Deputy Director of OADII (Project Management)

Leads the strategic defense research mission of the Oklahoma Aerospace & Defense Innovation Institute (OADII). This pivotal role requires extensive leadership experience within both higher education and Federal environments to advance the University of Oklahoma's commitment to transformative research that strengthens national defense and security. This includes creating and enhancing research opportunities for OU's research centers and institutes, while collaborating with internal and external stakeholders to strengthen OU's research brand and expand opportunities for faculty engagement.

Duties: 

• Manages daily operations of the Oklahoma Aerospace & Defense Innovation Institute (OADII) to support institutional growth and research excellence
• Represents the OADII Executive Director in their absence and assist across the full spectrum of the Institute's priorities
• Collaborates closely with senior OU VPRP leadership, faculty, staff, industry partners, government agencies, and national laboratories to advance the Institute's mission
• Oversees activities of OADII Associate Directors, budget, administrative and personnel operations, strategic events, and the congressional appropriations process
• Ensures alignment of OADII eff orts with the strategic goals of the University and other affiliated units
• Fosters collaboration across multidisciplinary teams to support growth in research and educational initiatives
• Provides strategic leadership and support for strengthening the University's role in aerospace, defense, and national security research
• Works with the University's State and Federal Relations teams to grow aerospace and defense-related presence and federal funding in Oklahoma
• Provides insights into DoD strategic directions and aligns University research accordingly
• Collaborates with faculty to develop competitive, strategically aligned proposals in response to federal funding opportunities
• Partners with college deans, department heads, and research leaders to increase the quality and volume of defense-focused research proposals
• Provides day-to-day leadership, supervision, and support for assigned personnel, ensuring effective performance, professional development, and alignment with the Institute's strategic objectives
• Builds and grows corporate partnerships and corporate-sponsored research initiatives
• Develops and hosts internal and external events, workshops, and conferences to promote the University's aerospace and defense research
• Ensures compliance with University policies as well as DoD and other federal regulations related to research contracts and operations
• Perform additional duties as needed to fulfill the mission and goals of the department

Required Education: Bachelor's Degree, AND: 

• 10 years of relevant experience.

Equivalency/Substitution: Experience or a combination of education & related experience can be considered in lieu of degree. A one-to-one ratio is used to determine the number of years of experience required in place of a degree.

Skills:

• Extensive knowledge of higher education research administration and Department of Defense research priorities, policies, and funding mechanisms
• Strong leadership and management skills with experience overseeing complex, multidisciplinary research organizations and diverse teams
• Excellent strategic planning abilities to align institutional research goals with national defense priorities and to drive growth in research programs
• Proven ability to develop and maintain partnerships across academia, government, industry, and national laboratories
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills to effectively collaborate with faculty, staff , external stakeholders, and senior leadership
• Strong grant and proposal development expertise, including familiarity with federal funding processes and requirements
• Capacity to foster interdisciplinary collaboration across various research institutes, centers, and departments
• High-level problem-solving skills and initiative to address challenges and identify new research opportunities
• Understanding of compliance requirements related to federal contracts, security protocols, and university policies
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, virtual collaboration tools (e.g., Zoom), and document management platforms (e.g., Dropbox)
• Ability to handle confidential and sensitive information with discretion, integrity, and adherence to institutional and federal security guidelines

Certifications:

• None

Advertised Physical Requirements:

• Ability to engage in repetitive motion and communicate effectively.
• Standard office environment
• Travel may be required for conferences, sponsor meetings, government agencies, industry partners, or professional development
• May require extended hours, including evenings and weekends to support critical projects, events, or proposal deadlines
• Requires handling of sensitive or classified information, necessitating adherence to strict security protocols

Departmental Preferences:

• Advanced degree
• Certification in Federal program management and/or acquisition logistics
• Experience managing Federally funded projects
• Experience interacting with members of Congress, committees, and staff
• International business experience

Supervision:

• 1-5 staff 

Special Instructions: If you are selected as a final candidate for this position, you will be subject to The University of Oklahoma Norman Campus Tuberculosis Testing policy.  To view the policy, visit https://hr.ou.edu/Policies-Handbooks/TB-Testing.

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