Associate Director - Research Programs

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Job Posting Title:

Associate Director - Research Programs

Position Type:

Professional / Unclassified

Department:

LSUAM ORED - Future Use of Energy in Louisiana (FUEL) (Michael Steven Mazzola (00089027))

Work Location:

Innovation Park Bldg 8000

Pay Grade:

Professional

Job Description:

The FUEL Associate Director of Research Operations supports the Executive Director in developing and implementing FUEL’s operations research capability in alignment with the program’s strategic objectives. The position performs complex quantitative and economic analyses and works collaboratively with FUEL leadership, research teams, industry partners, universities, and other stakeholders to provide data-driven decision support for programmatic and strategic initiatives.Responsibilities include conducting techno-economic analyses of intellectual property and product concepts; developing and maintaining analytical information related to companies within the FUEL ecosystem; and performing operations research, modeling, and prescriptive analytics to support resource allocation, financial sustainability, and ecosystem stability. The Associate Director coordinates operations research activities and related resources, tracks outcomes and key metrics, and provides analytical findings and recommendations to the Executive Director and other FUEL leadership and governance groups.

Job Responsibilities:

Research Operations and Decision Support - Perform research operations, quantitative modeling, and prescriptive analytics to evaluate and optimize resource allocation across FUEL-supported seed, growth, and scaling companies in alignment with FUEL’s strategic objectives. Develop analytical models and decision-support tools to inform the evaluation and prioritization of business strategies, venture projects, talent initiatives, and other program investments. Provide data-driven findings, recommendations, and decision support to the Technical Research and Advisory Council (TRAC), FAST, Talent LAB, the Executive Director, and other appropriate FUEL leadership and governance groups. Evaluate outcomes and refine analytical approaches as program needs and strategic priorities evolve. (40%)

Techno-Economic Analysis - Develop and perform reduced-order techno-economic analyses of intellectual property and product concepts to support evaluation and decision-making within FUEL. Collaborate with the FUEL Director of Use Inspired Research and Development, research teams, and other stakeholders to identify analytical needs, evaluate relevant technical and economic factors, and communicate findings and recommendations to support program objectives. (30%)

Research Operations Program Management - Coordinate the administrative and financial activities necessary to support FUEL Operations Research initiatives. Develop and monitor the Operations Research budget under the direction of the Executive Director; track expenditures, resource needs, key metrics, outputs, and outcomes; and prepare related reports and documentation. Coordinate Operations Research timelines, deliverables, and resources across participating teams and stakeholders; identify risks or barriers affecting implementation; and recommend appropriate mitigation strategies to support successful execution of Operations Research activities. (15%)

Financial and Economic Data Analysis - Develop and maintain financial and economic data related to FUEL-affiliated technology-based startup companies created by or recruited into the FUEL ecosystem. Analyze company performance and valuation information to support FUEL evaluation, assessment, and operations research activities. Collaborate with the FUEL Director of Technology Commercialization and other stakeholders to identify data needs and ensure relevant information is available for analytical and decision-support purposes. (10%)

Other duties as assigned. (5%)

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree in Economics, Engineering, Mathematics, Science, or related field and 5 years of experience conducting quantitative, economic, operations research, or related analytical work, including the development and application of analytical methods or models to support complex organizational or business decision-making.

LSU values skills, experience, and expertise. Candidates who have relevant experience in key job responsibilities are encouraged to apply--a degree is not required as long as the candidate meets the required years of experience specified in the job description.

Preferred Qualifications:

Master's degree in Economics, Engineering, Mathematics, Science, or related quantitative field. Professional experience in one or more of the following areas: techno-economic analysis; energy markets or the energy sector; portfolio or resource optimization; financial or risk analysis; technology commercialization; or economic evaluation of technology-based companies.Advanced experience with quantitative or econometric modeling and analytical tools such as Python, R, and Excel. Experience applying quantitative methods to energy-sector investment, capital allocation, commodity risk, supply-chain, or related complex decision-making environments is preferred.

Additional Job Description:

Special Instructions:

Please provide a cover letter, resume, and three (3) professional references including name, title, phone number, and e-mail address.

Please attach ALL required documents under the "Resume/CV" section of your application.

A copy of your transcript(s) may be attached to your application (if available). However, original transcripts are required before hiring (if applicable).

Due to the nature of the position and/or position responsibilities, this position shall be subject to pre-employment screenings in accordance with University Policy as required and RS:17 screenings (https://www.legis.la.gov/legis/Law.aspx?p=y&d=1297548).

For questions or concerns about updating your application with attachments (e.g., resumes, RS:17 documents), date of birth, or reactivating applications, please contact the LSU Human Resources Management Office at 225-578-8200 or email [email protected].

For questions or concerns regarding the status of your application or salary ranges, please contact Mike Mazzola at [email protected].

Skills Needed:

Preferred Skills:

Posting Date:

September 15, 2026

Closing Date (Open Until Filled if No Date Specified):

January 13, 2027

Additional Position Information:

Background Check - An offer of employment is contingent on a satisfactory pre-employment background check.

Benefits - LSU offers outstanding benefits to eligible employees and their dependents including health, life, dental, and vision insurance; flexible spending accounts; retirement options; various leave options; paid holidays; wellness benefits; tuition exemption for qualified positions; training and development opportunities; employee discounts; and more!

Positions approved to work outside the State of Louisiana shall be employed through Louisiana State University’s partner, nextSource Workforce Solutions, for Employer of Record Services including but not limited to employment, benefits, payroll, and tax compliance. Positions employed through Employer of Record Services will be offered benefits and retirement as applicable through their provider and will not be eligible for State of Louisiana benefits and retirement.

Essential Position (Y/N):

LSU is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

All candidates must have valid U.S. work authorization at the time of hire and maintain that valid work authorization throughout employment. Changes in laws, regulations, or government policies may impact the university’s ability to employ individuals in certain positions.

HCM Contact Information: