Director 123200

Job no: 496089
Position type: Staff Full-time
Location: Pensacola - Main Campus
Division/Equivalent: Academic Affairs Division
School/Unit: Research Administration&Engagement
Categories: Administrator

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The University of West Florida is an Equal Opportunity/Access/Disabled/Veteran employer. Any individual requiring special accommodation to apply is requested to advise UWF by contacting UWF Human Resources at 850.474.2694 (voice) or 850.857.6158 (TTY). E-Verify is required for employment. All applications for employment at the University are subject to Florida public records law. 

Please review job requirements carefully.  Failure to submit all pieces of the application may result in disqualification. Applications are accepted on the University of West Florida career site: https://careers.uwf.edu. For assistance contact UWF Human Resources at 850.474.2694 or jobs@uwf.edu.

Employment based visa sponsorship will NOT be considered for this position.

Position Number: 123200
Position Title (Classification Title):  Director 123200
Working Title:  Director of Industrial Partnership and Research Engagement
Job Summary: The senior-level position supports the university's research administration through fostering industrial partnerships, facilitating the development of IP and their commercialization, and promoting innovative initiatives at University of West Florida (UWF). The responsibilities include managing Sustainable Economic Development Initiative (SEDI), working closely with the program’s Agreement Managers/Principal Investigators, ensuring compliance of program execution, and developing collaborative projects funded by industries and private sectors. Employing strong leadership, strategic, and interpersonal skills, the director will work with UWF’s Associate Vice President of Research (AVP-Research) to oversee the programs funded by the Industrial Resilience and Diversification Fund (IRDF), develop new programs in collaboration with regional industries, military service providers, and economic development organizations. Additionally, this role will serve as a liaison among Research Administration & Engagement (RAE), other UWF’s departments and external entities in contract negotiations for projects supported or funded by industries and private sponsors. Additionally, the Director implements policies related to intellectual property (IP) and technology commercialization and transfer, including facilitating SBIR/STTR grant activities and patent and copyright applications. The position will also serve as a liaison between RAE and the Office of the General Counsel (OGC) in reviewing industrial collaborative agreements and contracts.
Department Research Administration & Engagement
FLSA: Exempt
Minimum Qualifications: A Master's degree from an accredited university in STEM or Business Management and Administration and six years of appropriate experience; or a bachelor's degree in the area of STEM or Business Management and Administration and eight years of appropriate experience.
Position Qualifications: Experience in higher education institutions specializing in research administration, industrial partnerships, innovation, and commercialization, and/or advanced manufacturing, including the management of industrial contracts, economic development initiatives, communications planning, budget development, policy development and implementation, and leadership. Experience in communications planning and budget development. Excellent oral and written communication skills are essential.
Preferred Qualifications An understanding of grants and finance administration in publicly funded institutions of higher education. Creative and reliable problem-solver with a history of developing and implementing programs and processes to accomplish institutional goals. An understanding of the Department of Defense-funded projects and military experience is a plus. Strong communication skills and the ability to effectively organize a heavy workload and meet deadlines in a team environment are required. An understanding of intellectual property (IP) and its commercialization is desired. Familiarity with federal, state, and local regulations governing areas of university operations is preferred. Experience in work environments where confidentiality and ethical behaviors are emphasized is preferred.
Essential Functions / Job Duties:
  • 50% - MANAGEMENT OF THE SEDI PROGRAMS. Administers the grant program funded by the SEDI Industry Resilience and Diversification Fund. This includes soliciting requests for proposals, ensuring the completeness and compliance of the applications, and forming an application review committee to review the merit and assess the application’s economic impact, such as return on investment, job creation, and community benefits. Works with economic development officials and business leaders to identify opportunities for the regional economy. Provides funding recommendations to the Agreement Manager/Principal Investigator. Drafts and distributes decision letters. Negotiates and drafts performance contracts. Works with the SEDI compliance officer to ensure awardee compliance. Updates Florida Commerce on program progress and prepares program reports, including financial reports. - (Essential)
  • 20% - INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIPS. Conducts outreach on behalf of the University to foster University-Industry partnerships (UIPs) and technology transfers. Advises the Associate Vice President of Research on issues pertaining to UIPs and IP. Ensures compliance with the University IP policy, as well as state and federal law. Negotiates and drafts partnership agreements, contracts, and other documents, as needed. Serves as a liaison with external legal counsel in the application of copyrights and patents. Identifies and works with external investors and stake holders for the University IP’s commercialization activities. Collaborates with OGC and University leadership to update IP policies and procedures as needed. - (Essential)
  • 10% - TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER AND SBIR/STTR COORDINATION. Works closely with the Associate Vice President of Research Administration to perform duties related to technology transfer from and to the University. Ensures that technology transfer activities align with the institution's goals and mission. Performs cost-benefit analysis and risk assessment associated with technology transfers and IP commercialization activities. Serves as a liaison between industries and UWF faculty in building Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) projects. - (Essential)
  • 10% - RESEARCH STRATEGIES. Assists in the implementation, monitoring and assessment of the University's research strategic plan. This includes promoting the strategic plan and facilitating the activities outlined in the plan, assisting in identifying strategic research areas for investment, enhancing research quality, supporting research facility needs, developing metrics to track progress, and collecting data and information on the University’s accomplishments - (Essential)
  • 10% - TRAINING, INTER-DEPARTMENT LIAISON AND OTHER ASSIGNED DUTIES. Develop training programs and create initiatives to attain operational excellence in research administration. Supports other RAE staff in contract and agreement negotiation and execution, as well as other emerging assignments. Works with AVP-R to ensure continuous improvements in administration, engagement, and outreach. - (Essential)
Physical Demands:
  • Physical Requirements: Occasional and/or light lifting required. Limited exposure to elements such as heat, cold, noise, dust, dirt, chemicals, etc., but none to the point of being disagreeable. May involve minor safety hazards where likely results would be cuts, bruises, etc.
  • Impact of Deadlines: Externally imposed deadlines set and revised beyond one’s control. Interruptions influence priorities. Difficult to anticipate nature or volume of work with certainty beyond a few days.
  • Standing: Daily
  • Walking: Daily
  • Sitting: Daily
  • Reaching with hands and arms: Daily
  • Climbing or balancing: Occasionally
  • Stooping: Occasionally
  • Use of hands to handle objects: Daily
  • Lifting up to 10lbs: Occasionally
  • Lifting up to 25lbs: Occasionally
  • Lifting over 25lbs: Occasionally
  • Talking as express or exchange of ideas verbally: Daily
  • Hearing as perceive sound by ear: Daily
  • Vision as distinguish colors & depth: Daily
Special Requirements or Considerations of the Job:

  • This position requires a criminal background screen.

  • This position requires fingerprinting.
Number of Vacancies 1
Work Hours 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
FTE 1.0
Salary Range Commensurate with education and experience
Pay Basis Annually
Preferred Response Date: 07/27/2025
Special Instructions to Applicants:

Candidates must apply online through the University of West Florida website: https://careers.uwf.edu. Applicants are required to attach a resume, cover letter and contact information for three references. An opportunity to upload these documents will be provided during the application process. For assistance, please contact Human Resources at 850.474.2694 or email jobs@uwf.edu.

 

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