Assistant Director, Applied Research for National Security Lab

Socket.dev; Town of Florida (NY); On-site; USD 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Florida is seeking an Assistant Director, Applied Research for National Security Lab to help shape the strategic vision and advance ARNS initiatives. You will collaborate with the Director and Associate Directors to drive education programs, workforce development, and defense-related research partnerships.

Lead planning and execution of programs like Innovating for Defense, mentor student teams, and coordinate sponsor engagements, conferences, and outreach while ensuring compliance

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in appropriate area of specialization and two years of appropriate experience or a bachelor’s degree in appropriate areas of specialization and four years of experience.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with demonstrated ability to build partnerships across academia, government, and industry.

Responsibilities

• Assist the Director and Associate Directors in developing and executing the strategic vision of the ARNS Laboratory through the implementation of education, student engagement, workforce development, and research initiatives.
• Participates in the strategic planning for the ARNS Lab and assists the Director and Associate Directors in developing and implementing the strategic plan.
• Identify opportunities to expand ARNS partnerships across government, academia, and industry in support of national security priorities.
• Assist in the planning, instruction, and execution of the Innovating for Defense (I4D) program by mentoring student teams, coordinating with faculty and government sponsors, and helping guide projects from problem definition through final deliverables.
• Help identify opportunities for student engagement, internships, experiential learning, and workforce development that strengthen the national security talent pipeline and connect students with defense and government partners.
• Assist in developing educational content, instructional materials, and experiential learning opportunities that expose students to national security challenges, defense innovation processes, and emerging technologies.
• Serve as a liaison between the University of Florida, Department of Defense organizations, industry partners, and other external stakeholders to facilitate collaboration, student engagement, and sponsor participation.
• Develop and maintain collaborative relationships with faculty, students, government sponsors, military organizations, industry partners, and other stakeholders to promote interdisciplinary participation in ARNS activities.
• Assist the Assistant Vice President and Associate Director team in coordinating ARNS Laboratory activities, including strategic meetings, demonstrations, sponsor visits, workforce development initiatives, and special projects supporting the laboratory's mission.
• Assist with planning and execution of conferences, seminars, executive briefings, tabletop exercises, and outreach activities that advance the mission of the ARNS Laboratory.
• Ensure assigned activities comply with University policies and applicable sponsor requirements.
• Prepare reports, presentations, briefing materials, and sponsor documentation supporting the DIU program and other ARNS Laboratory initiatives.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Assistant Vice President of National Security Research.

Skills

Interpersonal communication

Stakeholder engagement

Mentoring

Education

Master’s degree

Bachelor’s degree with experience

Job description

Assistant Director, Applied Research for National Security Lab

Master’s degree in appropriate area of specialization and two years of appropriate experience or a bachelor’s degree in appropriate areas of specialization and four years of experience.

Strategic Leadership and Laboratory Advancement

• Assist the Director and Associate Directors in developing and executing the strategic vision of the Applied Research for National Security (ARNS) Laboratory through the implementation of new education, student engagement, workforce development, and research initiatives.
• Participates in the strategic planning for the ARNS Lab and assists the Director and Associate Directors in developing and implementing the strategic plan.
• Identify opportunities to expand ARNS partnerships across government, academia, and industry in support of national security priorities.

Educational Programs and Workforce Development

• Assist in the planning, instruction, and execution of the Innovating for Defense (I4D) program by mentoring student teams, coordinating with faculty and government sponsors, and helping guide projects from problem definition through final deliverables.
• Help identify opportunities for student engagement, internships, experiential learning, and workforce development that strengthen the national security talent pipeline and connect students with defense and government partners.
• Assist in developing educational content, instructional materials, and experiential learning opportunities that expose students to national security challenges, defense innovation processes, and emerging technologies.

Partnership Development and External Relations

• Serve as a liaison between the University of Florida, Department of Defense organizations, industry partners, and other external stakeholders to facilitate collaboration, student engagement, and sponsor participation.
• Develop and maintain collaborative relationships with faculty, students, government sponsors, military organizations, industry partners, and other stakeholders to promote interdisciplinary participation in ARNS activities.

Program Management and Operational Coordination

• Assist the Assistant Vice President and Associate Director team in coordinating Applied Research for National Security (ARNS) Laboratory activities, including strategic meetings, demonstrations, sponsor visits, workforce development initiatives, and special projects supporting the laboratory's mission.
• Assist with planning and execution of conferences, seminars, executive briefings, tabletop exercises, and outreach activities that advance the mission of the ARNS Laboratory.
• Ensure assigned activities comply with University policies and applicable sponsor requirements.

Communications, Reporting, and Sponsor Engagement

• Prepare reports, presentations, briefing materials, and sponsor documentation supporting the DIU program and other ARNS Laboratory initiatives.

Other

• Perform other duties as assigned by the Assistant Vice President of National Security Research.

Salary

Commensurate with Education and Experience

Required Qualifications

Master’s degree in appropriate area of specialization and two years of appropriate experience or a bachelor’s degree in appropriate areas of specialization and four years of experience.

Preferred

• Military service or extensive experience working with the Department of Defense or other federal agencies.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams or complex operational programs.
• Experience mentoring students, junior professionals, or military personnel.
• Experience in defense innovation, technology transition, acquisition, operational planning, or national security programs.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with demonstrated ability to build partnerships across academia, government, and industry.
• Familiarity with project management and execution of federally sponsored programs.

Health Assessment Required

No