Director, Contract Support Office - CSO - Open Rank

Overview:

The Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) is the nonprofit, applied research division of the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech).Founded in 1934 as the Engineering Experiment Station, GTRI has grown to more than 2,900 employees, supporting eight laboratories in over 20 locations around the country and performing more than $940 million of problem-solving research annually for government and industry.GTRI's renowned researchers combine science, engineering, economics, policy, and technical expertise to solve complex problems for the U.S. federal government, state, and industry.

Georgia Tech's Mission and Values

Georgia Tech's mission is to develop leaders who advance technology and improve the human condition. The Institute has nine key values that are foundational to everything we do:

1. Students are our top priority.
2. We strive for excellence.
3. We thrive on diversity.
4. We celebrate collaboration.
5. We champion innovation.
6. We safeguard freedom of inquiry and expression.
7. We nurture the wellbeing of our community.
8. We act ethically.
9. We are responsible stewards.

Over the next decade, Georgia Tech will become an example of inclusive innovation, a leading technological research university of unmatched scale, relentlessly committed to serving the public good; breaking new ground in addressing the biggest local, national, and global challenges and opportunities of our time; making technology broadly accessible; and developing exceptional, principled leaders from all backgrounds ready to produce novel ideas and create solutions with real human impact.

Project/Unit Description

The Contract Support Office (CSO) is responsible for the management of GTRI-wide contract vehicles in support of GTRI's core competencies, research portfolios, and strategies. To accomplish this primary objective, CSO is responsible for the management and oversight of GTRI's status as a University Affiliated Research Center (UARC), implementation and execution of Organizational Conflict of Interest processes, and other compliance with federal regulations, like Export regulation compliance, that are implemented at the contract level. CSO must collaborate with GTRI management at all levels to ensure that contract vehicles have the attributes to support the GTRI research enterprise, identify opportunities to win new contracts, and modify existing contracts to best support GTRI's research directorates and laboratories. Contract vehicles managed by CSO currently support approximately 60-70% of GTRI research awards on an annual basis. As a result, the successful operation of CSO is critical to GTRI's ongoing success as an applied research organization.

Job Purpose

The Director of the Contract Support Office (CSO) is a senior leader responsible for setting the strategic direction and overseeing the operations of the CSO in alignment with GTRI's mission, vision, and strategic goals. As a member of the Operations Council and a direct report to the Deputy COO, the Director plays a pivotal role in shaping GTRI's contracting strategy, supporting research excellence, and ensuring compliance and efficiency in contract execution.

The Director directs and oversees a portfolio of research projects that includes internal and external sponsors and stakeholder engagement. The Director is responsible for both the oversight of technical execution, schedule, and budget of assigned portfolios. Specifically, the Director develops the planning of programs and future projects through routine interactions with stakeholders. The Director develops trusted relationships with sponsors and also serves in an advisory capacity to critical stakeholders, defining the technical direction of projects and technical thrusts.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee technical government programs that are of relatively medium-to-high risk and medium-to-high complexity.
• Ensure that all required resources, such as engineering expertise, manpower, production, computer infrastructure, facilities, etc., are available for the program.
• Plan, direct, and monitor program budgets and serve as primary sponsor contact for program information inquiries.
• Author and oversee the delivery of project deliverables.
• Coordinate schedules, briefing materials, minutes and logistics associated with project meetings.
• Direct program growth by proposing new ideas to sponsors and marketing new technology or follow-on business opportunities.
• Understand and present GTRI core competencies and lab capabilities to external sponsors and stakeholders.
• Maintain an understanding of various sponsors' interests in a given technical area.
• Coordinate with program development leads and GTRI support units on large proposals and training curriculum.
• Understand the sponsor portfolios of projects across labs in the Directorate.
• Maintain Directorate-level knowledge of strategic plans and complementary technical areas or technology overlaps.
• Maintains knowledge of government and Institute regulations that govern GTRI projects.
• Communicate effectively to mediate between multiple stakeholders and converge on optimal solutions.
• Ensure that GTRI contract vehicles provide adequate capacity to support GTRI business strategies and growth plans.
• Coordinate with program development leads and lab support units on large proposals.

Additional Responsibilities

• Management of personnel assigned to CSO.
• Build multi-disciplinary teams across the organization.
• Manage GTRI credentials as a University Affiliated Research Center, including compliance with the OSD UARC Management Plan.
• Manage and review GTRI contract vehicles to ensure adequate scope to support GTRI core research efforts and strategic plans.
• Ensure that GTRI contract vehicles provide adequate capacity to support GTRI business strategies and growth plans.
• Establish and maintain communications with the Office of Sponsored Programs, Research Security, and GTRI's Financial Administration to ensure that GTRI-wide contracts have the necessary attributes for Security and Business success.
• Participate in GTRI Leadership meetings to advise and communicate on topics regarding GTRI-wide contracts, Organizational Conflicts of Interest, export regulation compliance, and topics related to contract performance.
• Coordinate with program development leads and lab support units on large proposals.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Required Minimum Qualifications

• Extensive experience in the technical execution and management of applied research programs.
• Comprehension of GTRI's technical core competencies and strategic portfolio.
• 5 years of experience as a Project Director in an applied research organization.
• Experience with managing multi-disciplinary applied research contract vehicles.
• Experience with Contract Management Tools, including the Contract Information System and eRouting, or similar enterprise systems such as Deltek, Oracle, and IBM Cognos business intelligence suite.
• Experience with US Government DoD contracts, contract vehicles, and subcontract management.

Preferred Qualifications

• Active Top Secret Clearance.
• 10 years of experience as a Project Director in an applied research organization.
• 15 years of experience in the technical execution and management of applied research programs.
• Demonstrated experience in the management of research efforts governed by the OSD UARC Management Plan.
• Experience with government information security standards and requirements.
• Familiarity with the operation of research laboratories that support classified efforts.
• Experience and/or training in topics associated with the DoD acquisition system.
• Experience with GTRI and Georgia Tech Contract Management Tools, including the Contract Information System and eRouting.

Travel Requirements

10% - 25% travel

Education and Length of Experience

This position vacancy is an open-rank announcement. The final job offer will be dependent on candidate qualifications in alignment with Research Faculty Extension Professional ranks as outlined in section 3.2.1 of the Georgia Tech Faculty Handbook

• 14 years of related experience with a Bachelor's degree in Project/Program Management (primary), Aeronautics, Artificial Intelligence, Autonomous Systems, Space Systems, Software Development/Design, Systems Engineering, or related field.
• 12 years of related experience with a Masters' degree in Project/Program Management (primary), Aeronautics, Artificial Intelligence, Autonomous Systems, Space Systems, Software Development/Design, Systems Engineering, or related field.
• 9 years of related experience with a Ph.D. in Project/Program Management (primary), Aeronautics, Artificial Intelligence, Autonomous Systems, Space Systems, Software Development/Design, Systems Engineering, or related field.

U.S. Citizenship Requirements

Due to our research contracts with the U.S. federal government, candidates for this position must be U.S. Citizens.

Clearance Type Required

Candidates must be able to obtain and maintain an active security clearance.

Benefits at GTRI

Comprehensive information on currently offered GTRI benefits, including Health & Welfare, Retirement Plans, Tuition Reimbursement, Time Off, and Professional Development, can be found through this link: https://benefits.hr.gatech.edu/.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. The University is committed to maintaining a fair and respectful environment for all. To that end, and in accordance with federal and state law, Board of Regents policy, and University policy, Georgia Tech provides equal opportunity to all faculty, staff, students, and all other members of the Georgia Tech community, including applicants for admission and/or employment, contractors, volunteers, and participants in institutional programs, activities, or services. Georgia Tech complies with all applicable laws and regulations governing equal opportunity in the workplace and in educational activities.

Georgia Tech prohibits discrimination, including discriminatory harassment, on the basis of race, ethnicity, ancestry, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, disability, genetics, or veteran status in its programs, activities, employment, and admissions. This prohibition applies to faculty, staff, students, and all other members of the Georgia Tech community, including affiliates, invitees, and guests. Further, Georgia Tech prohibits citizenship status, immigration status, and national origin discrimination in hiring, firing, and recruitment, except where such restrictions are required in order to comply with law, regulation, executive order, or Attorney General directive, or where they are required by Federal, State, or local government contract.

USG Core Values Statement

The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 26 institutions of higher education and learning as well as the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 8.2.18.1.2 and can be found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section8/C224/#p8.2.18_personnel_conduct.

Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in Board Policy 6.5 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section6/C2653.