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 Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) seeks a highly accomplished researcher and nationally recognized leader to direct GTRI’s Advanced Concepts Laboratory (ACL). ACL develops tailored solutions for a broad range of national security challenges through disciplined application of physics- and effects-based modeling to realizable systems, augmented with prototype development and testing. ACL’s research thrusts extend across domains, and include bio-, chemical-, RF-, and optical-sensor physics; materials science and engineering; electromagnetic theory, computation, structures, and measurements; electronic warfare techniques and applications; operational scenario modeling and simulation; traditional and asymmetric threat analysis; and ground maneuver warfare. The Laboratory Director reports directly to the GTRI Deputy Director of Research for the Sensors and Intelligent Systems Directorate (SISD).

ACL is one of eight GTRI laboratories with a work force of over 150 faculty, technicians, and administrative staff supporting a national security research portfolio of $60M. The Lab provides innovative, tailored solutions to challenging problems for our sponsors, including the Department of Defense, Intelligence Agencies, and industry. ACL possesses extensive capabilities for computational modeling and analysis, RF measurements, materials characterization, prototyping and experimentation to develop and prove new technologies and concepts.

Job Purpose

The Lab Director is responsible for developing and executing the vision and strategy of the Laboratory, in alignment with the GTRI mission and Strategic Plan. The Director is also responsible for the overall operations and activities of the lab, including oversight and allocation of budgets, projects, and resources; management of lab senior staff and division chiefs; and interfacing with other labs, support units, and the senior leadership of GTRI and Georgia Tech. The Director develops opportunities for sponsored contracts by maintaining stakeholder relationships and connecting researchers to potential sponsors. 

Key Responsibilities

• Develops and executes the Laboratory’s strategy and vision
• Develops opportunities for sponsored contracts by maintaining stakeholder relationships and connecting researchers to potential sponsors
• Oversees laboratory budgets, projects, and resources
• Develops and mentors laboratory personnel and leadership
• Communicates with sponsors, lab personnel, GTRI leadership, and the Georgia Tech community
• Builds collaborations across GTRI, Georgia Tech, and with external organizations
• Establishes and maintains a Lab Leadership Team that exemplifies integrity while nurturing excellence, diversity, and innovation
• Develops and prioritizes long-range research directions in collaboration with the Lab Leadership Team 
• Determines staffing requirements; provides for interviewing, hiring and training new employees
• Reviews financial statements, activity reports, and other performance data to measure productivity and goal achievement, and to determine areas for improvement
• Oversees yearly performance evaluations of all Laboratory members consistent with processes established for the Institute and managed by GTRI’s Talent Management Division 
• Participates in regular leadership meetings held by Georgia Tech’s Executive Vice President of Research as well as monthly meetings with GTRI senior leadership

Additional Responsibilities

• Lead a team of experienced leaders including the Lab Associate Director, Chief Engineer, Chief Scientist, Division Chiefs and supporting faculty and staff
• Maintain constant awareness of national defense and industry environment relative to the GTRI portfolio
• Maintain awareness and understanding of emerging concepts and needs across ACL’s primary mission areas requiring next-generation technology
• Coordinate direction and strategy for ACL with the SISD Director; develop annual strategic plans and other Lab-level plans and documents
• Maintain and grow research portfolio capability
• Ensure a robust Independent Research and Development (IRAD) portfolio aligned to GTRI and SISD strategy
• Actively collaborate with Lab Director peers on sponsored research teaming
• Develop and execute proposal strategy, review and approve proposals, and determine bid/no-bid decisions
• Recruit new research personnel
• Communicate and enforce GTRI and lab policies with ACL personnel
• Maintains high standards for ACL research excellence and research impact

Required Minimum Qualifications

• Meet the requirements for Principal Researcher at Georgia Tech, per Section 3.2.1 of the Georgia Tech faculty handbook (https://policylibrary.gatech.edu/faculty-handbook/3.2.1-research-faculty-hiring-and-promotion-guidelines )
• Experience leading and managing teams of researchers
• Experience leading research projects with well-managed cost, schedule, and performance metrics
• Experience managing multi-million-dollar budgets
• Experience with federal government contracting
• Comfortable with public speaking in front of large audiences
• Experience working closely with senior military (Flag Officer), government (Senior Executive Service), and/or industry (C-suite) executives
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DoD TS/SCI Security Clearance

Preferred Qualifications

• Active unexpired Tier 5 investigation
• Active Top Secret / Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) Clearance
• Familiarity with ACL’s existing research sponsor base
• Advanced technical degrees in math, physics, or engineering
• Strong track record of research or applied engineering accomplishments
• Leadership of complex research organizations with government contracts
• Successful development and execution of strategic plans resulting in growth of research businesses
• Successful operational execution of research in alignment with strategic objectives
• Familiarity and experience in conflict resolution via open dialogue
• Experience leading and executing classified research efforts at multiple security levels

Travel Requirements

25% - 50% travel

Education and Length of Experience

This position vacancy is a Principal Research 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

• 12 years of related experience with a Masters’ degree in Mathematics, Electrical Engineering, Physics, Aerospace Engineering, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or any other related field of study
• 9 years of related experience with a Ph.D. in Mathematics, Electrical Engineering, Physics, Aerospace Engineering, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or any other related field of study

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.