Job Summary

Managing Director for Purdue’s new research center AIDA3 (AI for Digital, Autonomous, and Augmented Aviation), a multidisciplinary consortium founded in April 2024 by Purdue University and Windracers, a leading cargo drone operator.  With offices and research facilities in Purdue's Discovery Park District and at Purdue Airport, AIDA leverages the expertise of multiple Purdue colleges, including engineering and agriculture.  AIDA is an integral part of Purdue's new initiative, Purdue Computes, and the new Purdue Institute for Physical AI (IPAI).  This position will play a crucial role in helping realize and advance the center’s mission to produce breakthrough innovations focused on artificial intelligence for autonomous and augmented aviation with broader impacts on all activities related to aviation and aerial transportation, from demand analytics, delivery and maintenance in commercial logistics, meteorological sensing, and real-time weather prediction with a focus on autonomous aerial vehicles. 

The Managing Director’s primary responsibility is to lead management of the day-to-day activities of the center including governance and finances, marketing and communication, R&D portfolio management and seed grants, fundraising and proposal development, and infrastructure and facilities development, including coordination with external partners, vendors, etc. The managing director will be responsible for fostering, managing, and enhancing AIDA3's relationships with corporate, academic, and government partners as well as work with the affiliated faculty members from different colleges across Purdue to help achieve research project goals. 

The Managing Director supports all aspects of the center, including representing the center at functions and meetings as needed, coordinating events, supervising administrative staff, providing leadership and supervision in special initiatives and events, and in devising and implementing plans for strategic development, marketing, communication, and reporting.

About Us:

When you join Purdue University, you join a community that keeps moving forward. For more than 150 years, we’ve been known for not only our groundbreaking work in STEM research, but also for our collective imagination, ingenuity and innovation. 
 

What You'll Be Doing :

Direct Support Operations and R&D: 
•    Lead Center day-to-day operations and administration (together with administrative assistant and internal business office and other units at Purdue) and facilitate the ongoing R&D seed grant portfolio projects 
•    Oversee and facilitate the use of smooth implementation of first R&D projects with the center’s and affiliated faculty members and students from 5 different colleges using the center’s new testing facilities 
•    Support the Director with day-to-day tactical execution e.g., ongoing strategic and operational meetings 
•    Represent the Laboratory at functions the Director is unable to attend, or in the Director’s absence

Business Development, Fund Raising and Grant writing 
•    Coordinate Center efforts to identify and pursue new business opportunities using the center’s tier-based consortium mode
•    Support and manage grant writing efforts with a focus on agencies like NSF, DOD, USAID, NASA, and ARL(including interfacing with agencies and agency contacts) 
•    Support fundraising and development efforts in collaboration with Purdue Sponsored Program Services (SPS), Purdue Research Foundation (PRF) and the Purdue Applied Research Institute (PARI)

Large-scale Strategic Project Planning and Implementation 
•    Support the ideation and execution of large, center-level research project priorities 
•    Work with the Director to facilitate the expansion of existing facilities and/or the acquisition of large equipment; aid with space planning needed for such large-scale projects

Support Communications, Brand Management, and Marketing
•    Design, execute, and manage the Center’s communication plan together with the Purdue Discovery Parks’ Marketing Unit, Marketing Units in different colleges, and marketing units of industry partners

Operations Management: Supervision, HR and Account Management 
•    Provide overall supervision and management for staff members and interns/students 
•    Participate in the administrative processes for human resource actions (hiring, professional development, promotions, terminations, disciplinary procedures, and salary adjustments) 

What We're Looking For:

Qualified candidates will need:

• Master’s degree in engineering or computer science
• Four (4) years of experience in project or program management, business development, or research administration 
• In lieu of degree, consideration will be given to an equivalent combination of related education and required work experience; Associate's + 4 years' experience or HS/GED + 6 years of experience

Skills needed:

• Strong communication skills; comfortable engaging leadership at peer institutions, small businesses, and large industrial companies
• Strong organization and project management skills including projects related to cyber-physical systems, software and AI
• Experience with strategic planning, programmatic execution, and assessment 
• Experience with business and/or research development and/or large proposal preparation 
• Experience in working with funding agencies like DOD, NASA, NSF, ARL 
• Understanding of budgeting and fiscal policy in an academic environment

Nice to have:

• Doctoral degree
• Prior experience in autonomous systems and UAVs or aviation
• FAA UAV certificate and PMP certification
• Experience in large-scale R&D projects, ideally related to software/AI, robotics, and air mobility
• Experience in a setting of AI/ML and software development/robotics; exposure to aviation

What We Would Like You to Know :

• All new hires will be expected to follow Protect Purdue
• Purdue University will not sponsor employment authorization for this position  
• A background check will be required for employment in this position
• FLSA: Exempt (Not Eligible for Overtime)
• Retirement Eligibility:  Defined Contribution Waiting Period
• Benefit Statement: Purdue University offers a substantial Benefit Package including medical, dental, and vision insurance as well as a generous paid time off package for sick and vacation days

Career Stream

Professional 4
Pay Band S080
Job Code#20003011

Link to Purdue University's Compensation Guidelines: https://www.purdue.edu/hr/mngcareer/compguidelines/index.php 

Who We Are:
Purdue is a community built on collaboration, with global perspectives, Boilermaker pride and endless opportunity to live, learn and grow. Join us and contribute to our culture.

Purdue University is an EOE/AA employer. All individuals, including minorities, women, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply