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.

Penn offers a unique working environment within the city of Philadelphia. The University is situated on a beautiful urban campus, with easy access to a range of educational, cultural, and recreational activities. With its historical significance and landmarks, lively cultural offerings, and wide variety of atmospheres, Philadelphia is the perfect place to call home for work and play.

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.