Job Description

The Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory is seeking a Department Head for our Research and Exploratory Development Department (REDD). The REDD Department Head reports to the APL Assistant Director for Science and Technology and serves on APL’s Executive Council, the senior governing body for the Laboratory. The Department Head has two fundamental roles:

• Lead the Research and Exploratory Development Department in its mission to accelerate transformative innovation and invent the future for APL.
• Contribute to APL’s governance through executive engagement on matters of strategy, policy, culture, and corporate oversight.

The Department Head leads a team of executives in REDD that includes the Mission Area Executive of the Research and Exploratory Development Mission Area who is responsible for developing and delivering sponsored research programs, and managing the internal research and development resources of the department; the Managing Executive who is responsible for line management of the department’s technical staff and capabilities; and the Operations Executive who is responsible for financial management, capital expenditures, facilities, and the administrative staff.

The REDD Department Head has several key responsibilities:

• Ensure the REDD Mission Area maintains and fosters a stable, effective, and robust set of strategic research programs. 

• Lead the REDD leadership team in the creation of the Vision, Strategy, and Execution Priorities that define the department’s research priorities and guide its allocation of resources. 

• Ensure that the department is focused on technology innovation, and build a leadership team that is engaged in a continuous process of ideation to identify new research challenges and opportunities. 

• Set the standards of excellence expected of the REDD staff, and ensure that the department meets sponsor needs and delivers programs on time and on budget. 

• Build and maintain a culture of collaboration that encompasses cross-disciplinary teams, cross-organizational partnerships, joint research with the faculty at Johns Hopkins University and other leading academic institutions, and a robust cadence of technology transfer to APL sectors and sponsors.  

• Provide design and fabrication services that meet the highest standards of quality and timeliness as required by AS9100 and APL. 

• Ensure that the highest standards are maintained in the hiring of new REDD staff members and that the department creates and fosters an environment of diversity, equity, and inclusion in which all employees can excel and grow through access to mentoring, educational programs, performance coaching and compensation, and interesting and exciting opportunities for career advancement. 

• Oversee the management of the department’s operations, and ensure that all facilities and infrastructure are well maintained and safe for REDD staff, as well as ensure that the department’s financial resources are used responsibly and wisely.

• Develop and mentor the department’s leadership team. 

• Inspire the REDD staff members to develop revolutionary ideas and constantly challenge the existing state of research and the accepted definitions of success.

• Ensure that REDD serves as ‘headlights’ of APL, looking out 10 or more years to anticipate future critical mission challenges and requisite technology enablers that will inform the research strategy.

As a member of the APL Executive Council, the REDD Department Head makes recommendations to the APL Director on topics that include Laboratory strategy, policy, infrastructure, operations, human capital, and external engagement. The Executive Council comprises the Director, the Chief of Staff, the Assistant Director for Programs, the Assistant Director for Science and Technology, the Assistant Director for Policy and Analysis, the sector and department heads, and the General Counsel.

APL is seeking a highly respected executive leader with experience in leading research enterprises who will ensure that the Research and Exploratory Development Department at APL remains a national resource for innovation and who will build, guide, and inspire the technical staff of the department to develop revolutionary solutions to national challenges of extreme importance and difficulty. Candidates will be senior leaders in private industry, the public sector, or federally funded research and development organizations, with demonstrated experience in successfully leading and inspiring diverse corporate, academic, or government-focused laboratories in science, engineering, or technology initiatives.

Professional Experience Required:

• A minimum of 20 years of professional experience, including senior executive experience in a science and technology leadership role.

• Well-respected and held in high regard by executive leadership professionals in the research sponsor community (e.g., DARPA, IARPA, ONR, DoD, NASA, the Intelligence Community, NSF), other government officials 

• A proven track record of proposing, winning, and executing large-scale research initiatives and delivering quality results on time and on budget. 

• Demonstrated ability to drive innovation and change, create successful business development strategies, and formulate a robust portfolio of strategic research initiatives. 

• Understanding of government and industry research institutions and organizations that sponsor technology research initiatives. 

• A doctorate in a science, engineering or technology discipline and a significant research record. 

• U.S. citizenship and a Top Secret clearance with SCI access. 

• Demonstrated ability to build, inspire, and lead teams to achieve excellence; work collaboratively across mission areas; identify hard problems of national importance; and transition research achievements to operational elements.

Personal Attributes:

• Exceptional leadership skills
• Strong vision and strategic perspective
• Senior executive bearing and presence
• Outstanding written and oral communications skills
• Polished presentation capabilities
• High performance standards
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Strong collaborative skills and demeanor.

Location:

The Research and Exploratory Development Department occupies multiple buildings on the main APL campus in Laurel, Maryland. The Department Head will be based at APL’s main campus in Laurel.

Why work at APL?

The Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) brings world-class expertise to our nation’s most critical defense, security, space, and science challenges. We are dedicated to solving complex challenges and pioneering new technologies, leveraging a world-class staff that focuses relentlessly on innovation and impact. We offer a vibrant, welcoming atmosphere in which you can grow and build strong connections with inspiring teammates.

At APL, we celebrate our differences and encourage creativity and bold new ideas. Our employees enjoy generous benefits, including a robust education assistance program, unparalleled retirement contributions, and a healthy work/life balance. APL’s campus is located in the Baltimore-Washington metro area. Learn more about our career opportunities at http://www.jhuapl.edu/careers.

APL is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, creed, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, occupation, marital or familial status, political opinion, personal appearance, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

APL is committed to promoting an innovative environment that embraces diversity, encourages creativity, and supports inclusion of new ideas. In doing so, we are committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals of all abilities, including those with disabilities. If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate in any part of the hiring process, please contact Accommodations@jhuapl.edu. Only by ensuring that everyone’s voice is heard are we empowered to be bold, do great things, and make the world a better place.

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