TERA Assistant Director

Oregon State University · Corvallis Main Campus · $100,000–$112,200 (stated in the posting)

Important Notifications:

Application Deadline: When applying, please keep in mind this posting will close at 11:59 pm the night before the posted "end date". Applications MUST be submitted prior to this deadline.

Current Employees: Do not apply via the OSU Career site. Instead, please login to your regular Workday account and visit the Jobs Hub to apply.

Department:

Division of Research and Innovation

Special Instructions to Applicants:

When applying you will be required to attach the following electronic documents:

1) A resume/CV; and

2) A cover letter indicating how your qualifications and experience have prepared you for this position.

For additional information please contact: Gretchen Cuevas at Gretchen.Cuevas@oregonstate.edu

Job Summary:

The Division of Research and Innovation is seeking a TERA Assistant Director. This is a full-time (1.00 FTE), 12-month, professional faculty position.

Key Responsibilities:

1. TERA Solutions Hub Operations and Administration – Oversee day-to-day operations of the TERA Solutions Hub, including programs, services, systems, communications, data management, operational processes, and service delivery to ensure effective and efficient operations aligned with TERA’s mission.

2. TERA Launch Program Leadership and Development – Provide operational leadership for TERA Launch, including development and refinement of service models, intake and project-selection processes, launch methodologies, assessment frameworks, cost-recovery approaches, templates, and operating procedures.

3. Program Planning, Performance, and Continuous Improvement – Establish and maintain systems for project assignment, resource allocation, reporting, evaluation, and quality assurance; monitor program performance and use results to guide improvements, annual planning, resource decisions, and program scaling.

4. Launch Manager Supervision and Workforce Development – Supervise Launch Managers, including hiring, onboarding, training, workload distribution, mentoring, professional development, quality assurance, and performance management; foster a community of
practice and provide peer support to project managers across campus.

5. Strategic Research Partnerships and TERA Ecosystem Development – Work with TERA leadership to develop and strengthen partnerships with colleges, centers and institutes, industry, government agencies, nonprofits, and community organizations; represent TERA Launch in university planning and broader TERA initiatives.

6. High-Priority Research Project Launch and Implementation – Serve as the lead launch administrator for selected high-priority, large, complex, and multi-institutional research awards, either directly managing launches or coordinating Launch Managers. Develop startup and implementation plans, governance structures, timelines, communication plans, milestone systems, and transition strategies.

7. Cross-Functional Coordination and Collaborative Team Development – Coordinate administrative and operational requirements—including hiring, procurement, contracting, compliance, reporting, infrastructure access, and project documentation—while facilitating collaboration among PIs, research teams, university units, sponsors, institutions, and external partners to remove barriers and support effective team performance.

The TERA Solutions Hub (Transdisciplinary, Translational, and Engaged Research Advancement) Assistant Director works closely with the TERA Director to cultivate strategic relationships with colleges and research teams across Oregon State University and beyond and provides consistent operational leadership for the TERA Launch program within the TERA Solutions Hub.

The TERA Hub is a resource for all faculty, students, industry, government, and community members to collectively innovate to address Oregon’s most pressing problems via co-developed, team- based research. TERA is designed to empower teams to quickly move from idea to application by providing leadership training, space for transdisciplinary collaboration, and project management training and tools.

The position is responsible for designing, implementing, and continuously improving a university-wide project launch service that supports newly funded large, complex, and multi institutional research awards. This position supervises Launch Managers and supports a limited portfolio of high-priority projects.

Qualifications:

Required Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree AND a minimum of two (2) years of progressively responsible professional experience in operational leadership research administration, innovation centers, industry partnerships, complex program management, higher education operations, or a related environment.
Five years of experience managing complex programs, projects, research initiatives, or organizational operations.
Demonstrated experience supervising staff or leading teams.
Experience developing operational systems, workflows, or programs.
Strong relationship building, facilitation, and communication skills.
Experience coordinating activities involving multiple stakeholders and organizational units.
Demonstrated ability to work effectively with internal and external partners from a variety of backgrounds, and a demonstrable commitment to promoting and enhancing equitable engagement in teams.

This position is designated as a critical or security-sensitive position; therefore, the incumbent must successfully complete a criminal history check and be determined to be position qualified as per University Standard: 05-010 et seq. Incumbents are required to self-report convictions and those in youth programs may have additional criminal history checks every 24 months.

Preferred Qualifications:

Master's degree or PhD.
Experience supporting sponsored research, research administration, or research development activities.
Experience cultivating partnerships among academic, industry, government, nonprofit, and community partners.
Experience leading interdisciplinary, multi-institutional, or community-engaged initiatives.
Problem solving, adaptability, flexibility.
Knowledge of federal research funding agencies and sponsored project requirements.
Experience with organizational change management, program assessment, or service design.

Working Conditions/Schedule:

This position typically requires in-person presence, though a hybrid or remote work agreement with occasional travel may be considered for the right candidate. This position may arrange a flexible work schedule (https://hr.oregonstate.edu/remote-work) as agreed upon by the employee and supervisor.

The position manages a portfolio of multiple projects simultaneously, requiring flexibility, adaptability, and the ability to respond effectively to changing project needs and timelines. Occasional evening or weekend work may be required to support project launches, stakeholder meetings, or special events. Limited in-state or out-of-state travel may be required.

Salary Range:

$100,000 - $112,200

Anticipated Start Date:

2026-12-01

Anticipated End Date:

When applying, please keep in mind this posting will close at 11:59 pm the night before the posted "end date". Applications MUST be submitted prior to this deadline.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability, protected veteran, and other protected status.

OSU will conduct a review of the National Sex Offender Public website prior to hire.

OSU is a fair chance employer committed to inclusive hiring. We encourage applications from candidates who bring a wide range of lived experience including involvement with the justice system. If this position has “critical or security-sensitive” responsibilities and/or driving duties and you are selected as a finalist, your initial job offer will be contingent upon the results of a job-related pre-employment check (such as a background check, motor vehicle history check, sexual misconduct reference check, etc.). Background check results do not automatically disqualify a candidate. Take a look at our Background Checks website including the for candidates section for more details. If you have questions or concerns about the pre-employment check, please contact OSU’s Employee and Labor Relations team at employee.relations@oregonstate.edu.

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