Careers

Working/Functional Title

Mobility Innovation and Research Coord

Position Summary

Michigan State University invites applications for a Governmental Affairs Research and Communications Officer to serve as the MSU Mobility Innovation and Research Coordinator. Candidates must have experience in an area related to autonomous and connected vehicles. Other key qualifications include strong leadership and interpersonal skills, excellent written and oral communication skills, an ability to work in a collaborative research environment and a commitment to promoting and embracing diversity. The coordinator will oversee mobility related research within the College of Engineering and with other colleges across the university to create a premier ecosystem for research and development of technologies and processes. The coordinator will work with external partners to ensure that existing partnerships thrive and new partnerships are identified and expanded. This appointment is initially for three years and is renewable contingent upon mutual agreement and continued funding.   

Michigan State University will amplify its current research efforts in the area of mobility and elevate it to one of its major focus areas. Mobility includes all forms of autonomous and connected vehicles. Existing research topic clusters include engineering topics such as transportation systems, data science, sensor technology, image processing, artificial intelligence, communication technology, network design, and cyber security. There are also leading efforts in research on social impacts, business practices, legal consequences, urban planning, and others. https://mobility.msu.edu

The MSU Mobility Innovation and Research Coordinator will lead university-wide initiatives to advance knowledge and practice around future transportation technologies. This individual will be a proven leader who is able to effectively communicate with experts in different areas, as well as with outside partners and funding agencies, promoting and catalyzing the formation of interdisciplinary teams in cross-cutting research collaborations.

MSU enjoys a park-like campus with outlying research facilities and natural areas. The campus is adjacent to the city of East Lansing and the capital city of Lansing. The Lansing metropolitan area has a diverse population of approximately 541,000. Local communities have excellent school systems and place a high value on education. Michigan State University is proactive in exploring opportunities for employment for dual career partners, both inside and outside the University. Visit https://worklife.msu.edu/dual-career for dual career information and https://worklife.msu.edu for WorkLife at MSU.

Unit Specific Education/Experience/Skills

Knowledge equivalent to that which normally would be acquired by completing one to two years of graduate study beyond a Bachelors degree, such as a Masters program in Communications, Political Science, Interdisciplinary Studies, Social Science, Engineering or a field closely related to the specific area of government relations employment; five to eight years of related and progressively more responsible or expansive work experience in communications, government affairs, community relations, and/or higher education development; including experience with and a thorough knowledge of federal policies in support of science, governmental processes and relations for both the federal executive and legislative branches, and analysis of political climate and potential outcomes; or exposure to database management and an understanding of the land grant philosophy; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Desired Qualifications

• 15 years of professional experience with demonstrated leadership
• 5 or more years of mobility-related experience 
• Ability to collaborate across colleges and units at the institution and third parties, including other academic institutions and industry
• Extensive understanding of the academic research environment, including the various stakeholders of an academic institution
• Strong interpersonal skills along with the ability and desire to develop and coordinate numerous mobility research projects
• Experience in a higher education setting
• Knowledge of Michigan mobility related legal conditions
• Knowledge of the mobility industry in Michigan

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability or protected veteran status.

Required Application Materials

Applicants must submit a detailed resume, a cover letter summarizing their qualifications, and the names and contact information for at least three professional references.

Together-we-will Statement

Work Hours

STANDARD 8-5

Description of End Date

This is an off-dated position funded for one year from date of hire through June 30, 2026, with possible extension contingent upon funding renewal.

Website

https://mobility.msu.edu

Bidding eligibility ends January 24, 11:55 PM

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About Michigan State University

Spartans work every day to advance the common good in uncommon ways.Together, we tackle some of the world?s toughest problems to find solutions that make life better?from alternative energy to better food safety to breakthrough medical and environmental applications achieved through rare isotope research.We teach. We explore and we discover. We collaborate and lead. We innovate, inspire, and empower. We achieve our potential and create circumstances that help our students and others achieve theirs.We're good at it, and we've been at it for more than 150 years.The nation?s pioneer land-grant university, MSU began as a bold experiment that democratized higher education and helped bring science and innovation into everyday life. The revolutionary concept became a model for the nation.Today, MSU is one of the top research universities in the world?on one of the biggest, greenest campuses in the nation. Home to nationally ranked and recognized academic, residential college, and service-learning programs, we?re a diverse community of dedicated students and scholars, athletes and artists, scientists and leaders.In ways both practical and profound, we work to create a stronger, more sustainable, and more hopeful future for all.

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