Remote Geoscience Jobs in Arizona (NOW HIRING)

The Senior Advisor to the Senior Vice President for Researchand Partnerships will provide support to the development ofthe university-wide strategic research initiatives in Mining andCritical Minerals, National Security, and the Future of Energy by bringingindustry-based expertise in these core thematic areas:

• Critical minerals and rare earth elements essential to clean energy technologies, defense systems, and domestic supply chain security.
• Geothermal energy systems and subsurface resource characterization, including applications for energy independence at military installations.
• Groundwater, basin hydrology, and water-energy-mineral nexus research in contested and strategically sensitive regions.
• Mining innovation, sustainable extraction technologies, and environmental remediation.
• Geospatial analytics, remote sensing, and AI-driven resource mapping for civilian and national security applications.
• Import dependency analysis and domestic sourcing strategies for defense-critical materials.
• Geoscience dimensions of border security, including subsurface infrastructure, terrain analysis, and sensor emplacement.

The successful candidate will be a highly collaborativeindividual who will work with ORP and academic leadership and facultyacross campus to help bridge the University of Arizona'sstrengths to address some of the mostconsequential earth resource and security challenges of the comingdecades. 

Strategic Leadership and Program Development:

• Advise the SVPRP and ORP's senior leadership team on strategic opportunities related to subsurface science, mining innovation, geothermal systems, critical minerals, and national security.
• Work with center and institute director, Deans, department heads, and faculty to help develop and implement university-wide strategies that align research strengths with emerging federal and industry priorities.
• Identify and cultivate opportunities for major research investments and consortia.
• Support the creation of interdisciplinary initiatives that integrate advanced sensing, AI, geospatial analytics, robotics, digital twins, advanced materials, and subsurface characterization technologies.

Research and Partnership Development:

• Work with ORP's center and institute directors and the university's government affairs team to build and strengthen relationships with federal agencies including the U.S. Department of Energy, Department of War, Department of the Interior, NSF, ARPA-E, DARPA, and national laboratories.
• Work with the Chief Research Partnerships Officer to engage with mining, energy, defense, aerospace, and technology industries to develop strategic partnerships and sponsored research opportunities.
• Facilitate collaboration among faculty, researchers, government stakeholders, tribal nations, and private-sector partners.
• Assist in developing proposals for major federal funding opportunities and public-private partnership initiatives.

National Security and Strategic Resource Integration:

• Advance university capabilities related to resource security, supply chain resilience, critical mineral independence, energy resilience, and strategic infrastructure protection.
• Support initiatives connecting subsurface technologies to defense, intelligence, space, and national preparedness missions.
• Help integrate subsurface sensing, autonomous systems, cyber-physical systems, and AI-enabled predictive modeling into security-related applications.

Innovation and Economic Development:

• Work closely with the Director of Tech Launch Arizona (ORP) to promote translation of university research into commercialization, startup formation, workforce development, and regional economic growth.
• Support initiatives that accelerate deployment of advanced mining, geothermal, and subsurface technologies.
• Contribute to state and national strategies related to energy transition, critical materials supply chains, and sustainable resource development.

Stakeholder Engagement and Representation:

• Represent the Office of Research and Partnerships in strategic meetings, conferences, federal engagements, and industry forums.
• Assist with executive communications, briefing materials, strategic plans, and external relations activities.
• Help articulate the university's vision and leadership role in subsurface science and technology.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Strategic Vision: Ability to see and articulate a compelling future for earth sciences research and translate it into institutional action.
• Collaborative Orientation: Commitment to breaking down disciplinary silos and building genuinely interdisciplinary programs.
• Entrepreneurial Drive: Confidence in pursuing ambitious funding targets and forging novel partnerships.
• Integrity and Transparency: Trusted by stakeholders across academia, industry, and government.
• Comprehensive Leadership: Deep commitment to broadening participation in the geosciences workforce.
• Familiarity with federal national security and energy policy priorities.
• Knowledge of AI, digital twins, advanced computation, or autonomous systems as applied to subsurface environments.
• Proven ability to develop strategic partnerships and interdisciplinary collaborations.
• Strong understanding of federal research funding landscapes and technology transition pathways.
• Excellent communication, strategic planning, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Highly collaborative and skilled at bridging disciplines and sectors.
• Entrepreneurial in identifying emerging opportunities and building impactful partnerships.
• Effective at translating complex technical concepts into strategic initiatives and actionable programs.
• Passionate about advancing research that strengthens economic competitiveness, energy security, environmental stewardship, and national resilience.
• Familiarity with U.S. import dependency and supply chain vulnerability issues for defense-critical materials, and related federal policy (e.g., Defense Production Act, Executive Orders on critical minerals).
• Knowledge of the geological, commercial, military, and regulatory landscape of the American Southwest, including the U.S.-Mexico border region.