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

The University of Alabama • Tuscaloosa, AL

3d

About The Position

The University of Alabama seeks an active, highly respected scholar to lead the Research ASSIST Office and advance proactive research development as part of the Division for Research’s Integrated Venture Development unit. The position combines a 50% faculty appointment with institutional leadership and is intended for a peer-level leader with credibility in academic grant-seeking and experience securing and executing major, center-scale federal programs, including initiatives associated with the DoD, DoE, NIH, or NSF.

The Director will champion an end-to-end institutional framework focused on proactive research development rather than administrative compliance. The role involves building trusted relationships across campus and working collaboratively with Deans, Center Directors, and Institute Directors to develop consensus and cross-functional research teams. The successful candidate will support scholarship across STEM and non-STEM disciplines and help advance the university’s research enterprise.

The position requires strategic planning, operational resilience, diplomacy, and strong communication. The Director will navigate institutional complexity, coordinate across colleges, manage competing stakeholder priorities and constrained resources, and plan for long-term research development. The leader will also mentor faculty, inspire collaboration, build effective research teams, and foster cross-disciplinary team science. The position is a tenure-track/tenured faculty appointment at the Associate or Full Professor rank; minimum qualifications specify a tenured Associate Professor or higher and a terminal degree.

Requirements

• Tenured Associate Professor or higher academic rank; preference is given to candidates at the Full Professor level.
• Terminal degree.
• Proven, active leadership history as a Principal Investigator or Co-PI.
• Demonstrated track record securing, executing, and scaling major federal grants and center-level programs, including programs across agencies such as DoD, DoE, NIH, or NSF.
• Exceptional success building proactive, multi-year relationships with national laboratories, federal funding agencies, and industrial consortia.
• Ability to understand, respect, and support diverse fields of scholarship and advance the university enterprise across STEM and non-STEM disciplines.
• Strong interpersonal skills, tactical diplomacy, and high emotional intelligence.
• Ability to build trusted relationships with faculty peers and administrative consensus without imposing top-down compliance burdens.
• Elite written and verbal communication skills, with transparency, reliable accessibility, and an open, 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 establish multi-year planning.
• Collaborative, motivational leadership and the ability to inspire and mentor faculty.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

• Lead the Research ASSIST Office within the Division for Research’s Integrated Venture Development unit.
• Champion an institutional framework focused on proactive research development rather than administrative compliance.
• Build trusted, visible relationships across campus and work alongside Deans, Center Directors, and Institute Directors to develop consensus and cross-functional teams.
• Develop proactive, multi-year relationships with national laboratories, federal funding agencies, and industrial consortia to advance institutional research agendas.
• Support and advocate for diverse fields of scholarship across STEM and non-STEM disciplines.
• Coordinate across colleges and bridge administrative silos while navigating institutional complexities.
• Plan strategically for long-term research development, constrained operational resources, and paced deliverables.
• Mentor faculty, build effective research teams, and foster cross-disciplinary team science.

What This Job Offers

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