Executive Director Research Engagement - Associate/Full Professor - Tenure - 529178

The University of Alabama • Tuscaloosa, AL

2d

About The Position

The University of Alabama seeks a visionary, peer-level leader to oversee the Research ASSIST Office and advance proactive research development across the university. The role is described as a unique 50% faculty appointment for an active, highly respected scholar with direct experience pursuing and executing major academic grants. The Director will develop an end-to-end institutional framework focused on research development rather than administrative compliance, building trusted relationships across campus and helping faculty form multidisciplinary teams and pursue complex scholarly work.

The Director will work collaboratively with Deans, Center Directors, and Institute Directors to build consensus and cross-functional teams without imposing top-down compliance burdens. The position requires a visible campus presence, strong relationships with national laboratories, federal funding agencies, and industrial consortia, and support for scholarship across STEM and non-STEM disciplines. The successful candidate will mentor faculty, build effective research teams, and encourage cross-disciplinary team science while navigating institutional complexity and balancing stakeholder priorities.

The role calls for strategic planning, operational resilience, adaptability, and realistic management of constrained resources, deliverables, and long-term planning. Applicants must be tenured at the Associate Professor rank or higher and hold a terminal degree. Preference is given to Full Professors. A demonstrated record of securing external funding from multiple agencies is preferred.

Requirements

• Tenured Associate Professor or higher academic rank.
• Terminal degree.
• Proven and active leadership history as a Principal Investigator or Co-Principal Investigator.
• Demonstrated record of securing, executing, and scaling major federal grants and center-level programs, such as DoD, DoE, NIH, or NSF initiatives.
• Exceptional ability to build proactive, multi-year relationships with national laboratories, federal funding agencies, and industrial consortia.
• Capacity to understand, respect, and support diverse fields of scholarship and advance the university enterprise across STEM and non-STEM disciplines.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills, tactical diplomacy, and emotional intelligence.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with transparency, accessibility, and an approachable communication style.
• Operational resilience and adaptability in a dynamic, fast-paced research environment.
• Patience, reliability, and emotional stability when balancing competing stakeholder priorities under pressure.
• Advanced strategic planning skills and the ability to manage constrained resources, pace deliverables, and plan over multiple years.

Nice To Haves

• Full Professor rank is preferred.
• Demonstrated track record of securing competitive external funding from multiple federal, state, industry, or other external funding agencies.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the Research ASSIST Office.
• Champion an end-to-end institutional framework focused on proactive research development rather than administrative compliance.
• Build trusted relationships and a visible campus presence while working collaboratively with Deans, Center Directors, and Institute Directors.
• Build consensus and coordinate cross-functional, multidisciplinary research teams across colleges and disciplines.
• Develop proactive, multi-year relationships with national laboratories, federal funding agencies, and industrial consortia.
• Support and advocate for diverse fields of scholarship across STEM and non-STEM disciplines.
• Mentor faculty, inspire research teams, and serve as a cultural catalyst for cross-disciplinary team science.
• Navigate institutional complexities, bridge administrative silos, and coordinate across diverse colleges.
• Plan strategically, manage constrained operational resources, pace deliverables, and establish long-term research development plans.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree