Government & Contract Research and Development Lead – R&D

GM•Warren, MI

4d•Hybrid

About The Position

GM Research & Development is seeking a Government & Contract Research and Development (CRAD) Lead to expand and manage a portfolio of externally funded research programs with U.S. and international government agencies, national laboratories, and contract research sponsors. This role is responsible for identifying high‑impact opportunities, leading capture and proposal activities, and securing funding that advances GM R&D Research Programs and enterprise priorities. The ideal candidate brings deep knowledge of the government R&D ecosystem, demonstrated success in capture management and proposal execution, and strong cross‑functional leadership skills.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, physical sciences, computer science, public policy, business, or a related field.
10+ years of experience in government‑funded R&D, defense or transportation research, or technology‑focused business development/capture.
Demonstrated success leading and winning competitive government or contract research awards (e.g., DoD, DOE, DOT, NHTSA, NSF, DARPA).
Strong understanding of government R&D funding and acquisition mechanisms.
Proven ability to lead cross‑functional teams through complex capture and proposal efforts under tight deadlines.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including development of technical proposals and executive‑level briefings.
Ability to build and sustain effective relationships with government sponsors and internal technical leaders.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree (M.S., Ph.D., MBA).
Experience with vehicle systems, mobility, safety, autonomy, defense, or advanced manufacturing research.
Prior experience working within or closely with U.S. government R&D organizations or major government contractors.
Active or prior U.S. government security clearance; ability to obtain a clearance as required.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute a multi‑year external research funding strategy aligned to GM R&D Research Programs, technology roadmaps, and business priorities.
Translate R&D program objectives and results into clear, compelling value propositions for government and contract research sponsors.
Partner with Research Program Leads, Lab Group Managers, and R&D leadership to prioritize opportunities that accelerate technology research and transitions.
Lead GM R&D engagement with government agencies, national laboratories, consortia, and other contract research sponsors (e.g., DoD, DOE, DOT, NHTSA, NSF, DARPA).
Build and sustain trusted relationships with program managers, contracting officers, and technical counterparts.
Represent GM R&D at industry days, technical interchange meetings, and sponsor workshops; synthesize and communicate insights.
Identify and assess RFPs, RFIs, OTAs, and other funding mechanisms for strategic and technical alignment.
Lead capture planning, including concept shaping, partner and competitor analysis, and development of win strategies.
Serve as CRAD lead for priority proposals, coordinating cross‑functional teams through proposal development, compliance, review, pricing inputs, and submission.
Ensure proposals clearly articulate technical approach, schedule, risk management, IP/data rights, and measurable outcomes aligned with sponsor needs and GM strategy.
Assess opportunities identified by the broader R&D organization and integrate into the process.
Make recommendations about if proposals should be pursued, including working with relevant Research Leads on assessing the viability and priority of the proposal.
Work closely with the government contracts and compliance organization as part of proposal preparation.
Lead transition from award to execution, ensuring clear roles, deliverables, and reporting expectations.
Track funded project performance against technical, schedule, and financial milestones.
Ensure compliance with export control, data handling, security, and contracting requirements in coordination with Legal, IP, Export Compliance, and GM Defense.
Maintain and report status of the external research pipeline and portfolio to R&D leadership.