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LaunchPad Center Director

Oklahoma State University
Tulsa, OK Full Time
POSTED ON 8/30/2023 CLOSED ON 2/28/2024

What are the responsibilities and job description for the LaunchPad Center Director position at Oklahoma State University?

The LaunchPad Advanced Air Mobility Center is a moonshot initiative of Oklahoma State University (OSU) and Tulsa Innovation Labs. The LaunchPad Center is an industry focused center under the Oklahoma Aerospace Institute for Research and Education (OAIRE) umbrella that will provide collaborative support to combine OSU’s top-tier research in advanced air mobility and emerging aerospace technologies with industry-defined research topics, entrepreneurship support, and community engagement programs to address persistent challenges in the fast-growing advanced mobility industry, foster the development of innovative technologies, and transform the Tulsa region into a nationally recognized hub for advanced mobility innovation. The LaunchPad Center is one of four components of the Tulsa Regional Advanced Mobility (TRAM) Cluster, which was recently awarded a $39 million implementation grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration’s (EDA’s) Build Back Better (BBB) program. The Director of the LaunchPad Center will work to support innovative applied research, enhance economic opportunities for surrounding communities, and promote the expansion of the AAM industry through a variety of initiatives in partnership with regional and national companies, community organizations, philanthropies, government agencies, and peer institutions.
The Director of the LaunchPad Center will work for OSU’s (OAIRE)’s Executive Director. This role will implement the LaunchPad Center portion of the EDA’s BBB grant to create a thriving and sustainable center focused on driving the advanced air mobility industry forward that in turn creates economic and prosperity to the Tulsa Region. This role will involve:
  • Developing and communicating an actionable vision for the LaunchPad Center and the role it will play between the OSU Research Foundaiton, including OAIRE, and the Tulsa community.
  • Leveraging The OSU Research Foundation’s and OAIRES’s resources and capabilities to develop the Tulsa AAM industry in a way that is consistent with the core structure identified in the EDA’s BBB grant.
  • Building relationships and trust with current and future partners and stakeholders, turning opponents into proponents, and proponents into partners.
  • Through a thoughtful public engagement/envisioning process, help shape and build public support for the Center’s mission and vision.
  • Setting the stage for the Center’s local, regional, and state-wide success in Advanced Air Mobility.
  • Hire and manage a small direct staff, in addition to leveraging a host of indirect OSU resources and partner organization resources to build a strong team to execute the Center’s mission and vision.
The Director of the LaunchPad Center will work with The OSU Research Foundation at OSU and OAIRE’s leadership to lead the Center in an effective, inclusive effort to achieve its mission and vision. She/he will:
  • Engage with the community and identify key events, research and development capabilities, technologies, and projects that will further the regional advanced air mobility industry.
  • Engage with OSU faculty and staff in Tulsa and across the OSU to further the Center’s mission and vision.
  • Assist with creating a working mission and vision for LaunchPad and how the Center will best integrate with The OSU Research Foundation at OSU and OAIRE
  • Develop and oversee the LaunchPad Center’s Fellows program
  • Support OAIRE programming and initiatives when aligned with LaunchPad
  • Ensure the Center has strong coordination with the OSU Research Foundation and OAIRE staff and resources, including coordination across OSURF’s other Institutes


Special Instructions to Applicants


Please submit a Resume, Cover Letter, and three Professional References


Education & Experience



Position Qualifications:


Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business, or related field.

Ten years of progressive leadership experience. At least three years of management experience.

The Director of the LaunchPad Center must be an innovator with strong leadership skills along with understanding and experience in the creation and launch of a new entity. He/she will have a minimum of 3 years of leadership experience with a verifiable successful track record.
  • Building strong relationships with business, local communities, and neighborhoods as well as with political and other stakeholders.
  • Working successfully to bring stakeholders together in a challenging environment.
  • Incorporating diversity, equity, and inclusion into business principles and practices.
  • Help shape and achieve consensus around a far-reaching mission and vision and the goals, objectives, and tactics to ensure they are achieved.
  • Communicate effectively and credibly with diverse audiences, including news media, communities, and large event gatherings.
  • Multi-task on a broad range of complex issues at any given time and make effective decisions by segmenting and sorting through vast quantities of informational inputs and variables.
  • Working knowledge of creating and executing business strategies in public and private-sector organizations.
  • Commercial real estate development strategies, planning and execution.
  • Working in mission-driven organizations.
  • Regional, national, and global multi-modal transportation.

Preferred Qualifications:

Master's degree in Engineering, Business, or related field.


Oklahoma State University (OSU) strives to provide a safe study, work, and living environment for its faculty, staff, volunteers and students. To support this environment and comply with applicable laws and regulations, OSU conducts pre-employment background checks on final candidates. Offers of employment are contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. The type of background check conducted varies by position and can include, but is not limited to, criminal (felony and misdemeanor) history, sex offender registry, motor vehicle history, financial history, and/or education verification. Background checks will be conducted when required by law or contract and when, in the discretion of the university, it is reasonable and prudent to do so.

Oklahoma State University, as an equal opportunity employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding non-discrimination and affirmative action. Oklahoma State University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all individuals and does not discriminate based on race, religion, age, sex, color, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, disability, or veteran status with regard to employment, educational programs and activities, and/or admissions. For more information, visit eeo.okstate.edu.

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