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 Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) is the nonprofit, applied research division of the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) and a Department of Defense University Affiliated Research Center. Our mission is to enhance Georgia’s economic development, secure our nation, improve the human condition and educate future technology leaders.

Founded in 1934 as the Engineering Experiment Station (EES), GTRI recently celebrated 90 years of advancing research and innovation. For the past nine decades, GTRI has led the way in fielding innovations ranging from our earliest days researching the aerodynamics of rotary wing aircraft to the present day researching DNA for low power, high-capacity memory. In FY24, GTRI’s dedicated workforce of more than 3,000 staff, research faculty and students completed $919 million of impactful research and development. As we look forward to the next 90 years, we are excited to leverage the unprecedented combined innovative power of GTRI and the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) to impact the state of Georgia, the nation and the world.

Job Purpose

The Chief Technology Officer (CTO) has overall responsibility to provide vision and leadership in meeting the technology and innovation goals on behalf of the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI). This includes developing and implementing GTRI’s internal research and development investments, and leading the engagement strategy for Resident Instruction (RI). Reporting to the Director of GTRI, the CTO, is a member of the GTRI executive leadership team and participates on the GTRI Executive Council.

In alignment with the GTRI mission and strategic plan, the CTO develops the enterprise technology strategy in collaboration with partner Deputy Directors of Research (DDRs). The CTO allocates GTRI’s discretionary research investments to advance the technology strategy while promoting technical excellence in our work and in our workforce. The CTO is also responsible for developing relationships and fostering collaboration with research units across Georgia Tech and with external academic, and industry communities.

Key Responsibilities

Major responsibilities in strategy:

• Team to develop a corporate vision, strategy and a roadmap, and lead teams in collaboration with partners to ensure effective implementation of the strategy
• Build partnerships with GTRI executive leadership and other campus research and academic leaders to develop and execute shared goals
• Set the strategy and program for all aspects of discretionary research investments, collaborations with the Georgia Tech research enterprise, and promoting technical excellence in GTRI work and workforce
• Be active in outside organizations and events to promote and represent GTRI research. strategies as a thought leader to help shape strategic thinking around national scale challenges
• Anticipate, identify, and develop emerging research areas and innovative technologies needed to further GTRI research strategies and develop discretionary research programs to support capability exploration and growth
• Develop and maintain an extensive network with leading researchers and leading research groups in academia, national labs, and industry nationally and internationally
• Champion a people-first approach with a focus on agility, diversity, innovation, and impact

Major responsibilities in team development:

• Hire, develop, evaluate, and retain a highly-qualified team of leaders
• Foster a culture of innovation, inclusivity, transparency and accountability
• Promote service excellence at all levels of the organization
• • Lead GTRI’s collaborations with Georgia Tech academic units by developing mechanisms and constructs to facilitate the collaborative efforts
• Lead as the primary interface to the Georgia tech Vice President for Interdisciplinary Research
• Establish and effectively implement a CTO strategy that is aligned with GTRI strategy
• Develop and institute metrics for monitoring and managing the performance of services and quality of deliverables with respect to federal established standards and GTRI strategic goals

Major responsibilities in research operations and collaboration across Georgia Tech:

• Establish relationships and work across campus with academic faculty and students in pursuit of innovative research opportunities
• Work with support operations to establish budgets, prioritize investments, and determine space needs for research expansion
• Participate and have a leadership role, as required, in Georgia Tech strategy development and operational and process improvement activities

Additional Responsibilities

Major responsibilities in leading GTRI’s IRAD portfolio include:

• Lead the collaborative development, formulation, and selection of GTRI IRAD Strategic Initiatives with Lab Chief Scientists
• Supervise and manage GTRI’s $25M/yr IRAD budget which enables a diverse array of projects both in subject and scope; responsible for identifying and promoting IRAD portfolio improvements
• Collaborate with GTRI Finance to ensure regulatory compliance of the entire IRAD portfolio
• Orchestrate GTRI’s annual IRAD Extravaganza, an event designed to raise awareness of the IRAD portfolio and foster collaboration across GTRI Labs and units as well as promote GTRI’s IRAD efforts with invited government sponsors
• Coordinate selection and vetting of GTRI “Fellows” positions, annual GTRI Research Awards, and “IRAD of the Year” awards
• Promote and represent GTRI’s IRAD portfolio in engagements with senior external visitors, and review materials to effectively represent GTRI’s research portfolio
• Lead and manage GTRI’s “Regents Researcher” nomination and selection process

Major responsibilities in leading technology innovation include:

• Set technology innovation goals that are consistent with GTRI Strategy Objectives and informed by emergent opportunities
• Collaborate with GTRI Executive and Lab leadership to develop and communicate a clear technology vision aligned with GTRI’s overall strategy
• Routinely inform make recommendations to GTRI senior leadership on emerging technology trends and their potential impact
• Maintain an extensive network with leading researchers and research groups in academia, national labs, and industry
• Maintain close relationships with ‘strategic sponsors’ in the federal government and associated partners in the University Affiliated Research Community and Federally Funded Research and Development Center (UARC/FFRDC) community

Major responsibilities in leading GTRI collaboration with GT academic units include:

• Promote and lead GTRI’s collaborations with GT academic units and Interdisciplinary Research Institutes (IRIs) and other cross-Georgia Tech research initiatives by developing mechanisms and constructs to facilitate collaborative efforts
• Serve as GTRI’s primary interface to the GT Vice President for Interdisciplinary Research who oversees the IRIs
• Serve as the primary point of contact to promote and facilitate communication and collaboration between GTRI researchers with GT academic researchers

Required Minimum Qualifications

• Meet the requirements for Principal Researcher at Georgia Tech, per Section 3.2.1 of the Georgia Tech faculty handbook (https://policylibrary.gatech.edu/faculty-handbook/3.2.1-research-faculty-hiring-and-promotion-guidelines)
• Ph.D. in an Engineering or Science field
• 10+ years of experience leading research and development (R&D) programs
• Current knowledge of national security needs
• Significant experience in effectively managing large national security programs that are aligned in at least one or more of GTRI’s core technical competencies
• Experience with contacting and maintaining close relationships with a broad and diverse sponsor base to support existing R&D efforts as well as pursue new opportunities
• Proven track record of leading within highly effective and technical organizations
• Record of strong fiscal awareness and management
• Leadership experience that includes: developing and executing strategy and vision; developing and maintaining stakeholder relationships; coaching and empowering personnel; developing, prioritizing and promoting long-term research goals
• Demonstrated experience in collaborating and working across organizational boundaries
• Possess an active Secret security clearance (must be capable of obtaining and maintaining a Top Secret/SCI security clearance)

Preferred Qualifications

• Active TS/SCI Clearance
• 15 or more years of relevant experience in leading a large national security focused, diverse engineering research organization
• Established record as an excellent communicator and embodies the attributes of a ‘Servant Leader’
• Established record of innovation and demonstrated familiarity with GTRI’s technical competencies
• Experience with developing, maintaining and executing strategic roadmaps and plans
• Experience with senior management and oversight of sponsored-research programs
• Documented performance as a ‘high-performing’, independent ‘self-starter’; an individual who needs little guidance, leads efforts to significantly improve the organization, and provide value to major projects and initiatives

Travel Requirements

25% - 50% travel

Education and Length of Experience

Level 6

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

• 15 years of related experience with a Bachelor’s degree in any Engineering, Science, or related degree, or equivalent experience serving in the US Armed Forces 
• 13 years of related experience with a Masters’ degree in any Engineering, Science, or related degree, or equivalent experience serving in the US Armed Forces
• 10 years of related experience with a Ph.D. in any Engineering, Science, or related degree, or equivalent experience serving in the US Armed Forces

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 University 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 University 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.

Georgia Tech prohibits discrimination, including discriminatory harassment, on the basis of race, ethnicity, ancestry, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, disability, genetics, or veteran status in its programs, activities, employment, and admissions.  This prohibition applies to faculty, staff, students, and all other members of the Georgia Tech community, including affiliates, invitees, and guests. 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.