiscal year 2019. In fiscal year 2020, economic development assets received $14,309,098, which is 8.50% of UA's total external sponsored awards, compared to $8,408,128 and 6.35% of total in FY 2019.

ORED is at the helm of this unprecedented research and economic development growth and now seeks a Director for the Office for Research Initiatives & Communications up to the challenge of serving as a critical member of the ORED Leadership Team. In close alignment and collaboration with the Vice President, all division-wide personnel including specifically the Alabama Research Institutes, and with the University's Division of Strategic Communications, the Director will provide tactical marketing and communication strategy and direction through the new Office for Research Initiatives & Communications within ORED.

Reporting directly to the Vice President for Research & Economic Development, the Director will have the following major responsibilities:

• Develop the vision and strategy for and direct the Office for Research Initiatives & Communications and manage the day-to-day operations of the Office and its personnel, including recruitment, evaluation, and professional development of employees and key Office functions, including curation of key research data, public releases, presentations, research web-strategy, annual reports, ORED's shared and protected electronic drive, and critical information relating to major new transformative research proposals and initiatives (30%)
• Serve as the communication strategist for the Vice President for Research & Economic Development (VPRED), framing and developing content for the VPRED's public presentations, speeches and lectures (10%)
• Serve as a critical member of the ORED Leadership Team, helping ORED fulfill its mission, annual goals, and strategic goals and initiatives (10%)
• Serve as the point of contact and developer of content and information necessary for University-wide and public dissemination of research and economic development activities, including the real-time releases and annual reports of the two division strategic plans (10%)
• Serve as the initial point of contact and coordinator for new transformational research initiatives until the project has sufficiently matured (10%)
• Pertaining to research and economic development initiatives led by ORED, direct and manage the development and maintenance of comprehensive media relations, public relations, and internal communication strategies (10%)
• Collaborate and work closely with division-wide leadership, the Alabama Research Institutes, faculty, and staff to ensure consistent, timely, and integrated messaging for all forms of communication (10%)
• Partner effectively with the Division of Strategic Communications to secure necessary reviews and approvals at the University level (5%)
• Continually research best practices, methods, and emerging technologies to ensure quality of ORED's research initiatives and communications (5%)
*Required Department Minimum Qualifications:* A candidate must meet all the following minimum qualifications. In exceptional circumstances, ORED may consider an exception based on an applicant's extraordinary background and experiences that otherwise meet or exceed the stated minimum components. In this case, it is the responsibility of the applicant to articulate how their background and experiences meet or exceed the stated minimum components.

At least a master's degree with 15+ years of relevant professional experience and evidence of successful professional experience and performance in the following seven required components:

1. Complex project and e-portfolio management involving varying groups of stakeholders
2. Communications to a broad group of stakeholders, particularly those interested in research at UA
3. Ability to provide highly valued customer service to all stakeholders
4. Ability to design and execute effective public relations campaigns and initiatives
5. External communication of results, outcomes, and impact of programs and initiatives via multiple media platforms
6. Supervisory experience, including the recruitment, evaluation, and professional development of employees
7. Prior demonstrated experience in setting goals, tracking progress, and reporting on progress toward achieving goals.
*Preferred Qualifications: *In addition to all the minimum qualifications, the preferred candidate will have one or more of the following:

1. A terminal degree such as terminal masters, JD, or PhD. If the preferred candidate has a terminal degree and a strong academic record pertaining to teaching and training and/or research and research dissemination, they may be eligible for a faculty appointment in the appropriate academic department(s) at The University of Alabama
2. Prior experience in research grant writing and research communications and marketing
3. Prior experience in fundraising and philanthropy
4. Prior experience in governmental affairs at the state and/or national level
5. Prior experience in web strategy and website development
6. Prior experience in strategic planning and reporting progress toward achievement of strategic goals and objectives.
*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)

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