Careers at Virginia Tech

The Associate Director provides program management, operational, and administrative services for the Office of Export and Secure Research Compliance’s Research Security Program. This program ensures university-wide compliance with policies, procedures, and regulations related to research security, foreign influence, and export controls (in close collaboration with the Export Controls and Sanctions Program). The Associate Director monitors federal legislation/regulations in these areas, including National Security Presidential Memorandum 33 (NSPM – 33), CHIPS and Science Act of 2022, research security, international collaborations due diligence, controlled unclassified information, and export-controlled information as appropriate. OESRC serves as the primary unit at the university responsible for risk management of the overall research security program.

The primary duties of this position include:
• Create and maintain university policies and procedures to ensure compliance with applicable policies, procedures and regulations for research security.
• Initiate and manage new projects from inception to completion, exercising discretion and best judgment, and then maintaining these initiatives. Projects range from moderately complex and varied to working on multiple, complex projects simultaneously and independently.
• Conduct research security reviews and risk assessments of international collaborations, including travel, proposed foreign person employees and visitors, and funded and non-funded proposals/agreements. Develop and monitor research security risk mitigation plans as needed.
• Provide education/training for university faculty, staff, and students as well as guidance or risk mitigation plans resulting from specific research security reviews
• Oversee management and compliance of Technology Control Plans (TCPs) with assistance from other OESRC team members, academic departments/institutes, and individual faculty, staff, and students.

The Associate Director role is hybrid with weekly onsite presence in Blacksburg, VA and provides essential services to university senior management, department management, faculty, staff, and students who are involved in international collaborations and/or research that intersects with export controls. The Associate Director is expected to perform duties with considerable independence and is accountable for continued maintenance of the program, including training programs and reporting both internal to the University and external to appropriate government agencies. Additionally, the Associate Director will collaborate with other University departments and personnel, including the Division of IT, Office of International Affairs, Office of Audit Risk and Compliance, University Legal Counsel, University Libraries, and multiple units within Office of Research and Innovation to develop comprehensive policy guidelines and procedures to effectively coordinate and manage a comprehensive research security program.

The Associate Director reports to the Assistant Vice President for Research Security and Chief Research Security Officer and supervises members of the team comprising a mix of professional faculty and administrative staff. The Associate Director must have a working understanding of technical security requirements, such as National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) 800 series and Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) program requirements.

- Advanced degree in business, political science, international affairs, or other relevant field; or Bachelor’s degree with significant training and/or progressive professional experience in lieu of an advanced degree
- Must be eligible for, and able to obtain and maintain at least Secret level security clearance as required to perform assigned duties
- Demonstrated ability to work autonomously but also within a team environment
- Demonstrated excellent customer service and communication skills
- Highly motivated, self-starter with ability to multi-task
- Demonstrated professional experience in export controls and/or research security with knowledge of relevant rules and regulations

- Knowledge of NIST 800 series security requirements and CMMC program requirements
- Demonstrated working experience at an accredited institution of higher education
- Demonstrated working experience developing policies and procedures such as detailed documentation and training resources for customers
- Program or project management experience and/or certification (e.g. PMP, PMI)
- Prior supervisory experience
- Current or previous Department of Defense security clearance

Exempt: Not eligible for overtime

Regular

Starting at $140,000; commensurate with experience

40

November 3, 2025

Due to access to sensitive information, position is restricted to US citizens.

The successful candidate must be eligible for, and able to obtain and maintain, at least Secret level security clearance as required to perform assigned duties.

The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.

Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands-on, transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problem-solvers. A comprehensive land-grant institution that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the world, Virginia Tech is an inclusive community dedicated to knowledge, discovery, and creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in eight undergraduate colleges, a school of medicine, a veterinary medicine college, Graduate School, and Honors College. The university has a significant presence across Virginia, including Blacksburg, the greater Washington, D.C. area, the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke, sites in Newport News and Richmond, and numerous Extension offices and research institutes. A leading global research institution, Virginia Tech conducts more than $650 million in research annually.

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