Deputy Director, Strategic Development & Communications

The Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP) at the University of Colorado Boulder seeks an experienced leader to serve as its Deputy Director for Strategic Development and Communications. Reporting to LASP’s Director, the Deputy Director will be a senior member of the LASP executive leadership team and will be responsible for strategically enabling growth through business development, managing communications programs, and advancing the technology infrastructure that directly and indirectly enables LASP’s work. The largest research institute at the University of Colorado, LASP has grown rapidly to become a $117 million/year research and development enterprise that employs nearly 700 professional research staff. LASP’s Director reports to the University’s Vice Chancellor for Research & Innovation. The Deputy Director is one of six senior-level leaders of the Lab reporting to the Director and supervises nine senior staff responsible for Business Development, Communication Management, and Technology. The Deputy Director ensures that LASP is identifying, assessing, and operationalizing both long-term relationships such as with NASA and other federal agencies and newer relationships with international partners and the commercial space sector. The Deputy Director represents the Lab to external sponsors and partners as well as to University of Colorado support functions such as communications, technology, government relations, and fundraising to ensure that its needs are understood and its accomplishments celebrated. The Deputy Director: • Helps create a shared vision for the development of the Lab to sustain growth and excellence • Advocates for innovation, support, and sustainment • Strategically champions research in emerging opportunity areas • Maintains a broad understanding of space research, science, and engineering • Influences investment in unexplored research opportunities • Strategically assesses research capabilities and needs • Maintains and coordinates awareness of competitor developments • Oversees internal and external communications strategy and advocacy • Represents LASP at external forums and venues • Guides investment in technologies that transform how LASP stores, protects and uses data • Assesses the changing regulatory/risk environments and ensures effective security policies/programs accordingly Qualifications include outstanding leadership ability, a deep sense of scholarship, a thorough comprehension of the issues involved with space exploratory research, and the ability to be an effective member of the LASP management team. Successful candidates will have an advanced degree or equivalent experience in a relevant discipline of engineering or science. Substantial management experience in a research and development organization is also required. In addition, qualified candidates will possess: • Ability to lead and define new directions in science, engineering, and program opportunities • Familiarity with government, commercial, and international space research goals, and opportunities • Ability to identify academic, financial, and political factors that impact research opportunities • Experience with U.S/international space agencies and/or the aerospace industry • Ability to recognize and manage commercial and international research/business issues • Commitment to promoting LASP’s and CU’s Diversity and Inclusion goals • Commercial business development and marketing experience • Cross-cultural and cross-discipline communication skills • Ability to succeed through influence and subject-matter expertise • Excellent collaborative and adaptive thinking perspectives, and high emotional intelligence • Resilience, agility, and organizational savvy. The Deputy Director must be a U.S. Person. Eligibility for a high-level security clearance is preferred but not required. The Deputy Director will embrace the values of a mission-driven non-profit organization. To apply LASP has engaged Opus Partners (www.opuspartners.net) to support the recruitment of the Deputy Director. Craig Smith, Partner, and Jeffrey Stafford, Senior Associate, are leading the search. Candidates should send their CV and an introductory letter of interest to [email protected] or [email protected]. Nominations, recommendations, and inquiries should go to the same address. Every effort will be made to ensure candidate confidentiality. LASP will begin to review candidate materials on May 15, 2022, and will advance the selection process as expeditiously as possible. The search process will remain confidential. The University of Colorado is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer