Program Director, Defense Research Advancement

Job Posting Title:

Program Director, Defense Research Advancement

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Hiring Department:

Defense Research Advancement

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Position Open To:

All Applicants

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Weekly Scheduled Hours:

40

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FLSA Status:

Exempt

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Earliest Start Date:

Immediately

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Position Duration:

Expected to Continue

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Location:

AUSTIN, TX

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Job Details:

General Notes

UT Austin offers a competitive benefits package that includes: 

• 100% employer-paid basic medical coverage 

• Retirement contributions

• Paid vacation and sick time

• Paid holidays

• Eligible for hybrid telework

Please visit our Human Resources (HR) website to learn more about the total benefits offered.

Purpose

The Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR) seeks a dynamic Program Director (PD) responsible for a team of Project Managers (PM) who help provide best PM practices to the UT campus for Department of Defense (DoD) programs including management of later stage research and development with the Army. The PD will be responsible for providing direct oversight and development of tools and processes, as well as director level engagement with DoD stakeholders, faculty, graduate students, and researchers. They will provide project management support and coordination for ongoing research and development projects in an agile and dynamic environment often assisting projects across campus that have already started. The PD will help projects in support of multiple government sponsored R&D activities which include hardware, software, algorithm design, development, test, demonstration, and prototyping.

Responsibilities

• Provides director level engagement. Works through all issues with DoD stakeholders including sensitive issues. Represents UT externally with DoD leadership.

• Directs DRA Project Management office performing PM tasks.

• Directs all training of researchers, faculty and administrators on DRA related tools and DoD best practices.

• Directs the development of tools that will be helpful to administer DoD research. Provides oversight and development of tools and processes for research requiring higher levels of information assurance such as CUI.

• Assists with special projects and any other tasks that require independent decision-making and a broad organizational perspective performing related duties as requested.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related area.

• At least seven years of experience with Program Management in an R&D/ engineering environment, DoD, or Army environment or equivalent experience.

• Demonstrated effective written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to multitask.

• Excellent attention to detail and organizational skills.

• Demonstrated ability to communicate administrative information to technical and non-technical personnel at various levels in the organization.

• Strong listening skills and a focus on customer advocacy.

• Extensive experience with MS Office products. 

• Ability to travel up to 10% to work with project stakeholders.

Relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.

Preferred Qualifications

• Degree in Project or Engineering Management, Robotics, Engineering, Physical Sciences, or related discipline.

• Experience with Program Management and Research and Development at the Army, Air Force, Navy, Space Force, DARPA, DTRA or similar

• Familiarity with DoD culture through service in the US military, employment by the DOD, or close work through employment at a contractor.

• Familiarity with academic culture.

• Current Project Management Professional (PMP) certification and/or experience with Agile Project Management.

• Experience with controlled unclassified information (CUI) and export control compliance.

• Experience with one or more of the following: robotics engineering, software design/programming such as ROS, systems engineering, networking, and or direct experience transitioning systems along technology maturation pipeline for the DoD.

• Experience summarizing and/or presenting results and progress using Microsoft PowerPoint or Word to executive leadership.

• Experience using SharePoint as a collaborative work environment.

• Proven ability to work with minimal direction, formulate research plans, solve tough problems, and take initiative.

• Demonstrated excellent interpersonal communication skills.

Salary

$120,000 + d