Director of Innovation

The Director of Innovation serves as the primary lead of the Institute’s Innovate Pillar and isresponsible for the strategic design, growth, and operational execution of the Institute’ssponsored research and technology innovation portfolio. This role operates as a senior memberof the Institute’s team, with enterprise-level responsibility for innovation strategy, externalpartnerships, and revenue generation aligned with national security research priorities.The Director of Innovation owns the development and execution of a multi-year innovationroadmap, including oversight of a defined operating budget and revenue targets tied togovernment-sponsored research and strategic partnerships. The role functions with independentsignature authority for proposals and external representation, serving as the Institute’sinnovation representative to federal agencies, national laboratories, and strategic industrypartners.This position requires executive-level engagement across academic, government, and defensecommunities and operates with significant autonomy in originating new initiatives, securingfunding, and shaping institutional innovation priorities under the guidance and vision of theInstitute’s Executive Leadership.The Vanderbilt University Institute of National Security is an academic proving ground for future national security leaders and a hub for innovation. The Institute offers the national security community access to top student talent and fresh thinking from a university rooted in open debate, radical collaboration, and real-world impact. The Institute also provides a trusted space to convene leaders, experts, and students for conversations about the pressing challenges facing our nation and the world. Duties and ResponsibilitiesClearly Serves as a member of the Institute’s leadership team with a formal role instrategic planning, institutional governance discussions, and long-range resourceallocation decisions.Establishes and leads the strategic direction of the Innovate Pillar, including settingannual and multi-year objectives aligned with national security priorities and Vanderbilt’sinstitutional strategy.Exercises independent judgment and decision-making authority in shaping innovationinitiatives, partnerships, and research focus areas.Owns and manages a defined innovation operating budget and sponsored researchportfolio.Establishes annual revenue targets for government and foundation-sponsored researchand is accountable for achieving portfolio growth goals.Leads financial forecasting and pipeline tracking for innovation-related fundingopportunities.Originates and leads large-scale proposal development efforts, including multi-investigator,multi-institution submissions.Serves as principal strategist in identifying, cultivating, and securing funding from DoD,Intelligence Community, DOE, DHS, and other national security agencies.Drives the growth of a high-impact research portfolio generating significant grantrevenue.Provides direct supervision and performance management of staff within the InnovatePillar.Leads cross-functional teams spanning faculty, researchers, students, and administrativestaff.Builds scalable operational processes to support innovation pipeline development.Serves as the Institute’s designated innovation representative to senior government,military, laboratory, and industry stakeholders.Represents the Institute independently in high-level engagements, briefings, andpartnership negotiations.Maintains and expands strategic relationships with national laboratories (Sandia, LosAlamos, Oak Ridge, PNNL, etc.) and defense innovation organizations (DARPA, DIU, In-Q-T Independently identifies emerging national security challenges and formulates newinnovation initiatives.Designs and launches new research programs, applied innovation labs, and translationalinitiatives.Shapes the Institute’s innovation identity at the institutional and national level. Supervisory Relationships: This position has supervisory responsibility over staff under the Innovate Pillar. This position reports administratively and functionally to the Founding and Executive Directors of the Instituteof National Security.QualificationsA bachelor’s degree in engineering, computer science, computer engineering, datascience, national security or related field is required. An advanced degree in engineering, computer science, or a national security-related field is strongly preferred.12-14+ years of experience at the intersection of technology, applied research, andnational security operations is required. Relevant education can be substituted forrequired experience.An active or recently held TS/SCI clearance is strongly preferred.Prior experience with defense innovation organizations (DARPA, DIU, In-Q-Tel, servicelabs), national laboratories, or equivalent private-sector Research & Developmentleadership is preferred.CompanyAt Vanderbilt University , our work - regardless of title or role - is in service to an important and noble mission in which every member of our community serves in advancing knowledge and transforming lives on a daily basis. Located in Nashville, Tennessee, on a 330+ acre campus and arboretum dating back to 1873, Vanderbilt is proud to have been named as one of “America’s Best Large Employers” as well as a top employer in Tennessee and the Nashville metropolitan area by Forbes for several years running. 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