Managing Director - Engineering Research Center, Internet of Things for Precision Agriculture

University Overview

The University of Pennsylvania, the largest private employer in Philadelphia, is a world-renowned leader in education, research, and innovation. This historic, Ivy League school consistently ranks among the top 10 universities in the annual U.S. News & World Report survey. Penn has 12 highly-regarded schools that provide opportunities for undergraduate, graduate and continuing education, all influenced by Penn’s distinctive interdisciplinary approach to scholarship and learning. As an employer Penn has been ranked nationally on many occasions with the most recent award from Forbes who named Penn one of America’s Best Large Employers in 2023.

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The University offers a competitive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare and tuition benefits for employees and their families, generous retirement benefits, a wide variety of professional development opportunities, supportive work and family benefits, a wealth of health and wellness programs and resources, and much more.

Posted Job Title

Managing Director for the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) Engineering Research Center (ERC) for the Internet of Things for Precision Agriculture (IoT4Ag) - Penn Engineering

Job Profile Title

Director C, Research

Job Description Summary

The Managing Director for the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) Engineering Research Center (ERC) for the Internet of Things for Precision Agriculture (IoT4Ag) is based at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Engineering and Applied Science and supports the multi-university partnership with Purdue University, the University of California - Merced, and the University of Florida. The Center aims to ensure food, energy, and water security by advancing technology to increase crop production while minimizing the use of energy and water resources and the impact of agricultural practices on the environment. IoT4Ag’s mission is to create and translate to practice Internet of Things (IoT) technologies for precision agriculture and train a workforce that will address the societal grand challenge of food, energy, and water security for decades to come.

The Managing Director is responsible for the Center’s operations and management, including facilitation of strategic planning and priority-setting, annual event planning, and reporting to NSF. The Managing Director also supports and oversees data collection and communications and interfaces with Penn financial services. The Managing Director works collaboratively with Center leadership and its broader cohort of faculty, students, and staff from all partner universities to oversee, coordinate, and manage day-to-day Center operations via its research, education, and innovation activities.

A priority of this role is to support industry engagement and partnership development for IoT4Ag, serving as an interface between the Center’s researchers and external industry partners. The role will support growing and managing the Center’s industry membership program, identifying opportunities for research collaboration and technology translation, and ensuring that industry perspectives inform the Center’s research and innovation activities. The successful candidate will have strong relationship-building, business development, and communication skills and the ability to translate complex technical research into compelling opportunities for industry engagement.

Job Description

Job Responsibilities

The Managing Director works closely with the Center’s Faculty and Staff Directors and is responsible for the following:

Center Operations and Management

Work collaboratively with and assist Center leadership and advisors to develop, refine, and implement IoT4Ag’s vision, strategy, and programmatic priorities

Oversee, coordinate, and manage day-to-day Center research and innovation activities.

Plan and manage the Center’s annual retreat, annual NSF site visit, seminar series, and internal project review process.

Manage relationships with IoT4Ag’s Scientific and Industry/Ag-Systems Advisory Boards, including planning and facilitating Advisory Board meetings with an eye toward leveraging their collective expertise and resources to advance the Center’s mission.

Data Management, Reporting, and Communications

Oversee data collection, ensure its accuracy, and support reporting mechanisms to meet NSF requirements and prepare reports and materials for the NSF.

Interface with Penn financial services to review and manage Center budgets, awards, membership income, and expenses.

Oversee development and dissemination of external collateral, including communications, press releases, web content, and promotional materials.

Growing the Innovation Ecosystem

Support recruiting and retaining industry members, developing relationships with and facilitating connections between companies and Center Faculty.

Organize industry meetings, workshops, and advisory board activities

Interact with university tech transfer offices.

Represent IoT4Ag externally and communicate its research capabilities and value proposition to prospective partners.

Travel is required to the IoT4Ag annual retreat and NSF site visit, and regularly, to include attendance at industry conferences, trade shows, partner meetings, and other events to develop relationships, recruit new members, and represent the Center. Some travel may include evenings and weekends.

Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in business, engineering, or related field and five to seven years of relevant experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal and written communication, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Demonstrated financial management, data collection, and reporting experience.

Skills:

• Highly organized - able to manage a CRM, organize meetings/events, and coordinate between multiple parties.
• Business development - Experience identifying prospects, developing value propositions, and converting companies into active members or research partners.
• Technical fluency & communication - Ability to understand the ERC’s research and translate complex technical capabilities into compelling opportunities for industry.
• Collaboration - Ability to work effectively across faculty, students, university leadership, industry partners, and NSF stakeholders.
• Program and event management - Ability to organize industry advisory board meetings, workshops, conferences, and other engagement activities.
• Initiative and independent execution - Self-directed, entrepreneurial approach with the ability to prioritize opportunities, manage multiple relationships, and travel regularly.

Job Location - City, State

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Department / School

School of Engineering and Applied Science

Pay Range

$95,136.00 - $135,000.00 Annual Rate

Salary offers are made based on the candidate’s qualifications, experience, skills, and education as they directly relate to the requirements of the position, and in alignment with salary ranges based on external market data for the job’s level. Internal organization and peer data at Penn are also considered.

Equal Opportunity Statement 

The University of Pennsylvania is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates are considered for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, creed, national origin(including shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics), citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status or any class protectedunder applicable federal, state or local law.

Special Requirements 
Background checks may be required after a conditional job offer is made. Consideration of the background check will be tailored to the requirements of the job.

University Benefits

• Health, Life, and Flexible Spending Accounts: Penn offers comprehensive medical, prescription, behavioral health, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits to protect you and your family’s health and welfare. You can also use flexible spending accounts to pay for eligible health care and dependent care expenses with pre-tax dollars.

• Tuition: Take advantage of Penn's exceptional tuition benefits. You, your spouse, and your dependent children can get tuition assistance here at Penn. Your dependent children are also eligible for tuition assistance at other institutions.

• Retirement: Penn offers generous retirement plans to help you save for your future. Penn’s Basic, Matching, and Supplemental retirement plans allow you to save for retirement on a pre-tax or Roth basis. Choose from a wide variety of investment options through TIAA and Vanguard.

• Time Away from Work: Penn provides you with a substantial amount of time away from work during the course of the year. This allows you to relax, take vacations, attend to personal affairs, recover from illness or injury, spend time with family—whatever your personal needs may be.

• Long-Term Care Insurance: In partnership with Genworth Financial, Penn offers faculty and staff (and your eligible family members) long-term care insurance to help you cover some of the costs of long-term care services received at home, in the community or in a nursing facility. If you apply when you’re newly hired, you won’t have to provide proof of good health or be subject to underwriting requirements. Eligible family members must always provide proof of good health and are subject to underwriting.

• Wellness and Work-life Resources: Penn is committed to supporting our faculty and staff as they balance the competing demands of work and personal life. That’s why we offer a wide variety of programs and resources to help you care for your health, your family, and your work-life balance.

• Professional and Personal Development: Penn provides an array of resources to help you advance yourself personally and professionally.

• University Resources: As a member of the Penn community, you have access to a wide range of University resources as well as cultural and recreational activities. Take advantage of the University’s libraries and athletic facilities, or visit our arboretum and art galleries. There’s always something going on at Penn, whether it’s a new exhibit at the Penn Museum, the latest music or theater presentation at the Annenberg Center, or the Penn Relays at Franklin Field to name just a few examples. As a member of the Penn community, you’re right in the middle of the excitement—and you and your family can enjoy many of these activities for free.

• Discounts and Special Services: From arts and entertainment to transportation and mortgages, you'll find great deals for University faculty and staff. Not only do Penn arts and cultural centers and museums offer free and discounted admission and memberships to faculty and staff. You can also enjoy substantial savings on other goods and services such as new cars from Ford and General Motors, cellular phone service plans, movie tickets, and admission to theme parks.

• Flexible Work Hours:Flexible work options offer creative approaches for completing work while promoting balance between work and personal commitments. These approaches involve use of non-traditional work hours, locations, and/or job structures.

• Penn Home Ownership Services: Penn offers a forgivable loan for eligible employees interested in buying a home or currently residing in West Philadelphia, which can be used for closing costs or home improvements.

• Adoption Assistance: Penn will reimburse eligible employees on qualified expenses in connection with the legal adoption of an eligible child, such as travel or court fees, for up to two adoptions in your household.

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To learn more, please visit: https://www.hr.upenn.edu/PennHR/benefits-pay