U-M Maritime Institute Research Area Specialist Lead

University of Michigan; Ann Arbor (MI); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 165,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Michigan invites applications for the U-M Maritime Institute Research Area Specialist Lead. This role leads interdisciplinary maritime research and sponsored projects with an administrative home in the Department of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering.

The position is part of a five-year internal U-M funded initiative and collaborates with Directors, faculty, students, and external partners.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in naval architecture, marine engineering, maritime technology, systems engineering, or related field.
• Experience conducting applied research, technical and systems analysis, industry studies, or consulting engagements.
• Ability to translate findings into clear written products and presentations.
• Excellent written, verbal, interpersonal, organizational, and project management skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and work independently.
• Experience coordinating projects involving academia, industry, government, or multidisciplinary teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead interdisciplinary maritime research projects and synthesize findings into reports and briefs.
• Define research questions, scopes of work, methodologies, schedules, deliverables, and QA processes.
• Prepare progress and final reports, publications, and sponsor deliverables for Institute projects.
• Collaborate with Directors, faculty, and external partners to identify opportunities and develop proposals.
• Develop and manage project work plans, budgets, staffing, risks, and reporting requirements.
• Represent the Institute in stakeholder meetings and external forums and translate findings into practical outcomes.

Skills

Project management

Communication

Collaboration

Independent work

Education

Master's degree in naval architecture or related field

Doctoral or advanced professional degree in maritime field

Job description

U-M Maritime Institute Research Area Specialist Lead

Who We Are

At Michigan Engineering, we develop the talent and technologies that move society forward and serve our state and national interests. Through discovery and innovation, we create the foundational knowledge and practical technologies to solve not only today's most pressing challenges, but also power industries and change lives. Our programs and community are designed to promote personal well-being and achievement - enabling everyone to unlock their potential and contribute with confidence.

Mission Statement

The Department of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, was started in 1879 with an act of Congress authorizing a Navy officer to teach "steam engineering and iron shipbuilding." Since this modest beginning, NAME has grown into a worldwide leader in education and research, with 25 faculty members and 11 staff members, serving our undergraduate and graduate students and a network of some 3,000 living alumni. Our department continues to develop engineers and technology to advance the state-of-the-art systems operating in the marine environment. The department's students and faculty engage in a wide range of research, with specialists working in hydrodynamics, marine and offshore structures dynamics, control, and marine system integration, robotics and autonomy, yacht design, production, and management, marine renewable energy, and structural and hydro-acoustics. The Department has access to outstanding computational resources and the experimental facilities of the Marine Hydrodynamics Laboratory, including its large physical modeling basin, which is a vital resource.

Job Summary

The U-M Maritime Institute Research Area Specialist Lead is responsible for leading and supporting interdisciplinary maritime research, applied studies, and University of Michigan (U-M) Maritime Institute-sponsored project activities, with an administrative home in the Department of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering. The U-M Maritime Institute is being established through a five-year Strategic Initiative Fund award to position U-M as the national leader driving America's maritime revitalization through maritime innovation, technology development at speed and scale, and holistic workforce development.

Working in coordination with the Institute Directors, affiliated faculty, students, Institute staff, and external partners, this role serves as a senior individual contributor and project lead for Institute-supported research projects and shorter-term studies addressing priority maritime topics, including maritime policy, ship production and the marine supply chain, marine technology and integration, and maritime education and workforce development. Activities include defining research questions and methods; coordinating analysis and research personnel; preparing reports, publications, briefings, and other research products; managing project work plans, budgets, and resources; supporting proposal development; and communicating findings to academic, industry, government, and public audiences.

The Research Area Specialist Lead should analyze, compare, and evaluate alternative actions; make independent decisions within assigned responsibilities; and consult with the Institute Directors on significant research, financial, personnel, partnership, and strategic matters. This is a five-year internal U-M-funded position with funding through 2031 and the possibility of renewal that year.

Responsibilities*

Research Leadership & Project Delivery

• Lead and support interdisciplinary maritime research projects, applied analyses, technical studies, and consulting-like engagements sponsored or administered by the Maritime Institute.
• In coordination with Institute Directors and faculty leads, define research questions, scopes of work, methodologies, schedules, deliverables, and quality-assurance processes.
• Conduct original research and analysis in assigned areas of maritime specialization; synthesize findings into reports, white papers, briefings, decision tools, technical memoranda, and other research products.

Proposal Development & Sponsored Research

• Collaborate with Institute Directors, faculty, and external partners to identify research, funding, and project-development opportunities aligned with Institute priorities.
• Lead or support development of research proposals, statements of work, technical narratives, project plans, schedules, budgets, staffing plans, and other materials for grants, contracts, sponsorships, and consulting-like studies.
• Prepare or contribute to progress reports, final reports, sponsor deliverables, publications, and other documentation required for Institute-supported projects.

Project Planning & Administration

• Develop and manage project work plans, budgets, schedules, staffing assignments, risk registers, deliverable trackers, and reporting requirements for assigned research activities.
• Coordinate administrative, financial, personnel, and operational aspects of research projects in collaboration with the Program Manager, Research Administrator, Institute staff, and departmental personnel.

External Engagement & Research Dissemination

• Collaborate with industry, government, academic, nonprofit, labor, and community partners to define research needs, access data, validate findings, and develop actionable recommendations.
• Represent the Institute in stakeholder meetings, workshops, conferences, advisory groups, site visits, briefings, and other external forums.
• Prepare and communicate research reports, technical papers, policy analyses, presentations, and other materials that translate findings into practical applications, technology development, workforce, commercialization, and policy outcomes.

Required Qualifications*

• Master's degree in naval architecture, marine engineering, maritime technology, systems engineering, or another recognized field directly related to the responsibilities of the position.
• Experience conducting applied research, technical and systems analysis, industry studies, consulting engagements, or related professional work in a relevant maritime, manufacturing, engineering, or technology domain.
• Demonstrated ability to develop research plans and translate findings into clear, defensible written products and presentations.
• Excellent written, verbal, interpersonal, organizational, project management, and collaborative skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, exercise sound judgment, manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and make decisions within the scope of assigned responsibilities.
• Experience coordinating projects involving academia, industry, government, or multidisciplinary teams.

Desired Qualifications*

• Doctoral degree or other advanced professional degree in a field relevant to maritime systems, naval architecture, marine engineering, shipbuilding, or a related discipline.
• Subject‑matter expertise in one or more maritime-relevant areas, such as maritime policy, ship production and the marine supply chain, or marine technology and integration.
• Experience developing successful proposals for government, industry, or university-sponsored research and project funding.
• Experience managing research budgets, schedules, personnel, subcontractors, deliverables, client or sponsor relationships, and project reporting.
• Record of publications, technical reports, policy reports, conference presentations, public briefings, or other professional dissemination of research findings.
• Knowledge of University of Michigan policies and procedures, or comparable policies and procedures in a higher-education, research institution, government, or consulting environment.

Modes of Work

Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes.

U-M EEO Statement

The University of Michigan is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

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