Assistant Director for Research

The Battelle Center for Science, Engineering, and Public Policy seeks an Assistant Director for Research with demonstrated experience in leading interdisciplinary research initiatives at the intersection of science, technology, and public policy. This position will serve as a key member of the Center's leadership team, working closely with the Director and the project leads to shape and execute the Center's research strategy. Contributes to the generation of external resources to support the research mission and programs of the Battelle Center.

This position reports directly to the Director of the Battelle Center. Project Leads, program specific staff, student workers and research assistants report directly to the Assistant Director for Research.

The Assistant Director will be responsible for developing and managing a dynamic research portfolio that supports the Center's mission to advance evidence-based policy through collaborative research and to engage students in research connecting science and technology with public service and policy leadership. This includes:

• Strategic Research Leadership: Designing and implementing an annual research strategy that reflects the Center's mission and core focus areas.
• Team and Capacity Building: Supervising and mentoring research staff, graduate fellows, and undergraduate researchers; fostering a collaborative and inclusive research environment.
• Faculty and Partner Engagement: Building and sustaining partnerships with OSU faculty across disciplines, as well as with government, industry, and nonprofit stakeholders to enhance research impact and relevance.
• Research Integrity and Quality: Establishing protocols for data management, research ethics, and quality control; overseeing the production of technical reports, policy briefs, and scholarly publications.
• Community and Policy Engagement: Supporting the Center's public engagement efforts by translating research findings into actionable policy insights and facilitating dialogue between researchers and decision-makers.
• Program Development and Innovation
  
  Advise the Director on new research formats, models, and strategic initiatives. Support the development of frameworks and tools that enhance policy practice and public understanding of science and technology.

The ideal candidate will bring a strong background in science or engineering with experience in public policy research, excellent leadership and communication skills, and a commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration and public impact.

Duties Description

Research management and strategic direction: Supports the Battelle Center Director by contributing to leadership of the center, with particular emphasis on establishing and cultivating research partnerships; building and managing the Battelle Center faculty associate/affiliate and staff affiliate programs, and promoting and facilitating Battelle Center research staff engagement and increasing engagement in and visibility of Battelle Center research, scholarship and student research opportunities. Contributes to determining center strategic direction. Develops long and short-term research related goals and objectives for the center and manages project leads in implementing objectives and associated benchmarks. Contributes to center-level strategic planning efforts; contributes to the planning and execution of Battelle Center meetings, including: Advisory Board, Open House, All-staff meetings, and research team meetings. Reviews and contributes to annual reports and other center-related documentation. Oversees center operations related to research and scholarship, including identification of critical roles and processes; coordinates process improvements and troubleshoots when indicated; provides direction to Battelle Center associates and serves as liaison to Battelle Center teams, the John Glenn College research teams, and the university, aligning research operations of the Battelle Center with college and university policies. Advises the director, as needed, on annual merit raises and promotion decision making.

Research partnership: Cultivates relationships internally and externally with faculty and partners in order to develop opportunities for research collaboration. Responsible for securing external funding for research. Serves as PI on sponsored research grants. Contributes to sponsor relations by providing quality and timely completion of research project deliverables and course correction plans when appropriate; contributes to the development and implementation of capacity building.

Staff Management: Coordinates with the Battelle Center Business Operations Manager in completing monthly staffing allocations; overseeing budget management, projections and expenditures; serving as consultant to project leads and staff to support contracts management decision making; defines staffing needs and assignments short and long-term. Supervises professional and administrative staff, including Project Leads, Researchers, Post-docs, Graduate Assistants, and Student Workers; conducting performance evaluations; instituting disciplinary action or performance improvement plans when necessary; oversees the building of and builds staff capacity to progress along identified career pathways.

Occasional teaching of Battelle Center managed courses is possible as determined in conjunction with the director depending on alignment with the center's research mission.

This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship and requires an onsite physical presence at the Ohio State main campus.

This is a 3-year term position. It may be renewable up to 2 additional years depending upon funding and satisfactory performance.

The salary for this position, $103,000 to $134,000, will be determined by internal equity, budget, and the candidate's education and experience.

Required Documents:

Please provide a cover letter with salary requirements and resume.

MINIMUM REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience. Advanced degree may be desirable.
• At least 5 years of progressively responsible experience in research leadership, preferably in interdisciplinary or policy-focused environments.
• Demonstrated success in managing complex research projects and teams.
• Expertise in research ethics, compliance, and community-engaged scholarship.
• Strong organizational and communication skills, with experience in mentoring and partnership development.
• Familiarity with university research administration and academic culture.

Preferred Qualifications:

• PhD or equivalent experience in a relevant field (e.g., public policy, engineering, science, international affairs).
• 8-12 years of relevant experience.
• 2 or more years of experience in a research institute.
• Experience working on projects supported by both public and private external funds.

The College

The John Glenn College of Public Affairs is ranked 16th in the nation and #1 in Ohio among 271 Public Affairs schools by U.S. News and World Report. This marks the college's 10th year within the top 10% of public affairs graduate professional programs in the country. The college is also ranked among our peers in the following specialty areas: public management and leadership (7), nonprofit management (9), local government (18), social policy (19), public policy analysis (20), urban policy (22), and public finance and budgeting (25). Additionally, The Ohio State University ranked No. 5 internationally and No. 1 in the U.S. in public administration according to ShanghaiRanking Consultancy's 2023 Global Ranking of Academic Subjects.

The University

Ohio State is a top-20 public university, and its Ohio State Wexner Medical Center is one of America's leading academic health centers. Eligible Ohio State employees receive comprehensive benefits packages, including medical, dental and vision insurance, tuition assistance for employees and their dependents, and state or alternative retirement options with competitive employer contributions.

Grounded in Ohio State University's Shared Values, our university community welcomes differences, encourages open-minded exploration and courageous thinking, and upholds freedom of expression.

Ohio State is a dynamic community where opportunity thrives, and individuals transform themselves and their world. Positions are available in countless fields and specialties. Become a Buckeye and contribute to an incredible legacy that serves to guide our future and shape a better tomorrow.

The Ohio State University is committed to enhancing academic excellence. Recruiting, supporting, and retaining faculty of the highest caliber is a core component of this commitment. The Office of Academic Affairs (OAA) has established central resources to focus on offering support to new and prospective faculty and their loved ones. Service offerings include dual career partner consultation, potential employer and/or employment opportunity identification, consultation and resources related to relocation, as well as identifying opportunities to engage on campus and in the surrounding community. While employment opportunities are not guaranteed, resources and consultation are available. More information about dual career and faculty recruitment can be found here.

In addition to being responsive to dual-career opportunities, we strongly promote work-life balance to support our community members through a suite of institutionalized policies. Ohio State is a member of the Michigan, Ohio, Western Pennsylvania & West Virginia HERC.

Located in Ohio's capital city, Ohio State's Columbus campus is near the center of a rapidly growing and diverse metropolitan area with a population of over 1.5 million. The area offers a wide range of affordable housing, many cultural and recreational opportunities, excellent schools, and a strong economy based on government as well as service, transportation, and technology industries. Additional information about the Columbus area is available here. Beyond its Columbus campus, Ohio State has four regional campuses including Ohio State Lima, Ohio State Mansfield, Ohio State Marion, and Ohio State Newark, in addition to the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) Wooster Campus, which houses Ohio State ATI.

The university is an equal opportunity employer, including veterans and disability.

Term (Fixed Term) 40 First Shift