Director, Federal Research and Partnerships

Job Title
Director, Federal Research and Partnerships

Requisition Number
RE56285

Working Title

Department Name
40100:VP of Research

Work Location
Lexington, KY

Grade Level
50

Salary Range
$83,283-141,565/year

Type of Position
Staff

Position Time Status
Full-Time

Required Education

MA

Click here for more information about equivalencies:
https://hr.uky.edu/employment/working-uk/equivalencies

Required Related Experience

5 yrs

Required License/Registration/Certification

None

Physical Requirements

Ability to sit for long periods of time.

Shift

Monday – Friday 8:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m.

Job Summary

Advancing Federal Research, Strategic Partnerships, and National Competitiveness

The University of Kentucky is seeking a Director, Federal Research and Partnerships to join the Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR).

This position will help grow and sustain UK’s research enterprise by advancing strategic initiatives and partnerships in defense, national security, dual-use technologies, and areas critical to national competitiveness. Working with research leadership, faculty, government, military, and industry partners, the Director will align UK capabilities with emerging priorities, develop multidisciplinary opportunities, and position research teams for sustained success.

What You’ll Do

• Develop and help execute a university-wide strategy for defense, national security, dual-use technologies, and national competitiveness, identifying opportunities for research growth, strategic investment, capacity building, and institutional differentiation.
• Analyze emerging federal priorities, mission needs, and technologies to identify where UK research capabilities can address near-, mid-, and long-term opportunities.
• Establish and sustain relationships with defense-related agencies, military services, laboratories, acquisition organizations, operational units, national laboratories, and industry partners to expand opportunities for sponsored research and faculty engagement.
• Identify emerging research and funding opportunities and translate sponsor priorities into actionable opportunities for UK faculty and research teams.
• Support the positioning and development of major multidisciplinary proposals, centers, consortia, cooperative agreements, OTAs, IDIQs, and other strategic initiatives while building a pipeline of research opportunities.
• Convene multidisciplinary teams across areas such as health and medical sciences, human performance, energy, critical materials, advanced manufacturing and materials, AI and data science, autonomy, infrastructure, and transportation.
• Mentor faculty and staff on defense organizations, research funding processes, and pathways from research through demonstration and transition.
• Advise research leadership on federal priorities, emerging technologies, major partnerships, institutional investments, proposals, centers, and other strategic defense research opportunities.
• Develop briefing materials, recommendations, decision frameworks, and implementation strategies for initiatives requiring executive review or university-level coordination, and track progress, commitments, risks, and next steps.

What You’ll Bring

• Strong knowledge of federal research programs, defense-related organizations, federal defense research priorities, funding mechanisms, and technology development processes.
• Demonstrated ability to develop partnerships that connect institutional research capabilities with government and industry priorities.
• Knowledge of federal proposal development, cooperative agreements, alternative research funding mechanisms, and complex multidisciplinary research opportunities.
• Strong strategic planning, analytical, and organizational skills with demonstrated ability to develop and implement long-term strategic initiatives.
• Ability to build multidisciplinary teams, connect complementary expertise, and coordinate efforts across colleges, research units, leadership, and external organizations.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills with the ability to translate complex federal priorities and mission needs into actionable research opportunities.
• Ability to monitor strategic initiatives, evaluate progress, identify risks and opportunities, and communicate clear recommendations to university leadership.

Minimum Requirements

• Master’s degree
• 5 years of related experience

What’s In It for You

• Help shape the growth of UK’s research enterprise in defense, national security, dual-use technologies, and areas important to national competitiveness.
• Build high-impact connections among UK faculty, research leadership, federal organizations, military partners, national laboratories, and industry.
• Help develop multidisciplinary research opportunities spanning established and emerging areas of university expertise.
• Hybrid work eligibility with approval.
• UK’s Exceptional Benefits

Why Now?
Federal priorities, emerging technologies, and evolving national security needs are creating new opportunities for universities to contribute research expertise, facilities, and multidisciplinary capabilities to mission-driven challenges. UK can strengthen its competitiveness by connecting those opportunities with institutional research strengths and developing sustained partnerships across government and industry.

This position will help create that connection, building a strategic pipeline from emerging opportunities and faculty engagement through multidisciplinary partnerships and major research initiatives. By coordinating efforts across UK and advising university leadership, the Director will help position the institution for long-term research growth and greater impact in the federal research and innovation ecosystem.

Skills / Knowledge / Abilities

Does this position have supervisory responsibilities?
No

Preferred Education/Experience

• Doctoral degree in engineering, science, or related technical field.
• Minimum seven years of experience in each of multiple sectors, including industry, DoW/federal government, and academic research leadership.
• Demonstrated success building or expanding a defense or national-security research enterprise, center, or major portfolio.
• Proven record of transitioning technologies into defense, operational, industrial, or commercial use.
• Established relationships across DoW, defense industry, national laboratories, academia, and the federal research community.
• Experience engaging senior university, federal, and state leaders in support of major research and strategic initiatives.

Deadline to Apply
11/17/2026

Our University Community

We value the well-being of each of our employees and are dedicated to creating a healthy place for everyone to work, learn and live. In the interest of maintaining a safe and healthy environment for our students, employees, patients and visitors, the University of Kentucky is a Tobacco & Drug Free campus.

The University follows both the federal and state Constitutions as well as all applicable federal and state laws on nondiscrimination. The University provides equal opportunities for qualified persons in all aspects of institutional operations and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnic origin, religion, creed, age, physical or mental disability, veteran status, uniformed service, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information or social or economic status.

Any candidate offered a position may be required to pass pre-employment screenings as mandated by University of Kentucky Human Resources. These screenings may include a national background check and/or drug screen.