Leads the strategic defense research mission within the Office of the Vice President for Research and Partnerships (OVPRP), including coordination of national security strategy and integration of defense-related research activities.

• Manages daily operations within the Office of the Vice President for Research and Partnerships (OVPRP) to support and grow research excellence through the convening and integration of defense-related assets.
• Represents and assists the OVPRP across the full spectrum of national security strategy and integration activities.
• Collaborates closely with senior leadership, faculty, staff, industry partners, government agencies, and national laboratories to advance OVPRP's mission and support coordinated national security strategy and integration efforts.
• Oversees the portfolio of OVPRP National Security research and contributes to the congressional appropriations process, supporting national security strategy and integration efforts.
• Ensures alignment of OVPRP national security strategy and integration efforts with the strategic goals of the University and other affiliated units.
• Fosters collaboration across multidisciplinary teams to support growth in research and educational initiatives aligned with national security strategy and integration priorities.
• Provides strategic leadership and support for strengthening the University's role in aerospace, defense, and national security research through coordinated strategy and integration of institutional capabilities.
• Works with the University's State and Federal Relations teams to grow aerospace and defense-related presence and federal funding in Oklahoma in alignment with the University's national security strategy and priorities.
• Collaborates with faculty to develop competitive, strategically aligned proposals in response to federal funding opportunities that support national security strategy and integration priorities.
• Partners with college deans, department heads, and research leaders to increase the quality and volume of defense-focused research proposals.
• Provides day-to-day leadership, supervision, and support for assigned personnel, ensuring effective performance, professional development, and alignment with OVPRP's national security strategy and integration objectives.
• Builds and grows corporate partnerships and corporate-sponsored research initiatives aligned with national security strategy and integration priorities.
• Develops and hosts internal and external events, workshops, and conferences to promote the University's national security strategy and integration.
• Ensures compliance with University policies as well as DoW and other federal regulations related to research contracts and operations supporting national security strategy and integration activities.
• Performs additional duties as needed to fulfill the mission and goals of the department.

Education:

• Bachelor's degree

Equivalency/Substitution: Experience or a combination of education & related experience can be considered in lieu of degree. A one-to-one ratio is used to determine the number of years of experience required in place of a degree. 

Experience:

• 10 years of relevant experience.

Certifications or Licenses:

• None

• Extensive knowledge of higher education research administration and Department of Defense research priorities, policies, and funding mechanisms
• Strong leadership and management skills with experience overseeing complex, multidisciplinary research organizations and diverse teams
• Excellent strategic planning abilities to align institutional research goals with national defense priorities and to drive growth in research programs
• Proven ability to develop and maintain partnerships across academia, government, industry, and national laboratories
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills to effectively collaborate with faculty, staff, external stakeholders, and senior leadership
• Strong grant and proposal development expertise, including familiarity with federal funding processes and requirements
• Capacity to foster interdisciplinary collaboration across various research institutes, centers, and departments
• High-level problem-solving skills and initiative to address challenges and identify new research opportunities
• Understanding of compliance requirements related to federal contracts, security protocols, and university policies
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, virtual collaboration tools (e.g., Zoom), and document management platforms (e.g., Dropbox)
• Ability to handle confidential and sensitive information with discretion, integrity, and adherence to institutional and federal security guidelines

Physical:

• Ability to engage in repetitive motion and communicate effectively.

Environment:

• Standard office environment
• Travel may be required for conferences, sponsor meetings, government agencies, industry partners, or professional development
• May require extended hours, including evenings and weekends to support critical projects, events, or proposal deadlines
• Requires handling of sensitive or classified information, necessitating adherence to strict security protocols