Assistant Director, Texas A&M Space Institute

Job Title

Assistant Director, Texas A&M Space Institute

Agency

Texas A&M Engineering

Department

Space Institute

Proposed Minimum Salary

Commensurate

Job Location

Houston, Texas

Job Type

Staff

Job Description

Why work for Texas A&M Engineering?

Engineering has been part of Texas A&M University since its opening in 1876 as the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas. Today, the College of Engineering is the largest college on the College Station campus with more than 25,000 engineering students enrolled in 15 departments. Its mission is to serve Texas, the nation and the global community by providing engineering graduates who are well-founded in engineering fundamentals, instilled with the highest standards of professional and ethical behavior, and prepared to meet the complex technical challenges of society.

As the research arm of Engineering, the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station (TEES) is a state agency within the Texas A&M University System with a mission to improve lives through basic and applied engineering research, workforce development and technology transition. Our collaborations with industry, academia and government provide cutting-edge solutions to global technical challenges.

We are deeply committed to recruiting and retaining a talented workforce that embraces our core values of Respect, Excellence, Leadership, Loyalty, Integrity, and Service, by offering competitive salaries, an array of benefits, an extensive support network, and above all, an enriching and highly collaborative working community that is deeply passionate about our vision for higher education, research, and public service.

The Assistant Director, under direction, provides leadership for daily operations and administrative processes, facilitates tenant needs, and provides programmatic support for the Texas A&M University Space Institute in Houston. This position serves as the primary on-site representative of the Institute and ensures strong alignment between Houston based activities and Texas A&M leadership in College Station. The Assistant Director works closely with the Director and Associate Director to implement strategic initiatives and plays a central role in building partnerships, supporting a large tenant ecosystem, and advancing engagement with NASA, government agencies, and industry collaborators. This role requires a proactive, hands-on, and collaborative leader with a strong space research background who contributes directly to execution, partnership development, and Institute growth.

Responsibilities:

• Assists the Director, Associate Director, and Institute leadership by directing,

• coordinating, and executing operational and program activities aligned with

• strategic priorities.

• Serves as the primary on-site leader in Houston, acting on behalf of Institute

• leadership in meetings, initiatives, and decision-making as appropriate.

• Builds and sustains relationships with tenants and partners and facilitates their

• needs.

• Supervises and develops a small team of Institute personnel.

• Oversees and approves daily activities, schedules, and priorities of Institute staff

• and tenants.

• Manages administrative processes, workflows, and operational systems.

• Travels between Houston and College Station to ensure close coordination of

• Institute staff.

• Oversees facility readiness, safety, space utilization, hiring and contracts.

• Interfaces with statewide university leadership and researchers, government

• officials, state agencies, and industry executives.

• Seeks additional business opportunities and cultivates partnerships for the

• Institute.

• Performs other duties as assigned.

What We Need:

• Bachelor’s degree in applicable field or equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Six years of related experience.

What Is Helpful:

• Candidates with a Ph.D are highly encouraged to apply

• Master’s degree in a STEM-related field

• Relevant professional experience in conducting aerospace operations and research.

• Experience in leading spaceflight hardware development teams. Preference for experience in analog field testing.

• Experience in forming partne