"Director of the Collaboratory for Integrating Growth, Innovation, and Research Excellence (C-IGNITE) - Office of Research and Innovation, 96907"

Hiring Department

Office of Research and Innovation (ORI) at the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC).

Job Description

The Director of C-IGNITE reports directly to the Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation (VCRI). This pivotal leadership role operates as a "Capture Manager" and ecosystem builder. The Director is responsible for the full strategic lifecycle of high-impact interdisciplinary research, shepherding "Big Ideas" from early conceptualization and team formation through to proposal submission and sustainable execution. This role bridges the gap between UMKC faculty expertise, corporate partners, and national funding priorities to secure large-scale, non-traditional funding.

Responsibilities:

• Strategic Launch & Ecosystem Building
  • Launch and operationalize C-IGNITE as the central hub for "team science" and external partnership.
  • Develop a strategic roadmap that synchronizes UMKC research priorities with the needs of industry and community stakeholders.
  • Cultivate a pipeline of non-traditional funding opportunities (e.g., corporate sponsored research, public-private partnerships, foundation consortia).
• Corporate & Community Partnership Development
  • Act as the primary liaison for industry engagement, identifying overlapping research interests with corporate R&D divisions to co-create grant proposals.
  • Establish meaningful connections with community organizations and NGOs to integrate "community benefit" and real-world impact into research designs from day one.
  • Facilitate "Innovation Roundtables" that bring together faculty, industry leaders, and civic partners to brainstorm solutions for regional challenges.
• Facilitating Collaborative "Big Science"
  • Break down academic silos by forming interdisciplinary "response teams" capable of addressing complex societal problems favored by federal agencies (e.g., NSF Convergence, NIH P-Series).
  • Lead the strategic pursuit of large center-level grants that require robust public-private partnerships.
• Competitiveness & Mentorship
  • Oversee "Red Team" reviews, ensuring that proposals speak effectively to both academic merit and broader economic/social impact.
  • Mentor faculty on the nuances of navigating corporate contracts and industry expectations.
• Strategic Lifecycle Stewardship (Idea to Impact)
  • Incubation: Proactively identify and incubate high-potential interdisciplinary concepts before funding calls are announced. Work with faculty to refine "blue sky" ideas into fundable research strategies.
  • Team Sustainability: Manage the lifecycle of research teams, ensuring that interdisciplinary groups remain cohesive and productive even between grant cycles.
  • Resilience Strategy: champion the long-term viability of research themes; if a major proposal is declined, lead the "pivot strategy" to repackage the idea for alternative funders or corporate sponsors.

Minimum Qualifications

A Master's degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience and at least 5 years of experience from which comparable knowledge and skills can be acquired is necessary.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree or equivalent.
• 7+ years of experience in research development, innovation management, or strategic partnerships.
• Demonstrated success in managing the lifecycle of complex projects or teams.

Anticipated Hiring Range

Anticipated hiring range is $130,000 to $145,000 annually, commensurate with experience, education, and internal equity.

Application Deadline

Open until filled, review of applications to begin immediately.