Pay Grade/Pay Range:  Minimum: $53,500 - Midpoint: $66,900 (Salaried E8)

Department/Organization: 702104 - Alabama Materials Institute

Normal Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00am to 5:00pm

Job Summary: The Research Outreach Program Manager organizes and hosts research community engagement events and online forums. Plans, organizes, and implements education programs targeting faculty members, researchers, and practitioners in the areas of research supported. Creates and manages innovative experiential learning opportunities and credential programs for students in higher education programs in the areas of research supported.

Additional Department Summary: The Office for Research & Economic Development’s Strategic Plan places a particular emphasis on fields addressing pressing societal needs and economic drivers for Alabama. Materials Science has been identified as a strategic theme under Objective #4 of the Strategic Plan – Advance Research Efforts Aligned with National Security. The Alabama Materials Institute (AMI) facilitates interdisciplinary materials research encompassing metallurgy, ceramics, polymers, bio-inspired materials, and composites. Teams of researchers, faculty, and students work collaboratively to identify and advance new materials, understand their fundamental properties, and develop novel processes for synthesis, fabrication, and manufacturing using advanced experimental and computational approaches. Additionally, the goal of Objective #3 of the Strategic Plan – Broaden Collaborations with Industry – is to expand relationships with industry that will enhance the University’s impact, drive innovation, provide student training and workforce development experiences, and create pathways for practical applications of researcher discoveries to support Alabama’s economy.

This position supports achievement of both objectives by identifying, acquiring, developing, and managing external relationships to create new funding for projects from off-campus academic, federal laboratory, and industrial partners. To this end, the position will involve attending various economic development and technical conferences, workshops, and related events to increase awareness of UA capabilities in materials science and the visibility of AMI. This will enhance UA research impact and AMI’s ability to expand its user base and impact nationally. Engage in proposal development and submissions; ensure that technical project objectives and reporting are met for each customer by either working with existing AMI staff and/or completing the tasks themselves; and oversee engagement programs between UA, AMI, and its external stakeholders. Additionally, this position will participate with Office for Economic Development staff in weekly relationship development meetings, utilizing customer relationship management software, and professional development opportunities.

Required Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor's degree and four (4) years of marketing, communications, public relations, and/or learning and development experience; OR master's degree and two (2) years of marketing, communications, public relations, and/or learning and development experience.

Skills and Knowledge: Technical competency and understanding of materials science and engineering, chemistry, physics, or closely related fields. Technical communication including reading, writing, and speaking skills.

Preferred Qualifications: Physical science or engineering background; broad knowledge of materials ranging from metals, ceramics, composites, to polymers. PhD in a STEM discipline. Extensive knowledge of electron microscopy, atom probe, spectroscopy, and related methods found in AMI. A track record in technical engagement with academia and/or industry and/or national research laboratories, evident in proposals, grants/contracts, peer-reviewed publications, and/or technical report writing.

Background Investigation Statement: Prior to hiring, the final candidate(s) must successfully pass a pre-employment background investigation and information obtained from social media and other internet sources. A prior conviction reported as a result of the background investigation DOES NOT automatically disqualify a candidate from consideration for this position. A candidate with a prior conviction or negative behavioral red flags will receive an individualized review of the prior conviction or negative behavioral red flags before a hiring decision is made.