Associate Director - Research Programs

Louisiana State University; United States; On-site; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Louisiana State University seeks an Associate Director of Research Operations for the FUEL program at Innovation Park. You will lead quantitative modeling, techno-economic analyses, and prescriptive analytics to support strategic decisions and resource allocation across a diverse ecosystem.

Collaborate with FUEL leadership, research teams, industry partners, and universities to deliver data-driven insights, develop decision-support tools, track outcomes, and report findings to the Executive

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Economics, Engineering, Mathematics, Science, or related field with 5 years of experience in quantitative or operations research.
• Experience developing and applying analytical methods to support complex organizational decisions.

Responsibilities

• Research Operations and Decision Support - Perform research operations, quantitative modeling, and prescriptive analytics to inform resource allocation and strategy.
• Techno-Economic Analysis - Develop reduced-order techno-economic analyses to support evaluation and decision-making.
• Research Operations Program Management - Coordinate administrative and financial activities for Operations Research initiatives and budgets.
• Financial and Economic Data Analysis - Develop and maintain financial data related to technology-based startups and ecosystem.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills

Quantitative analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree in Economics, Engineering, Mathematics, Science, or related field

Tools

Python

R

Excel

Job description

Associate Director - Research Programs

Position Type: Professional / Unclassified

Department: LSUAM ORED - Future Use of Energy in Louisiana (FUEL) (Michael Steven Mazzola (00089027))

Work Location: Innovation Park Bldg 8000

Pay Grade: Professional

Job Description

The FUEL Associate Director of Research Operations supports the Executive Director in developing and implementing FUEL’s operations research capability in alignment with the program’s strategic objectives. The position performs complex quantitative and economic analyses and works collaboratively with FUEL leadership, research teams, industry partners, universities, and other stakeholders to provide data-driven decision support for programmatic and strategic initiatives. Responsibilities include conducting techno-economic analyses of intellectual property and product concepts; developing and maintaining analytical information related to companies within the FUEL ecosystem; and performing operations research, modeling, and prescriptive analytics to support resource allocation, financial sustainability, and ecosystem stability. The Associate Director coordinates operations research activities and related resources, tracks outcomes and key metrics, and provides analytical findings and recommendations to the Executive Director and other FUEL leadership and governance groups.

Responsibilities

• Research Operations and Decision Support - Perform research operations, quantitative modeling, and prescriptive analytics to evaluate and optimize resource allocation across FUEL-supported seed, growth, and scaling companies in alignment with FUEL’s strategic objectives. Develop analytical models and decision-support tools to inform the evaluation and prioritization of business strategies, venture projects, talent initiatives, and other program investments. Provide data-driven findings, recommendations, and decision support to the Technical Research and Advisory Council (TRAC), FAST, Talent LAB, the Executive Director, and other appropriate FUEL leadership and governance groups. Evaluate outcomes and refine analytical approaches as program needs and strategic priorities evolve. (40%)
• Techno-Economic Analysis - Develop and perform reduced-order techno-economic analyses of intellectual property and product concepts to support evaluation and decision-making within FUEL. Collaborate with the FUEL Director of Use Inspired Research and Development, research teams, and other stakeholders to identify analytical needs, evaluate relevant technical and economic factors, and communicate findings and recommendations to support program objectives. (30%)
• Research Operations Program Management - Coordinate the administrative and financial activities necessary to support FUEL Operations Research initiatives. Develop and monitor the Operations Research budget under the direction of the Executive Director; track expenditures, resource needs, key metrics, outputs, and outcomes; and prepare related reports and documentation. Coordinate Operations Research timelines, deliverables, and resources across participating teams and stakeholders; identify risks or barriers affecting implementation; and recommend appropriate mitigation strategies to support successful execution of Operations Research activities. (15%)
• Financial and Economic Data Analysis - Develop and maintain financial and economic data related to FUEL-affiliated technology-based startup companies created by or recruited into the FUEL ecosystem. Analyze company performance and valuation information to support FUEL evaluation, assessment, and operations research activities. Collaborate with the FUEL Director of Technology Commercialization and other stakeholders to identify data needs and ensure relevant information is available for analytical and decision-support purposes. (10%)
• Other duties as assigned. (5%)

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Economics, Engineering, Mathematics, Science, or related field and 5 years of experience conducting quantitative, economic, operations research, or related analytical work, including the development and application of analytical methods or models to support complex organizational or business decision-making.
• LSU values skills, experience, and expertise. Candidates who have relevant experience in key job responsibilities are encouraged to apply--a degree is not required as long as the candidate meets the required years of experience specified in the job description.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in Economics, Engineering, Mathematics, Science, or related quantitative field.
• Professional experience in one or more of the following areas: techno-economic analysis; energy markets or the energy sector; portfolio or resource optimization; financial or risk analysis; technology commercialization; or economic evaluation of technology-based companies.
• Advanced experience with quantitative or econometric modeling and analytical tools such as Python, R, and Excel. Experience applying quantitative methods to energy-sector investment, capital allocation, commodity risk, supply-chain, or related complex decision-making environments is preferred.

Background Check

An offer of employment is contingent on a satisfactory pre‑employment background check.

Benefits

• LSU offers outstanding benefits to eligible employees and their dependents including health, life, dental, and vision insurance; flexible spending accounts; retirement options; various leave options; paid holidays; wellness benefits; tuition exemption for qualified positions; training and development opportunities; employee discounts; and more!

Positions approved to work outside the State of Louisiana shall be employed through Louisiana State University’s partner, nextSource Workforce Solutions, for Employer of Record Services including but not limited to employment, benefits, payroll, and tax compliance. Positions employed through Employer of Record Services will be offered benefits and retirement as applicable through their provider and will not be eligible for State of Louisiana benefits and retirement.

LSU is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

All candidates must have valid U.S. work authorization at the time of hire and maintain that valid work authorization throughout employment.

Changes in laws, regulations, or government policies may impact the university’s ability to employ individuals in certain positions.

LSU includes institutions, facilities and programs in each of Louisiana’s 64 parishes, and its campuses stretch the length of the state from New Orleans to Shreveport. Each institution plays a vital role in preparing students to incorporate new knowledge and technologies into their daily lives. LSU researchers across Louisiana are working on developing a wide-range of innovations to improve quality of life by studying issues such as disease management, advance medical treatments, obesity, coastal protection, hurricane preparedness, energy, natural resource management and agriculture, among others. Louisiana’s Flagship University is a land-, sea- and space-grant institution with academic programs in all areas of science, engineering, humanities, arts and social sciences. The University comprises of nine institutions: Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College (“LSU”), the premier flagship university for the state, which include the Paul M. Hebert Law Center and the School of Veterinary Medicine Louisiana State University at Alexandria Louisiana State University at Eunice Louisiana State University at Shreveport LSU Health Sciences Center – New Orleans LSU Health Science Center – Shreveport The Health Care Services Division Louisiana State University Agricultural Center Pennington Biomedical Research Center Any other college, university, school, institution, or program now or hereafter under the supervision and management of the Board of Supervisors of Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College.

In implementing its mission, LSU is committed to: Offering a broad array of undergraduate degree programs and extensive graduate research opportunities designed to attract and educate highly qualified undergraduate and graduate students; Employing faculty who are excellent teacher-scholars, nationally competitive in research and creative activities, and who contribute to a world-class knowledge base that is transferable to educational, professional, cultural, and economic enterprises; and Using its extensive resources to solve economic, environmental, and social challenges.