Division Chief - ICL - Communications Systems and Spectrum Division

Overview:

The Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) is the nonprofit, applied research division of the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech). Founded in 1934 as the Engineering Experiment Station, GTRI has grown to more than 2,900 employees, supporting eight laboratories in over 20 locations around the country and performing more than $940 million of problem-solving research annually for government and industry. GTRI's renowned researchers combine science, engineering, economics, policy, and technical expertise to solve complex problems for the U.S. federal government, state, and industry.   

Georgia Tech's Mission and Values

Georgia Tech's mission is to develop leaders who advance technology and improve the human condition. The Institute has nine key values that are foundational to everything we do: 

1. Students are our top priority.
2. We strive for excellence.
3. We thrive on diversity.
4. We celebrate collaboration.
5. We champion innovation.
6. We safeguard freedom of inquiry and expression.
7. We nurture the wellbeing of our community.
8. We act ethically.
9. We are responsible stewards.

Over the next decade, Georgia Tech will become an example of inclusive innovation, a leading technological research university of unmatched scale, relentlessly committed to serving the public good; breaking new ground in addressing the biggest local, national, and global challenges and opportunities of our time; making technology broadly accessible; and developing exceptional, principled leaders from all backgrounds ready to produce novel ideas and create solutions with real human impact.

Project/Unit Description

The Communication Systems and Spectrum Division (CSSD) in the Information and Communications Laboratory (ICL) is seeking a Division Chief. The Division's projects fuse advanced signal processing, adaptive communications technologies, advanced algorithms, machine learning, and sophisticated modeling and simulation to perform research and develop solutions for systems that include cognitive communications, intelligent wideband spectrum sensing, communication electronic warfare systems, and next-generation cellular network technologies, including 5G/FutureG. The Division supports work across many branches of the Department of Defense (DoD), including the Army, Navy, and Office of the Secretary of War for Research and Engineering. Key programs include deployed prototype systems, communication and spectrum sensing systems, machine learning algorithms, physics-based modeling and simulation tools, system analyses, and applied research.

CSSD is located in Tech Square in the heart of Midtown Atlanta, GA but could have researchers located at various GTRI field offices and near sponsor facilities across the country. GTRI field offices provide the opportunity for a physical presence close to our sponsors, maintaining the ability to leverage the researcher base primarily located in the Atlanta metropolitan area.

The Division Chief is a strategic leader who drives division-wide growth, innovation, and research excellence while responsible for establishing and maintaining the Division mission, vision, and values. The successful candidate possesses the vision, expertise, and leadership skills to advance the Division’s research agenda, foster collaboration among multidisciplinary teams, and manage all Division activities.

Job Purpose

The Division Chief is the principal leader and manager of all Division activities, while also maintaining a research role including contributions to sponsored research projects. The Division Chief sets the vision and strategy for the Division, provides oversight and direction for research projects in the Division, manages the personnel in the Division, and maintains ultimate responsibility for all of the financial and administrative operations of the Division. The Division Chief acts as liaison between the Division and Lab Leadership, other Divisions, and the rest of GTRI.

Key Responsibilities

Management Responsibilities:

• Develop strategic vision and execution plan for the division in conjunction with Laboratory and Directorate Leadership.
• Oversee of Division project and operational activities.
• Lead contract development activities and interface with sponsors.
• Manage personnel including hiring, performance evaluations, staffing, career development, etc.
• Manage budgets, resources, and compliance with policies and procedures.
• Develop research collaborations with other GTRI laboratories, Georgia Tech academic faculty, and outside organizations.
• Mentor Division personnel.

Research Responsibilities:

• Research activities supporting sponsored projects.
• Project management of specific research projects.
• Develop and execute internal research and development programs supporting the division strategic vision.
• Develop proposals for new research efforts.

Additional Responsibilities

Research:

• Spearhead research initiatives that foster new sponsor relationships, driving growth and strategic contributions to existing sponsored projects aimed at program expansion and new opportunity generation.
• Drive innovation within Division’s core competencies to identify new opportunities for growth and impact.
• Initiate and guide internal research and development programs that support the Division's strategic vision and contribute to its overall mission.
• Oversee execution of Division’s research portfolio to ensure projects deliver quality products on-time and within budget.

Strategic Vision and Business Development:

• Develop strategic vision and execution plan for the Division in conjunction with Laboratory and Deputy Director Research Leadership.
• Advocate for organizational and/or resource changes required to accomplish the Division’s strategic goals.
• Lead contract development activities and interface with sponsors.
• Develop research collaborations with other GTRI laboratories, Georgia Tech academic faculty, and outside organizations that further the CSSD mission.
• Grow sponsor network to result in enduring, strategic partnerships with funding sponsors.

Organizational Leadership:

• Establish Division Values and actively foster a productive and healthy culture.
• Oversee the management of 20-60 personnel, primarily located in Atlanta but potentially located across the country, including hiring, performance, evaluations, staffing, career development, etc.
• Maintain direct connection to all researchers within the Division, both direct and indirect reports, to understand needs, barriers, and successes and engage to bring resolution to challenges and highlight accomplishments.
• Model and hold other managers accountable to engage in active mentoring (MAWL [model, assist, watch, leave]) and professional development planning for all researchers and staff.
• Provide direct management oversight for Branch Management teams and the Division Office.
• Manage budgets, resources, and compliance with policies and procedures.

Required Minimum Qualifications

• Degree in a STEM field (e.g., computer science, engineering, mathematics, systems engineering, or statistics) with significant experience in electrical/computer engineering, communication systems, embedded systems or FPGA development, and/or signal processing.
• Experience as a Communications Engineer, Embedded Software Engineer, Signal Processing Engineer, Systems Engineer, or Research Program Manager, or related role.
• Experience as a GTRI Project Director.
• Experience leading project teams to include direct customer interaction; managing project budget, schedule, and deliverables; assigning tasks to team members and ensuring quality delivered artifacts.
• Demonstrated experience growing a program and/or portfolio of work within increasing impact and value, within a relevant sponsor community.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with Department of Defense or Intelligence Community, as service member, civilian, or contractor.
• Experience in organizational management with direct reports.
• Active Security Clearance, preferably TS/SCI.
• Experience briefing senior Department of Defense leadership.

Travel Requirements

10% - 25% travel

Education and Length of Experience

This position vacancy is an open-rank announcement. The final job offer will be dependent on candidate qualifications in alignment with Research Faculty Extension Professional ranks as outlined in section 3.2.1 of the Georgia Tech Faculty Handbook

• 9 years of related experience with a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, Mathematics, or a related STEM field.
• 7 years of related experience with a Masters’ degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, Mathematics, or a related STEM field.
• 4 years of related experience with a Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, Mathematics, or a related STEM field.

U.S. Citizenship Requirements

Due to our research contracts with the U.S. federal government, candidates for this position must be U.S. Citizens.

Clearance Type Required

Candidates must be able to obtain and maintain an active security clearance.

Benefits at GTRI

Comprehensive information on currently offered GTRI benefits, including Health & Welfare, Retirement Plans, Tuition Reimbursement, Time Off, and Professional Development, can be found through this link: https://benefits.hr.gatech.edu/.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. The Institute is committed to maintaining a fair and respectful environment for all. To that end, and in accordance with federal and state law, Board of Regents policy, and Institute policy, Georgia Tech provides equal opportunity to all faculty, staff, students, and all other members of the Georgia Tech community, including applicants for admission and/or employment, contractors, volunteers, and participants in institutional programs, activities, or services. Georgia Tech complies with all applicable laws and regulations governing equal opportunity in the workplace and in educational activities.

Equal opportunity and decisions based on merit are fundamental values of the University System of Georgia (“USG”) and Georgia Tech. Georgia Tech prohibits discrimination, including discriminatory harassment, on the basis of an individual’s race, ethnicity, ancestry, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age, disability, genetics, or veteran status in its programs, activities, employment, and admissions. Further, Georgia Tech prohibits citizenship status, immigration status, and national origin discrimination in hiring, firing, and recruitment, except where such restrictions are required in order to comply with law, regulation, executive order, or Attorney General directive, or where they are required by Federal, State, or local government contract.

USG Core Values Statement

The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 26 institutions of higher education and learning as well as the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 8.2.18.1.2 and can be found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section8/C224/#p8.2.18_personnel_conduct.

Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in Board Policy 6.5 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section6/C2653.