Req #: 240970

Department: COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

Appointing Department Web Address: https://depts.washington.edu/cossar/

Job Location Detail: Hybrid

Posting Date: 11/18/2024

Closing Info: Open Until Filled

Salary: $10,428 - $17,000 per month

Limited Recruitment: Open to UW Employees only

Shift: First Shift

Notes: As a UW employee, you will enjoy generous benefits and work/life programs. For a complete description of our benefits for this position, please visit our website, click here. (https://hr.uw.edu/benefits/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2018/02/benefits-professional-staff-librarians-academic-staff-20230701_a11y.pdf)

As a UW employee, you have a unique opportunity to change lives on our campuses, in our state and around the world. UW employees offer their boundless energy, creative problem-solving skills, and dedication to build stronger minds and a healthier world.

UW faculty and staff also enjoy outstanding benefits, professional growth opportunities and unique resources in an environment noted for diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits, and natural beauty.

The College of Engineering has an outstanding opportunity for a SECURE Co-Director to join their team.

The Center for Safeguarding the Entire Community in the U.S. Research Ecosystem (SECURE) is housed in in the College of Engineering. This Center was born out of Section 10338(a) of the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022 which directed the Director of the National Science Foundation to establish a Research Security & Integrity Information Sharing Analysis Organization. This Center and associated programs are intended to safeguard the entire community of the U.S. Research Ecosystem and are in direct alignment with the College of Engineering’s strategic plan of engineering excellence for the public good.

The SECURE Co-Director is instrumental in driving the Center’s mission to advance security and integrity within the U.S. research community and on a global scale. Reporting directly to the SECURE Center’s Principal Investigator and Director, the Co-Director holds shared accountability for the Center’s strategic vision and operational success. Leveraging a deep understanding of the Center’s goals, the Co-Director provides strategic oversight, shaping the direction and management of SECURE’s initiatives. This role includes high-level organizational leadership, comprehensive management of the Center's business operations, and a pivotal role in research administration. With expertise in compliance and security, the Co-Director ensures that these elements are seamlessly integrated across the Center's activities by leading this effort. Additionally, the Co-Director serves as a strategic advisor to the Center PI/Director and has the authority to direct and manage the Center’s affairs, subject to all applicable federal, state and university policies, rules and procedures.

This position requires an individual with the depth and breadth of knowledge and expertise both in developing and overseeing large-matrixed organizations that span multiple academic institutions as well as subject matter expertise in research security, high-level research administration, and research integrity. It requires an individual with broad experience in bringing teams, across the nation and globally, together to harness the strengths of a diverse set of leaders and ideas. The selected candidate should be comfortable networking with a diverse community of individuals who may hold varying degrees of leadership and skillsets to identify and pursue creative problem solving, as well as meeting specific strategic goals and award terms and conditions and producing successful outcomes. A critical responsibility is to establish and implement sustainable pathways for the center’s long-term operations and impact, ensuring the continuation of its activities and mission beyond the NSF grant period. Additionally, this position is responsible for maintaining the Center’s key role in advancing security and integrity within the US research community and on a global scale.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) is establishing the SECURE Center to empower the U.S. research community (institutions of higher education, non-profit research institutions, and small and medium-sized for-profit organizations) to address foreign government interference, support security-informed decision-making, support international collaboration, and serve as a conduit that connects research community stakeholders with one another and with U.S. government (USG) agencies via NSF. This position has specific responsibilities that impact the U.S. research community, including working with staff and faculty from across a wide range of research organizations on development and leadership of a community support center and shared virtual environment. The Cooperative Agreement that supports the center awards $50 million over 5 years and will support approximately 50 staff across the national and regional centers.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Executive Level Leadership

• Partner with and advise the Center PI/Director on leadership of the center, backing each other up as needed.

• Act as a key member of the Center Executive Leadership and NSF Program Director’s team, contributing to strategic decision-making and program oversight.

• Lead the development and ongoing refinement of a Strategic Plan that evolves with the Center’s mission and goals.

• Develop and maintain an effective leadership relationship with the SECURE Analytics award leadership team, ensuring open and transparent communication and information sharing.

• Cultivate and maintain trusted, strategic relationships with senior leaders across UW, including the Office of Research, Chief Information Security Officer, Corporate & Foundation Relations, CoMotion, Office of Sponsored Programs, Grant and Contract Accounting, Financial Management, and school/college leadership.

• Establish and uphold collaborative relationships nationally and globally with senior leaders in key higher education associations, research organizations, and federal agencies critical to the Center’s success.

• Identify, develop, and lead high-impact executive initiatives in partnership with the Center Director to advance Center objectives.

• Provide leadership and mentorship to staff, fostering a high-performing team culture that supports the Center’s long-term vision and operational goals.Organizational Development and Leadership

• Direct, lead and maintain the development of the full organizational structure and components of the SECURE Center organization.

• Provide strategic leadership to the SECURE Executive Team and Office of the Director, while facilitating executive-level support to the SECURE Advisory Board to drive key decisions and strategic priorities.

• Drive SECURE Leadership Team engagement by setting discussion priorities, establishing agendas, facilitating regular meetings, and promoting transparency and inclusivity across the center.

• Lead the development and strategic alignment of the Regional Center Council, which includes Faculty Center Directors and Co-Directors/Deputy Directors from the five Regional Centers. Ensure consistency across regional initiatives and support centers in achieving shared strategic objectives.

• Direct the development and maintenance of SECURE Center ongoing action plan to support Strategic Plan and objectives.

• Lead the strategic planning process to establish a sustainable financial model for the SECURE Center, aiming for self-sustaining operations by the end of the NSF grant period.Business Operations and Administration

• Strategically lead all center business operations, encompassing personnel management, agreements (Professional Service Agreements, Subawards, Cooperative Agreements), and resource allocation.

• Primary point of contact with the College of Engineering Collaboration Core as administrative oversight unit of the SECURE Center.

• Supervise the center grants manager and oversee comprehensive financial management to ensure strict adherence to university and sponsor policies.

• Oversee the full financial management of the center, ensuring compliance with all university and sponsor policies and procedures.

• Direct the development of high-level financial reports for the Executive Team and always ensure adherence to budget.

• Identify and secure alternative funding sources, including federal and state grants, industry partnerships, philanthropic support, and fee-for-service models.

• Ensure compliance with university and sponsor record retention policies and procedures. Ensure compliance with all local, state and federal laws, rules and regulations.

• Maintain thorough records to support all center expenditures, ensuring allowability of all costs.

• Provide the Center Director with critical updates on key operational and administrative matters to inform strategic decision-making.Communication & Outreach

• Lead the creation and ongoing management of a comprehensive communication strategy that aligns with the center’s goals and effectively engages both internal stakeholders and the broader community.

• Direct the development of a branding strategy for the center to include a logo, color scheme, templates and the like.

• Ensure the production of consistent, professional, and impactful materials, presentations, and messaging that represent the center across all platforms.

• Serve as the center's representative at conferences, meetings, and other events to foster partnerships and enhance visibility.

• Oversee the planning, agenda development, and logistical arrangements for regional events within the Seattle area.

• Collaborate with regional centers to facilitate and execute their annual meetings, ensuring alignment with the center’s goals.

• Direct the work of the Center Communications Coordinator to maintain consistency and quality across all communications efforts.Community (Stakeholder) Engagement

• Provide strategic oversight and direction to the Community Coordinator to advance program objectives.

• Facilitate common understanding of the stakeholder community.

• Engage actively with the broader research security ecosystem, including higher education associations, affinity groups, federal agencies, and similar entities, to promote alignment and mutual goals.

• Ensure Regional Centers are well-equipped and resourced to effectively engage and support stakeholders within their respective regions.

• Build and sustain strategic partnerships with industry leaders, governmental agencies, and academic institutions to drive impactful collaborative initiatives and secure long-term funding commitments. MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• Master’s Degree in Business Administration, Finance, Public Policy, Grant Administration or equivalent education/experience can substitute for the degree requirement.

• 6 years of progressively increasing level of responsibility in the field of Research Administration and compliance in a complex and multi-dimensional academic institutional setting compromised of internal and external stakeholders and constituents. Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license/certification/registration. ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Proven subject matter expert in the evolving field of research security at a complex research organization.

• Financial management, business development, and policy development experience.

• Proven ability to effectively manage a team’s performance, assign work, train and develop and hold staff accountable for their scope of work.

• Proven ability to communicate effectively, professionally and respectfully with the ability to work with and advise all levels of the organization, as well as internal and external partners.

• Proven ability to build trust and collaborate across differences and geographical locations.

• Experience in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with employees, and internal and external partners.

• Proven desire for professional improvement, including but not limited to self-reflection, open to feedback and open to learn new programs and software.

• Demonstrated commitment to valuing diversity and contributing to an inclusive, respectful working and learning environment.

• Proficiency in time management, decision-making, presentation and organization skills.

• Strong deductive reasoning, critical thinking problem solving and prioritization skills.

• Strong ability interpersonal skills to influence, motivate, persuade, mentor and train various individuals.

• Ability to conceptualize new ideas and technical matters quickly.

• Proficiency in planning, reporting, establishing goals and objectives, standards, priorities and schedules.

• Demonstrated proficiency in MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint and Outlook. DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• 5 years of experience as a director or senior management level position responsible for strategic planning, establishing direction and implementation of a project of significant impact.

• High-level Project Management experience including experience with project management software tools such as Trello, Asana or Monday.com.

• Superior Training/Facilitation skills.

• Higher education and/or government agency experience

• Experience relaying sensitive information to appropriate parties. Application Process: The application process may include completion of a variety of online assessments to obtain additional information that will be used in the evaluation process. These assessments may include Work Authorization, Cover Letter and/or others. Any assessments that you need to complete will appear on your screen as soon as you select “Apply to this position”. Once you begin an assessment, it must be completed at that time; if you do not complete the assessment, you will be prompted to do so the next time you access your “My Jobs” page. If you select to take it later, it will appear on your "My Jobs" page to take when you are access ready. Please note that your application will not be reviewed, and you will not be considered for this position until all required assessments have been completed.

University of Washington is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, among other things, race, religion, color, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, sex, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information.