Assistant Director of Research

University of Texas at Austin; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Vision, Dental, Life, and Disability

Paid vacation & holidays

Tuition assistance

LinkedIn Learning training access

Job summary

The University of Texas at Austin invites applications for Assistant Director of Research at the Clements Center for National Security. The role supports strategic growth, manages the policy research portfolio, coordinates events, and engages policymakers, scholars, and the public.

You will oversee research operations, mentor fellows, develop partnerships, and help translate historical insights into actionable policy recommendations, contributing to the Center's mission within a vibrant campus

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in public policy, political science, international relations, history, or a related field.
• Five+ years of progressively responsible professional experience in research administration, policy research, academic programs, government affairs, or related field.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex projects with multiple stakeholders and priorities.
• Experience coordinating events, public engagement activities, or policy briefings.
• Experience developing and maintaining collaborative relationships with scholars, policymakers, students, and external partners.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present research findings to various audiences.
• Demonstrated strategic planning, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.
• Experience supervising or mentoring students, fellows, or professional staff.
• Proven ability to work across teams with sound judgment in a fast-paced environment.
• Relevant experience in national security, foreign policy, public policy, or related research areas.

Responsibilities

• Collaborates with the Director of Research to design and execute a strategic plan for expanding the policy research portfolio, including new initiatives.
• Manages day-to-day research operations, proposal development, project tracking, events, and scholar support.
• Coordinates dissemination of policy research to private sector, state and federal government, including briefings and public engagement.
• Oversees a selective student fellow program, recruiting, mentoring, and supervising fellows and visiting researchers.
• Builds partnerships with scholars, policymakers, and peer institutions to foster collaborative research and high-level events.
• Leads planning, resourcing, and execution of all public and private events originating from research activities.
• Works with events, communications, and student programs teams to synchronize scheduling and efforts.

Skills

Strategic planning

Project management

Stakeholder collaboration

Communication skills

Mentoring

Policy research

Cross-functional teamwork

Education

Bachelor’s degree in public policy / political science / international relations / history

Advanced degree (preferred) in related field

Job description

Assistant Director of Research

Hiring Department: Clements Center for National Security

Position Open To: All Applicants

Weekly Scheduled Hours: 40

FLSA Status: Exempt from FLSA

Earliest Start Date: Immediately

Position Duration: Expected to Continue

Location: AUSTIN, TX

General Notes

The Clements Center for National Security at The University of Texas at Austin draws on the best insights of diplomatic and military history with the mission to train the next generation of national security leaders. For more information on The Clements Center, please visit: www.clementscenter.org

Your skills will make a difference.

You’ll be working for a university that is internationally recognized for our academic programs and research. Your work will contribute to operational excellence and enhance the student experience. If you’re the type of person that wants to know your work has meaning and impact, you’ll like working in our department and for UT Austin. UT Austin provides an outstanding benefits package including but not limited to:

• Competitive health benefits (employee premiums covered at 100%, family premiums at 50%)
• Voluntary Vision, Dental, Life, and Disability insurance options
• Generous paid vacation, sick time, and holidays
• Teachers Retirement System of Texas, a defined benefit retirement plan, with employer matching funds
• Additional Voluntary Retirement Programs: Tax Sheltered Annuity 403(b) and a Deferred Compensation program 457(b)
• Flexible spending account options for medical and childcare expenses
• Robust free training access through LinkedIn Learning plus professional conference opportunities
• Tuition assistance
• Expansive employee discount program including athletic tickets
• Free access to UT Austin’s libraries and museums with staff ID card
• Free rides on all UT Shuttle and Austin CapMetro buses with staff ID card

For more details, please see: https://hr.utexas.edu/prospective/benefits and https://hr.utexas.edu/current/services/my-total-rewards.

Must be authorized to work in the U.S. on a full-time basis for any employer without sponsorship.

Purpose

The Assistant Director of Research supports the strategic growth and daily management of the Clements Center’s policy research portfolio. This role oversees research operations, scholar and fellow programs, research dissemination, partnership development, and research-related events to advance the Center’s mission and engagement with policymakers, scholars, and the public.

Responsibilities

• Collaborates closely with the Director of Research to design and execute a strategic plan for expanding the Clements Center’s policy research portfolio, which includes launching new research initiatives on contemporary national security challenges.
• Manages day-to-day research operations, including proposal development, project tracking, events, social media, marketing, and scholar support.
• Coordinates and participates in the dissemination of policy research to the private sector as well as state and federal government, including through private briefings and public engagement activities.
• Oversees a highly selective student fellow program, including the recruitment, selection, mentorship, project supervision, and professional development of undergraduate and graduate fellows. The assistant director will also serve as the point of contact for all Clements Center research fellows and visiting fellows.
• Builds and maintains partnerships with scholars, policymakers, and peer institutions to foster collaborative research, convene high-level events, and translate historical insights into actionable policy recommendations.
• Through and with the Clements Center’s events team, leads planning, resourcing, and execution of all public and private events which originate with research activity.
• Works closely with the Clements Center’s events, communications, and student programs teams to synchronize schedules and efforts.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in public policy, political science, international relations, history, or a related field.
• Five or more years of progressively responsible professional experience in research administration, policy research, academic programs, government affairs, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex projects, initiatives, or research programs with multiple stakeholders and competing priorities.
• Experience coordinating events, public engagement activities, or policy briefings.
• Experience developing and maintaining collaborative relationships with scholars, policymakers, students, and external partners.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to synthesize and present research findings to various audiences.
• Demonstrated strategic planning, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.
• Experience supervising, mentoring, or supporting students, fellows, or professional staff.
• Proven ability to work collaboratively across teams and exercise sound judgment in a fast-paced environment.
• Relevant experience in national security, foreign policy, public policy, or related research areas.

Relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree in public policy, international relations, political science, history, or a related field.
• Experience working in a university research center, think tank, government agency, or policy organization.
• Experience with proposal development, grant administration, or research portfolio management.
• Knowledge of contemporary national security and foreign policy issues.
• Experience overseeing fellowship, scholar, or academic engagement programs.
• Experience supporting strategic communications, social media, or marketing initiatives related to research or public programs.
• Familiarity with higher education administrative processes and organizational structures.
• Demonstrated ability to convene high-level stakeholders and facilitate partnerships across academic, public, and private sectors.
• Experience planning and executing public and private events, conferences, or policy forums.

Salary Range

$100,000 + depending on qualifications

Working Conditions

• This position is based in Austin, TX on the UT Main Campus
• This position is not eligible for remote work.
• May work around standard office conditions.
• Repetitive use of a keyboard at a workstation.
• Occasional early morning, night and weekend work is expected/required.

Required Materials

• Resume/CV
• 3 work references with their contact information; at least one reference should be from a supervisor
• Letter of interest

Employment Eligibility:

Regular staff who have been employed in their current position for the last six continuous months are eligible for openings being recruited for through University-Wide or Open Recruiting, to include both promotional opportunities and lateral transfers. Staff who are promotion/transfer eligible may apply for positions without supervisor approval.

Retirement Plan Eligibility:

The retirement plan for this position is Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS), subject to the position being at least 20 hours per week and at least 135 days in length.

Background Checks:

A criminal history background check will be required for finalist(s) under consideration for this position.

Equal Opportunity Employer:

The University of Texas at Austin, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.

Pay Transparency:

The University of Texas at Austin will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information.

Employment Eligibility Verification:

If hired, you will be required to complete the federal Employment Eligibility Verification I-9 form. You will be required to present acceptable and original documents to prove your identity and authorization to work in the United States. Documents need to be presented no later than the third day of employment. Failure to do so will result in loss of employment at the university.

E-Verify:

The University of Texas at Austin use E-Verify to check the work authorization of all new hires effective May 2015. The university’s company ID number for purposes of E-Verify is 854197. For more information about E-Verify, please see the following:

• E-Verify Poster (English and Spanish) [PDF]
• Right to Work Poster (English) [PDF]
• Right to Work Poster (Spanish) [PDF]

Compliance:

Employees may be required to report violations of law under Title IX and the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act) . If this position is identified a Campus Security Authority (Clery Act), you will be notified and provided resources for reporting. Responsible employees under Title IX are defined and outlined in HOP-3031.

The Clery Act requires all prospective employees be notified of the availability of the Annual Security and Fire Safety report. You may access the most recent report here or obtain a copy at University Compliance Services, 1616 Guadalupe Street, UTA 2.206, Austin, Texas 78701.