CED Research and Technical Assistant Director

Ready to drive real impact across Alaska and beyond? Join us to lead innovative economic development projects, connect with dynamic partners—from entrepreneurs to elected officials—and shape strategies that fuel community growth. You'll advise clients, build custom solutions, and collaborate with organizations statewide and nationally. If you're energetic, organized, and thrive in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment, this is your chance to make a difference. Travel, variety, and big ideas await!

As the Center for Economic Development (CED) Research and Technical Assistant Director, you will lead complex, high-impact economic development initiatives under long-range administrative direction. Serving as the lead subject matter expert and consultant for industry sector and project work, you provide professional services to CED clients across Alaska, including tribes, nonprofits, businesses, and government agencies. This role supports the UA CED Director directly, overseeing technical assistance, applied research, program development, and financial management. You’ll guide multidisciplinary teams and build sustainable funding partnerships to advance regional economic resilience and opportunity.

To thrive in this role, the successful candidate will demonstrate strong leadership, organizational, and project management skills, with the ability to plan, coordinate, and oversee a variety of federal awards and contractual projects. They will play a key role in developing and implementing community and economic development initiatives, securing funding, and fostering partnerships with stakeholders across Alaska and beyond. Success in this position requires excellent communication, collaboration, and outreach capabilities, as well as a proactive, self-starting attitude. The ideal candidate will work closely with the CED director, University of Alaska Anchorage partners, federal agencies, economic development organizations, and community leaders to drive impactful, sustainable economic growth. Flexibility to travel and engage with diverse communities is essential.

Minimum Qualifications:

Master’s degree in related field and five years relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of training and experience.

Preferred
Certified Economic Developer designation (CEcD) and/or significant progress towards CEcD, as well as prior business ownership.

Position Details:

This position is located on the Anchorage campus in Anchorage, AK. This is a term-funded, full-time, exempt staff position complete with both a competitive salary and full employee benefits package. UA provides a generous compensation package that includes retirement options, annual leave, 12 paid holidays per year, tuition waivers for employees and family members, and affordable medical, dental and vision care coverage. New hires will be placed on the UA Staff Salary Schedule, Grade 81, based on education and experience.

Review of applicants will begin immediately, to ensure full consideration you must apply by 05/11/2025.

📃To view the full list of job responsibilities, please click HERE.

☎️If you have any questions regarding this position, please contact Heather Paulsen at hpaulsen@alaska.edu

*To be eligible for this position, applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States without restriction.  Applicants who now or may in the future require visa sponsorship to work in the United States are not eligible.

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This position is a term-funded position and is reviewed annually for contract renewal at the University's discretion.

The University of Alaska (UA) is responsible for providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities throughout the applicant screening process. If you need assistance in completing this application or during any phase of the interview process, please contact UA Human Resources by phone at 907-450-8200.

The University of Alaska (www.alaska.edu) is an Equal Opportunity/Equal Access Employer and Educational Institution.  The University is committed to a policy of non-discrimination (www.alaska.edu/nondiscrimination) against individuals on the basis of any legally protected status.

The successful applicant is required to complete a background check. Any offer of employment is contingent on the background check.

Your application for employment with the University of Alaska is subject to public disclosure under the Alaska Public Records Act.

All employees at the University of Alaska are expected to uphold the highest standards of ethics and professionalism when conducting or engaged in university business.

*Each university within the University of Alaska system publishes an Annual Security and Fire Safety Report which contains information regarding campus safety and security including topics such as: campus law enforcement authority; crime reporting policies; campus alerts (Timely Warnings and Emergency Notifications); fire safety policies and procedures; programs to prevent dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking; the procedures the University will follow when one of these crimes is reported; and other matters of importance related to security on campus. The report also contains information about crime statistics for the three most recent calendar years concerning reported crimes that occurred on campus; in On-Campus Student Housing Facilities; in Noncampus buildings or property owned or controlled by the University or a recognized student organization; and on public property within, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from, the campus.  The report also contains fire statistics for any fires occurring in an On-Campus Student Housing Facility during the three most recent calendar years.  

Access to the reports is available at:

UAA: (Addresses Anchorage campus, Aviation Technology Complex, JBER - Elmendorf Extension, JBER - Richardson Extension, Kenai Peninsula College - Kachemak Bay campus, Kenai Peninsula College - Kenai River campus, Kodiak College, Kodiak High School Extension, Matanuska-Susitna College, Prince William Sound College, and Prince William Sound College - Cordova Extension) Online: https://www.uaa.alaska.edu/students/safety. Request a paper copy in person: UAA Police Department Office at Room 114 of Eugene Short Hall on the Anchorage campus / UAA Dean of Students Office at Room 122 of Rasmuson Hall on the Anchorage campus. Request a paper copy by mail: 907-786-1120 or police@uaa.alaska.edu / 907-786-1214 or uaa_deanofstudents@alaska.edu. 

UAF: (Addresses Fairbanks Campus, Bristol Bay Campus, Chukchi Campus, Community and Technical College, Kasitsna Bay Campus, Seward Marine Center, Tok Campus, Kuskokwim Campus, and Northwest Campus) Online: https://www.uaf.edu/orca/files/ASFSR.pdf. Request a paper copy in person: UAF Office of Rights, Compliance and Accountability on the 3rd Floor of Constitution Hall. Request a paper copy by mail: 907-474-7300 or uaf-orca@alaska.edu.

UAS: (Addresses the Juneau Auke Bay Campus, Juneau Technical Education Center, Sitka Campus, & Ketchikan Campus) Online: https://uas.alaska.edu/equity-and-compliance/docs/clery/UAS_ASFSR.pdf. Request a paper copy in person: Hendrickson Building, Suite 202 on the Juneau campus. Request a paper copy by mail: 907-796-6371 or emailing uas.clery@alaska.edu.