Senior Program Manager, Industry Research Partnerships

Job Profile:

Research Development Specialist 4

Job Family:

Research Development

Time Type:

Full time

Apply before 11:59 PM Arizona time the day before the posted End Date.

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree and seven (7) years of experience appropriate to the area of assignment/field; OR, Any equivalent combination of experience and/or training from which comparable knowledge, skills and abilities have been achieved.

Job Profile Summary:
Provides expert-level support in proposal management, competitive intelligence, and relationship development, playing a crucial role in guiding faculty and research teams toward successful funding outcomes and enhancing the institution's research profile.

Job Description:

Reporting to the Associate Dean of Research and Global Initiatives, the Senior Program Manager will support a pilot initiative to identify, organize, and communicate faculty research capabilities in priority technical areas, including quantum, microelectronics/semiconductors, materials, space, and biotechnology.

The Senior Program Manager will conduct structured faculty outreach, develop a searchable inventory of research strengths and assets, synthesize capabilities into thematic clusters, prepare briefing materials and collaterals for internal planning and future external engagement, identify and develop potential industry partners and function as their liaison and point-of-contact. The position will work closely with faculty, academic unit chairs/directors, research centers, research administration, relevant ASU teams such as Corporate Engagement and Strategic Priorities, J. Orin Edson Entrepreneurship + Innovation Institute, SkySong Innovations and other relevant university offices

The role is intended for a highly organized professional with strong project management, writing, synthesis, and relationship-building skills. The successful candidate should be comfortable engaging faculty and technical experts, working with industry partners, learning complex research areas, and translating information into clear summaries for academic leadership and external audiences.

Position Salary Range:

$80,000 - $95,000 per year; DOE

Essential Duties:

Capability Discovery

• Design and manage a structured faculty discovery process in collaboration with the ADR.
• Conduct interviews with faculty and research groups, focusing first on priority areas.
• Document faculty expertise, current research activities, emerging interests, facilities, equipment, testbeds, datasets, software, centers, student talent, and current/prior external collaborations.
• Identify faculty who are interested in industry engagement and translational research.

Capability Mapping and Research Portfolio Development

• Develop and maintain a searchable inventory or database of research and equipment capabilities in The College.
• Identify clusters of strength across departments, centers, and research groups.
• Prepare internal summaries that help The College leadership understand where The College has concentrated expertise, emerging capacity, and possible areas of strategic opportunity.
• Track gaps, overlaps, and opportunities for cross-faculty collaboration.

Briefing Materials and Communications

• Prepare faculty capability summaries, research area briefs, and internal briefing packets for leadership review.
• Draft plain-language summaries of technical research strengths for non-specialist audiences.
• Support development of external-facing materials.
• Create templates for faculty intake, research profiles, capability briefs, and meeting summaries.
• Maintain consistent documentation of findings, themes, and follow-up needs.

Program Coordination

Coordinate with ASU’s Corporate Engagement and Strategic Priorities team, the J. Orin Edson Entrepreneurship + Innovation Institute, Skysong Innovations, Knowledge Enterprise units, and other relevant offices to ensure alignment, avoid duplication, connect faculty with appropriate university resources, and support a coordinated approach to industry engagement.

• Coordinate meetings, listening sessions, and small convenings with faculty, research centers, internal stakeholders, and industry partners.
• Work with academic units, research centers, relevant Knowledge Enterprise offices to collect needed information.
• Track progress, timelines, deliverables, and outstanding follow-up items.
• Support the ADR in preparing updates for the Dean and other leadership groups.

Support for Industry Research Partnerships

• Inventory existing industry contacts, prior sponsored research relationships, advisory board connections, alumni connections, and relevant federal or consortia relationships.
• Help identify which faculty capabilities may be ready for future external conversations and which may need additional development or framing.
• Support planning for faculty-industry roundtables, advisory conversations, or targeted listening sessions.
• Provide data and materials to inform industry research partnership development.
• Act as point of contact for industry partners.
• Provide logistical and planning support in advancing identified research partnership opportunities.

 

Desired Qualifications:

• Ph.D. in a relevant field.
• Experience working in a research-intensive university, research institute, national lab, technical organization, or industry-facing research environment.
• Familiarity with one or more of the following areas: quantum, microelectronics, semiconductors, materials, space, engineering, physical sciences, or applied technology fields.
• Experience developing research summaries, capability statements, program reports, or briefing materials.
• Experience with CRM systems, Airtable, Excel, Smartsheet, Salesforce, or other structured tracking/database tools.
• Familiarity with sponsored research, technology transfer, industry partnerships, federal research programs, or research centers.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple workstreams simultaneously.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Ability to synthesize complex information into clear summaries.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with faculty, researchers, technical staff, administrators, and external stakeholders.
• Comfort learning new technical areas and asking effective discovery questions.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to maintain accurate records, databases, and reports.
  

Working Environment:

• Most work is performed in an environmentally controlled office setting requiring extended periods of sitting, computer use, data analysis, report preparation, and participation in meetings with internal and external stakeholders.
• Travel between university campus, research facilities, and industry partners is required.
• May require work, including attending events, outside normal business hours to support industry partnership development.

Department Statement:

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (The College) is the largest college at ASU and is organized in a divisional structure comprised of Humanities, Natural Sciences, and Social Sciences. The atmosphere is collegial, priorities are fluid and demands for assistance come from many directions. This position provides an opportunity to exercise initiative, work with populations and enhance leadership skills.

The College offers the greatest choice and diversity of studies of any school at Arizona State University, the largest public university in the United States. In addition to top academic programs, award-winning faculty, and state-of-the-art lab and research facilities, The College offers unique opportunities to explore a vast spectrum of academic disciplines - from science and math to languages and philosophy - that few other colleges and universities can provide. The College has 90+ undergraduate majors and 140+ graduate degrees housed in 23 interdisciplinary schools and departments. The College is redefining liberal arts and sciences education for the 21st century.

Driving Requirement:

Driving is not required for this position.

Location:

Campus: Tempe

Funding:

No Federal Funding

 

Instructions to Apply:

Current employees, student workers seeking staff opportunities, and students applying for student worker positions must apply directly through the Workday Jobs Hub.

To be considered, your application must include all of the following attachments:

• Cover letter
• Resume or CV

Multiple documents may be uploaded in the attachments section. Alternatively, applicants may combine all required materials into a single PDF for submission. Please ensure uploaded documents are clearly labeled and include your name.

Please ensure your resume includes all employment information in month and year format, for example 6/04 to 8/14, along with job title, job duties, and employer name for each position. Your resume should clearly demonstrate how your experience and background meet the minimum and desired qualifications for this position. Incomplete applications or missing required materials may not be considered.

Important: Do not withdraw your application to make edits. Once an application is withdrawn, it cannot be edited, reactivated, or replaced with a new submission. If you have questions or need assistance, please contact The Office of Human Resources Talent Acquisition before the posting close date.

Graduate Assistant, Intern and part-time positions are counted as half time for experience equivalency, meaning one year equals six months of experience.

Only electronic applications will be accepted for this position. By submitting an application, you confirm that the information provided is accurate and complete.

ASU Statement:

Arizona State University is a new model for American higher education, an unprecedented combination of academic excellence, entrepreneurial energy and broad access. This New American University is a single, unified institution comprising four differentiated campuses positively impacting the economic, social, cultural and environmental health of the communities it serves. Its research is inspired by real world application blurring the boundaries that traditionally separate academic disciplines. ASU serves more than 100,000 students in metropolitan Phoenix, Arizona, the nation's fifth largest city. ASU champions inclusive excellence, and welcomes students from all fifty states and more than one hundred nations across the globe.

ASU is a tobacco-free university. For details visit https://wellness.asu.edu/explore-wellness/body/alcohol-and-drugs/tobacco

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other basis protected by law.

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ASU’s comprehensive benefits package is a key part of your total compensation. Visit the ASU Compensation Estimator

Employment Verification Statement:

ASU conducts pre-employment screening which may include verification of work history, academic credentials, licenses, and certifications.

Background Check Statement:

ASU conducts pre-employment screening for all positions which includes a criminal background check, verification of work history, academic credentials, licenses, and certifications. Employment is contingent upon successful passing of the background check.

Fingerprint Check Statement:

A fingerprint check is not required for this position.