Assistant Director AS6341

Oklahoma State University • Stillwater, OK

5d • $133,000 - $172,000 • Onsite

About The Position

The Assistant Director, Counter-UAS Center of Excellence reports to the Director of Research and Engineering and provides operational and strategic leadership for the Center's research, development, testing, evaluation, workforce, and partnership activities. The position translates the Center's mission into coordinated priorities and executable plans to strengthen counter-UAS capabilities and improve collaboration among universities, industry, military, federal, state, and other public safety partners.

Working with OAIRE executive leadership and designated technical and program leaders, the Assistant Director oversees the day-to-day integration of Center activities, personnel, resources, schedules, deliverables, and stakeholder commitments. The role supports evaluation of emerging counter-UAS technologies, coordinates multidisciplinary work involving sensing, tracking, identification, command and control, and mitigation, and ensures Center activities are conducted safely and responsibly in accordance with university requirements, contractual obligations, applicable laws, and authorized testing conditions.

The Assistant Director serves as a senior representative and escalation point for assigned Center matters, advises leadership on capability gaps, opportunities, risks, and resource needs, and helps build partnerships and workforce pipelines to advance the Center's long-term objectives. Travel may be required for testing, demonstrations, partner engagements, conferences, presentations, and other Center activities. The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with occasional evenings and weekends. The appointment is regular continuous/until further notice.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, aerospace, defense studies, program management, business, public administration, intelligence, or a related field, conferred by the agreed-upon start date.
• Six years of progressively responsible experience leading complex technical, research, defense, aerospace, public safety, or government-related programs and multidisciplinary teams.
• Demonstrated ability to coordinate technical and operational work across multiple organizations, disciplines, and stakeholder groups.
• Strong knowledge of program execution, risk management, test and evaluation, resource planning, and performance reporting.
• Excellent written, oral, presentation, and relationship management skills, including communicating complex matters to executive, technical, operational, government, and public audiences.
• Ability to exercise discretion, sound judgment, and professionalism when handling sensitive, controlled, proprietary, or mission-related information.
• Ability to obtain and maintain any security clearance, access authorization, training, license, or credential required for assigned work.
• Additional post-secondary education beyond the stated requirements may substitute for years of required experience.

Nice To Haves

• Advanced degree in a relevant field.
• Experience with counter-UAS, air defense, unmanned aircraft systems, radar, radio frequency systems, electronic warfare, sensor integration, command and control, or related technologies.
• Experience supporting Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, federal, state, local, tribal, or public safety customers and partners.
• Experience with technology demonstrations, field testing, operational assessments, government contracting, proposal development, or research administration.
• Current or previously held security clearance, when relevant to the Center's work.

Responsibilities

• Provide operational and strategic leadership for the Center's research, development, testing, evaluation, workforce, and partnership activities.
• Translate the Center's mission into coordinated priorities and executable plans.
• Oversee integration of Center activities, personnel, resources, schedules, deliverables, and stakeholder commitments.
• Support evaluation of emerging counter-UAS technologies.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary work involving sensing, tracking, identification, command and control, and mitigation.
• Ensure Center activities comply with safety and responsibility expectations, university requirements, contractual obligations, applicable laws, and authorized testing conditions.
• Serve as a senior representative and escalation point for assigned Center matters.
• Advise leadership on capability gaps, opportunities, risks, and resource needs.
• Help build partnerships and workforce pipelines to advance the Center's long-term objectives.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior