Director, Research and Program Innovation

SUMMARY

This position will work collaboratively with Technical Advancement staff, other departments, members, and funders to build, grow, and manage AMPP's nascent program of applied research and innovation including technical, economic, and policy research. The program will prioritize research pipelines that help AMPP achieve its mission across our offerings, such as research‑to‑standards initiatives, research symposia and events, peer‑reviewed publications, advocacy, workforce development, data publishing, researcher tools and resources, and support of the research community within AMPP's membership.

It will seek to open new avenues of industry collaboration and resources while complementing the work of the existing research community within the AMPP membership.

This position is responsible for administration and oversight of AMPP's portfolio of research and innovation projects and programs and collaborative efforts with other institutions, government and industry entities, and academia. It will ensure that projects, governance, contracts, and outputs are aligned to AMPP's mission and goals. This position will serve in a visible leadership role with industry and member groups. It will ensure AMPP's compliance with funding requirements and compliance by AMPP partners and contractors.

The first one to two years will be focused on creating and implementing project governance, administrative procedures, and mechanisms for project evaluation and prioritization. This will transition into operations as the program gets established. This position will have no direct reports initially but will require a high level of cross‑department collaboration and the ability to work with industry stakeholders, consultants, and member groups.

• Create and manage standalone projects, consortia, grant‑funded or sponsored research, funding marketplaces, industry‑academic collaborations, tech incubators, Research‑as‑a‑Service, or other models.
• Create and manage program management processes and procedures, including contractual and grant compliance, project selection, and governance groups.
• Build and develop relationships with relevant stakeholders both in and out of the organization, including industry, government, research organizations, and non‑governmental organizations (NGOs) to ensure AMPP has a seat at the table in key research projects related to materials protection and performance.
• Work with members and industry groups and Technical Engagement staff to seed and develop research topics, conduct gaps analyses, and work with stakeholder groups on mapping both existing/ongoing research needs that AMPP may be positioned to advance.
• Assist in developing projects, consortia, collaborations, centers of excellence, or similar structures to organize and conduct research identified as priority topics.
• Lead the identification and pursuit of funding support from industry and government sources.
• Recruit consortia members and participants for specific initiatives.
• Soliciting financial, operational, and in‑kind support and partnerships for operation of the program.
• Communicate in a cooperative and professional manner with all levels of AMPP staff, members, and customers to ensure a positive brand image, teamwork, alignment, and attainment of organizational goals.
• Represent AMPP with member groups, outside technical groups, committees, associations, and projects.
• Hire, develop, coach, and inspire talent to effectively lead and manage within responsible departments and business units to ensure attainment of goals and in alignment with AMPP culture and core values.

Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the…