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Assistant Director NDSGC/ND NASA EPSCoR

  • 497281
  • Grand Forks, North Dakota, United States
  • NASA EPSCoR & NDSGC
  • Other
  • Full-time Staff
  • Closing on: Oct 29 2025

Salary/Position Classification

  • $58,800+ annual, Exempt
  • 40 hours per week
  • Hybrid Work Availability (requires some time on campus): Yes, 1-2 days per week. 
  • Some travel is required. Typically 1-2 days a month in-state and 2-3 times per year for national conferences.

Purpose of Position

The Assistant Director of ND NASA EPSCoR and the NDSGC is a distinguished mission driven leader of projects funded under the NDSGC and ND NASA EPSCoR programs. This results-focused leader is responsible for maintaining local, statewide, regional, and national partnerships in higher education initiatives, K-12 education and educator programs, and community engagements. The Assistant Director supports the Associate Director and Director in managing transformative projects with a lasting impact on ND students, staff, faculty, educators, and communities.

Programmatic responsibilities include assisting the Associate Director in leading NDSGC NIFs (NASA Internship and Fellowships), MDAPs (Mission Directorate Aligned Projects), and CAPs (Competitively Awarded Projects), and supporting ND NASA EPSCoR RID (Research Infrastructure Development), CAN (Cooperative Agreement Notice), and Synergistic programming. The Assistant Director is responsible for supporting the Associate Director and Director with program budgets, proposals, and NASA reports. The Assistant Director also serves as a positive interface with all NDSGC stakeholders within the John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences, the North Dakota University System, North Dakota Tribal colleges, NASA personnel, and state and federal representatives.

Duties & Responsibilities

  •  Support NASA North Dakota Space Grant Consortium (NDSGC) Program Portfolio:
    • Support Associate Director in Leading NIF (NASA Internships and Fellowships), MDAP (Mission Directorate Aligned Projects) and CAP (Competitively Awarded Projects) programming:
      • For all NDSGC programs:
        • Provide strategic support and guidance to all awardees receiving NDSGC funding in NIFs, MDAPs, and CAPs.
        • Maintain active partnerships with statewide affiliate network of NDUS colleges and universities, ND Tribal colleges, and K-12 / informal education institutions.
        • Support programmatic budget and expenditures with the NDSGC team.
        • Maintain and expand strategic partnerships with government, NASA Space Grant Consortia, academia, and STEM industry stakeholders.
        • Ensure equitable participation in and access to all NDSGC programs by all students, faculty, educators, and affiliate partners
        • Lead STEM workforce development initiatives aligned with both ND goals and NASA priorities.
        • Support engaging STEM research and education programming on local, statewide, regional, and national levels. 
  •  Support ND NASA EPSCoR (Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research) Research Initiatives:
    • Assist Associate Director with ND NASA EPSCoR RID (Research Infrastructure Development) and NASA EPSCoR CAN (Cooperative Agreement Notices) Research Portfolios: For all ND NASA EPSCoR programs:
      • Provide assistance to RID seed grant and CAN awardees.
      • Maintain active partnerships with statewide affiliate network of NDUS colleges and universities, and ND Tribal colleges.
      • Assist with award compliance in budgets and reporting.
      • Maintain and expand strategic research collaborations with federal and state agencies, academia, and STEM industry stakeholders.
      • Ensure equitable participation in and access to all ND NASA EPSCoR funding by all ND faculty and affiliate partners. 
  •  Support Mission and Vision of John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences and UND LEADS Strategic Plan
    • Engage in task forces and duties that support UND Aerospace Mission and Vision and UND LEADS:
      • Lead and support innovative programming in aerospace education and research (UND Aerospace Vision).
      • Actively engage in team environment to: create, preserve and deliver the highest quality education, research and services in aerospace and related sciences for UND, ND and the worldwide community (UND Aerospace Mission).
      • Promote Safety, Integrity, Entrepreneurship, Professionalism, Resilience (UND Aerospace Core Values).
      • Participate in professional development opportunities and service work directly aligned with achieving UND LEADS initiatives. 

Required Competencies

  • Ability to learn and adapt to ongoing change in a fast-paced work environment.
  • Ability to organize, prioritize, and manage multiple tasks.
  • Ability to work independently and within a collaborative team.
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills with ability to develop strong partnerships with both local and national stakeholders and partners.
  • Attentiveness to professional relationships, especially stakeholder engagement and multi-organization collaboration.
  • Ability to travel.
  • Competencies necessary to work effectively with distributed teams and stakeholders who have diverse backgrounds, priorities, and perspectives.

Minimum Requirements

  • Bachelor’s degree in Education Communications, Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM), Humanities, or related field.
  • Experience working with K-12, college student, teacher, and faculty populations in education initiatives.
  • U.S. Persons, required by NASA federal funding guidelines.
  • Successful completion of a Criminal History Background Check

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the US and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Master’s Degree in Education or STEM field.
  • Experience in leading statewide STEM and NASA research and education initiatives in higher education.
  • Experience in leading Educator Professional Development, K-12 engagements, and community programming in STEM and NASA content.
  • Experience supervising employees.
  • 5+ Years Experience working with K-12, college student, teacher, and faculty populations in education initiatives.

To Apply

Submit cover letter and resume by closing date for the position.

Please note, all employment postings close at 11:55pm CST.

Position Benefits

Benefits include single or family health care coverage (UND pays the full premium), life insurance, employee assistance program, retirement plans with generous employer contributions, annual & sick leave in addition to 10 paid holidays.

Optional benefits include supplemental life, dental, vision, flexible spending account, supplemental retirement plans.

UND also offers an employee tuition waiver and a variety of professional development opportunities.

Find out more about UND's great benefits and perks here!

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Additional Information

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All information listed in this position announcement will be used by Human Resources, the Hiring Department, and EO/Title IX for screening, interviewing and selection purposes.

Need help?

Please email the Human Resources Department at UND.humanresources@UND.edu or contact us by phone at 701.777.4226. If you anticipate needing any type of accommodation to participate in any portion of the University's employment process, including completion of the online application process, please contact our office in advance of your participation or visit. 

Veteran’s Preference

Veterans claiming preference must submit all proof of eligibility by the closing date. Proof of eligibility includes a DD-214 or a copy of NGB 22 from National Guard or Reserve (with a unit located in ND) or certification from the applicant's unit command that the individual is expected to be discharged or released from active duty in the uniformed services under other than dishonorable conditions not later than one hundred twenty days after the date of the submission of the certification. If claiming disabled veteran status, proof of eligibility includes a DD-214 and a current letter of disability dated within the past year.

Confidentiality of Application Materials

Pursuant to NDCC 44-04-18.27, applications and any records related to the applications that identify an applicant are confidential, except records related to the finalists of the position, which are open to the public after the search committee has identified the top three or more finalists who will be invited to campus.

EEO Statement

The University of North Dakota is an equal opportunity employer (veteran/disability). All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or other protected characteristic. Veterans and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply. 

Clery Statement

In compliance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, the University of North Dakota publishes an Annual Security and Fire Safety Report. The report includes the university’s policies, procedures, and programs concerning safety and security, as well as three years of crime statistics for our campus. As a prospective employee, you are entitled to a copy of this report. The report and statistical data can be found online at UND.edu. You may also request a paper copy of the report from the UND Police Department located at 3851 Campus Road, Grand Forks, ND, 58202.