Associate Director, Physical AI & Robotics

Company Description

The University of Notre Dame is more than a workplace; it is a vibrant, mission-driven community where every employee is valued and supported. Rooted in a tradition of excellence and inspired by our Catholic character, Notre Dame is committed to fostering an environment of care that nurtures the whole person—mind, body, and spirit. Here, you will find a deep sense of belonging, a culture that prioritizes well-being, and the opportunity to grow your career while being a force for good in the world. Whether contributing to world-class research, shaping the student experience, or supporting the University’s mission in other ways, you will be part of a dedicated team working to make a meaningful impact on campus and beyond. At Notre Dame, your work matters, and so do you!

Job Description

The University of Notre Dame's Physical AI and Robotics Initiative exists to advance human flourishing through robotics to make Notre Dame a center for the development of robots that genuinely serve the human good. Housed in a dedicated building on campus, the Initiative brings together the University's strengths in humanoid robotics, prosthetics, bioinspired and soft robotics, field robotics, and artificial intelligence around this shared purpose.

The Associate Director is a key leader in launching, developing, and growing this emerging University initiative. Reporting to the Director, Professor Nicolaus Correll, the Associate Director will help articulate the Initiative's mission, build a vibrant interdisciplinary community around it, and ensure that its research, partnerships, funding activities, and public presence advance its purpose.

This is a highly collaborative role that sits at the intersection of research development, strategic planning, community building, communications, and operations. The successful candidate will be able to engage credibly with technical researchers while also articulating why advances in robotics and AI matter for human life and society.

The role is particularly well suited to a scholar who thinks deeply about the relationship between technology and human life. Candidates may come from any academic discipline, including the humanities, social sciences, sciences, engineering, or professional fields. For example, scholars trained in the history and philosophy of science, technology and society, ethics, computer science, engineering, robotics, artificial intelligence, or related areas may bring valuable perspectives to the role. A technical background is valued but is not required.

This position is a limited-term appointment with an initial funding period of five years, supported through the University's New College Initiative and the College Dean's Office. 

The position offers significant opportunities for professional growth and leadership. Depending on the individual's interests and accomplishments, the experience may provide a pathway toward senior research-development leadership, center or institute leadership, or strategy and partnership roles in higher education, foundations, government, or industry.

Key Responsibilities

Initiative Development and Strategic Leadership

• Help translate the Physical AI and Robotics Initiative's mission into a clear strategy, priorities, programs, and activities.
• Work closely with the Director and University leadership to launch and grow the Initiative during its initial five-year funding period.
• Develop structures, processes, and partnerships that position the Initiative for long-term sustainability and expansion.
• Identify opportunities to connect faculty, students, researchers, industry partners, foundations, and other stakeholders around the Initiative's mission.
• Track emerging developments in robotics, physical AI, and related fields and identify opportunities for Notre Dame to develop distinctive research and partnership activities.

Research Development and Grant Support

• Coordinate and support large, interdisciplinary, multi-investigator research proposals and sponsored projects.
• Identify and cultivate opportunities for federal, foundation, corporate, philanthropic, and other external funding.
• Work with faculty investigators to develop compelling research narratives, proposals, budgets, partnerships, and supporting materials.
• Lead or contribute substantially to grant writing, proposal development, and other research-development activities.
• Help build a sustainable portfolio of externally funded research aligned with the Initiative's mission.
• Coordinate across investigators, departments, colleges, and external partners to move complex proposals and projects forward.

Community Building and Partnerships

• Build an interdisciplinary community connecting researchers across robotics, AI, engineering, computer science, the humanities, social sciences, and other relevant fields.
• Develop programs, events, workshops, seminars, and other activities that foster intellectual exchange and collaboration.
• Cultivate relationships with University leaders, faculty, students, industry partners, foundations, government agencies, and other external stakeholders.
• Represent the Initiative in internal and external meetings, conferences, and partnership discussions.
• Help establish Notre Dame as a leading convening point for conversations about physical AI, robotics, and human flourishing.

Communications, Marketing, and Public Engagement

• Articulate the Initiative's purpose and research in ways that are compelling to both technical and nontechnical audiences.
• Develop and coordinate communications, marketing, and public-engagement strategies that increase awareness of the Initiative.
• Support the development of web content, presentations, reports, newsletters, events, and other materials that communicate the Initiative's work and impact.
• Help translate complex technical research into accessible narratives for University leadership, prospective partners, funders, media, and the broader public.

Operations and Program Management

• Establish and maintain effective systems for coordinating the Initiative's activities, projects, partnerships, and priorities.
• Coordinate multiple concurrent projects involving faculty, staff, students, and external collaborators.
• Monitor timelines, deliverables, budgets, and other operational requirements associated with Initiative activities and sponsored projects.
• Support planning and execution of major Initiative events, programs, and strategic activities.
• Provide regular updates and recommendations to the Director and relevant University leadership.

Qualifications

Education

• Doctoral degree in any field from an accredited institution. Eligible doctoral degrees may include, but are not limited to, a Ph.D., J.D., Ed.D., D.Sc., or other recognized doctoral-level degree appropriate to the candidate's discipline.
• Candidates from a broad range of academic backgrounds are encouraged to apply. The Initiative particularly welcomes scholars whose work engages with technology, science, engineering, robotics, artificial intelligence, society, ethics, or the relationship between technology and human life.
• Relevant backgrounds may include, but are not limited to, robotics, engineering, computer science, artificial intelligence, science and technology studies, history and philosophy of science, philosophy, ethics, social sciences, humanities, or related disciplines.

Experience

• Typically 3–4 years of relevant professional, academic, research, program-development, or leadership experience.
• Demonstrated experience building or organizing a community, program, initiative, research group, or other collaborative effort within or outside a university.
• Demonstrated experience developing, writing, coordinating, or supporting research proposals, grants, contracts, or other complex projects.
• Experience with fundraising, external partnerships, or development activities is strongly valued.
• Experience working across disciplines and engaging with researchers or subject-matter experts is strongly valued.

Skills and Competencies

• Ability to engage fluently and credibly with technical researchers and research programs, regardless of the candidate's own academic discipline.
• Strong writing, editing, presentation, and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to articulate a compelling mission and translate complex ideas for diverse audiences.
• Strong organizational and project-management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and complex initiatives simultaneously.
• Demonstrated ability to build relationships and work effectively with faculty, University leaders, staff, students, external partners, funders, and other stakeholders.
• Demonstrated grant-writing and research-development skills.
• Fundraising and relationship-development experience.
• Ability to coordinate large, multi-investigator grants, contracts, partnerships, and other complex initiatives.
• Experience using modern AI tools to support research, writing, analysis, communications, project management, or other professional activities.
• Ability to work independently while also functioning effectively as part of a highly collaborative, interdisciplinary team.
• Strategic mindset with the ability to move between long-term vision and day-to-day execution.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in robotics, artificial intelligence, physical AI, engineering, computer science, or a related technical field.
• Scholarly or professional experience examining the relationship between technology and human life, including through the humanities, social sciences, ethics, history and philosophy of science, or related fields.
• Experience launching or growing a new center, institute, initiative, research program, or interdisciplinary community.
• Experience with major federal, foundation, corporate, or philanthropic funding opportunities.
• Experience developing external partnerships with industry, foundations, government agencies, or other organizations.
• Experience communicating complex technical or scholarly ideas to public, executive, philanthropic, or interdisciplinary audiences.

Additional Information

Starting Salary: $105,000 - $110,00, Commensurate with Experience

A resume and cover letter are required to be considered for this position

Application Deadline: October 9, 2026

The University of Notre Dame seeks to attract, develop, and retain the highest quality faculty, staff and administration. The University is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, sex, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or age in employment. Moreover, Notre Dame prohibits discrimination against veterans or disabled qualified individuals, and complies with 41 CFR 60-741.5(a) and 41 CFR 60-300.5(a). We strongly encourage applications from candidates attracted to a university with a Catholic identity.