Job Details

Director, AI TechX: Office of Research, Innovation, & Economic Development - UTK

Position Number: 6086633
Location: Chattanooga, TN
Position Type: Economic and Business Development

Director, AI TechX: Office of Research, Innovation, & Economic Development - UTK
Knoxville, TN, United States

Job Identification: 2183
Job Category: Administrative
Posting Date: 03/17/2025
Job Schedule: Full Time
Locations: 1403 Circle Drive, Knoxville, TN, 37996, US (Hybrid)

Job Description
The AI TechX Director will lead industry engagement and corporate recruitment efforts to expand AI-driven collaborations and training initiatives. This role will focus on building industry partnerships and positioning AI Tennessee as a leader in AI adoption across sectors. The Director will work with the Associate Vice Chancellor for Research and the Director of AI Tennessee to enhance industry engagement and workforce development efforts, while collaborating with academic units, government agencies, and industry stakeholders to align AI TechX initiatives with AI Tennessee's broader mission in research, education, and economic development. The Director will develop, execute, and manage initiatives that drive industry participation in AI TechX activities, fostering innovation and strategic partnerships.

Responsibilities
Partnership and Engagement

Lead efforts to develop and manage industry partnerships, actively recruiting companies to participate in AI TechX initiatives.
Development of critical connections into communities, including city/county, and statewide civic offices, elected representatives, chambers of commerce, community colleges, technical colleges, 4-year institutions, and AI centric organizations throughout the region and state.
Development, implementation and oversight of specific university projects aligned with the AI Tennessee Initiative and ORIED goals, and contributes to building an engagement culture across the university.
Cultivate relationships with corporate partners, government agencies, and economic development organizations to advance AI-driven research and workforce development.

Collaborate with the Associate Vice Chancellor for Research and the Director of AI Tennessee to expand partnerships that drive industry engagement, workforce development, and applied AI research collaborations.
Establish strong and effective networks across the university and with external industry and partners to support strategic objectives for the Office of Research, Innovation and Economic Development, and specifically the AI functional areas
Actively seek opportunities for collaboration with other departments and contribute to building an engagement culture across the university.
Create and nurture research-based partnerships with public-serving organizations to enrich and enhance the integration of AI into Tennessee communities and beyond.
Support integrated translational AI research and inclusive workforce development programs enriched by trusted partnerships with industry, two- and four-year colleges and universities, community organizations, and government agencies

Design and Alignment of Initiatives

Work with the AI Tennessee Research Manager to align research efforts with industry needs and priorities.
Focuses on funding opportunities, developing multidisciplinary proposal teams, and assisting faculty in securing external funding for research initiatives, particularly focused on SBIR/STTR programs.
Establish AI TechX as a central hub for AI-driven research and workforce development by working with industry, academic units, and training providers to advance strategic initiatives.
Facilitation of large grant proposal development, ecosystem building, and programming, to enhance AI and economic development by attracting and contributing to the success of the industries of the future.
Build out and develop proposal teams in support of the overarching AI, ORIED, and University research driven initiatives.
Track, evaluate, and refine industry partnerships and initiatives to maximize impact and responsiveness to evolving AI needs.
Development of strategic plans and road maps for future initiatives related to AI, to include programmatic and structuring foundational strategies for OROED and the University.
Plan, organize, and lead multiple projects that contribute to UT's ever-growing AI ecosystem, to enhance the University's position as a leading research institution
Monitor activity related to AI development programs and provide updates to university leadership, as needed
Other Duties as Assigned

Qualifications
Required Qualifications

Education:

Bachelor's degree in a field related to AI, business development, workforce education, computer science, data science, or a related discipline.

Experience:

Minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible administrative experience in industry engagement, corporate relations, workforce or economic development.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

Ability to influence and build relationships among a diverse workforce at all levels.
Experience in industry partnerships, workforce training, or corporate engagement.
Strong ability to prioritize, multi-task, and meet deadlines.
Excellent oral and written communication skills.
Ability to use word processing, spreadsheet, and database programs.
Knowledge of University systems, research administration, or workforce development programs in an academic or industry setting.
Strong interpersonal skills, including persuasion and the ability to work with faculty, industry leaders, and economic development organizations.
Excellent presentation, organizational, and planning skills.
Proven ability to handle confidential information with discretion and work effectively in a fast-paced, evolving environment.
Forward-thinking mentality, with the ability to propose creative solutions and strategic initiatives.
Proficiency using the Microsoft Office suite.

Preferred Qualifications

Education:

Master's degree in a field related to AI, business development, workforce education, computer science, data science, or a related discipline
Doctoral degree in a field related to AI, business development, workforce education, computer science, data science, or a related discipline

Experience:

Experience in corporate training, industry partnerships, or economic development initiatives, particularly in AI or technology-driven fields.
Understanding of AI-related workforce trends, emerging technologies, and industry adoption strategies.
Experience designing and implementing training programs, certifications, or workforce development initiatives in collaboration with industry and academic partners.

Work Location

Knoxville, TN onsite, hybrid, or remote

Compensation and Benefits

UT market range: MR 14
Anticipated hiring range: MR 14
Find more information on the UT Market Range structure here
Find more information on UT Benefits here

Application Instructions

For full consideration, please submit a resume/CV, cover letter, and contact information for three professional references.

About The College/Department/Division

Here at the University of Tennessee, thousands of world-class faculty, staff, students and postdoctoral fellows are engaged in research, scholarship and creative work on a daily basis. With a shared commitment to creating a more just, prosperous, and sustainable world for the citizens of Tennessee and communities far beyond, the UT community is creating new knowledge and generating solutions to some of the most challenging issues of our time.

The Office of Research, Innovation & Economic Development is here to support you, our community of researchers, scholars and creatives, from ideation to impact. Our dedicated team is here to help you develop competitive proposals and sources of support for your work, seed investments in promising new areas, nurture new and established multidisciplinary communities of scholars and support and sustain a strong culture of research integrity.

The university's strategic relationships with corporate, venture, community, non-profit and government partners help extend the impact of our community's work across the state and around the world. In collaboration with these partners, we are working to establish Tennessee as a go-to destination for cutting-edge research, innovation and a skilled workforce.

We understand that a creative, productive, and empowered community of researchers, scholars, and creatives is critical to the university's future as a world-renowned research institution.

About Us
With over 225 years dedicated to education and research, and as one of the 100 largest employers in Tennessee, there is endless potential to discover at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. This advanced academic center comprises 17 degree-granting colleges and schools, 900+ programs of study, 547 graduate programs, and is home to over 7,500 employees statewide who support the continued growth of the state's flagship land-grant university. The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, Anthropological Research Facility, Space Institute, and the UT Institute of Public Service are acclaimed entities of the UT system and with nearby affiliate, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Rocky Top is a university on the rise. UT Knoxville considers its employees its number one asset and with values that focus on work-life balance, compensation, and innovative leadership, all Vols are supported to advance professionally. Employees have access to career development and coaching, continued education, and an extensive list of development and training possibilities. The Volunteer employee experience implements structures and practices that attract and retain a diverse community and that support a culture where everyone matters and belongs. Apply today and join the Vol Family for life!
Ranked nationally as "Best Employer for New Graduates", "One of America's Best Large Employers", "Best Workplace for Women," and has been designated as "Best Place for Working Parents" by Forbes Magazine.

To apply, visit https://fa-ewlq-saasfaprod1.fa.ocs.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX_1/job/2183/?mode=location