Assistant Director, Institute

Texas A&M AgriLife is the nation’s largest and most comprehensive agriculture program, bringing together a college and four state agencies focused on agriculture and life sciences within The Texas A&M University System. With over 5,000 employees and a presence in every Texas county, AgriLife improves lives, environments, and the economy through education, research, extension, and service.

About the role

The Assistant Director, Institute is a member of the Texas Water Resource Institute’s leadership team and reports directly to the TWRI Director. This role advances the Institute’s strategic priorities through effective operational management.

Responsibilities

• Drive Institute-wide strategy into coordinated implementation plans across programs and initiatives.
• Translate strategic priorities into structured workflows, timelines, roles, and deliverables to ensure consistent execution.
• Develop and maintain Institute-level systems that ensure follow-through on priorities, alignment across programs, and clear reporting of outcomes and impact.
• Oversee Institute-wide project management systems to ensure initiatives are properly coordinated, on schedule, and effectively integrated across units.
• Identify operational inefficiencies, gaps, and opportunities to improve coordination, execution effectiveness, and overall institutional performance.
• Develop standardized reporting and performance tracking frameworks to support leadership decision-making and external accountability.
• Monitor and support program performance in achieving research outcomes, engagement goals, and external funding growth.
• Support TWRI leadership in the development, coordination, and dissemination of Requests for Proposals (RFPs) aligned with Institute priorities.
• Ensure funding processes are effectively managed from proposal development through selection, implementation, and reporting.
• Track program-level outcomes related to research productivity, funding performance, and strategic impact.
• Sustain relationships with key stakeholders, including state, federal, academic, industry, and community partners.
• Maintain coordination with the Texas A&M Foundation and other external funding and development partners.
• Support continuity and consistency in stakeholder engagement across programs and leadership priorities.
• Assist in the coordination of international partnerships and global engagement activities aligned with Institute strategy.
• Oversee internal operational infrastructure such as TWRI’s website, communication teams, and workflow tools.
• Improve internal processes to enhance efficiency, transparency, and coordination across teams.
• Support implementation of standardized systems for documentation, communication, and information flow.
• Support TWRI leadership in leading institute-wide reporting including internal leadership updates, external stakeholder reports, and program performance summaries.
• Develop systems to track key outputs, outcomes, and performance metrics across Institute activities.
• Ensure reporting is consistent, timely, and aligned with funding and institutional requirements.
• Translate program activity into clear evidence of institutional impact and performance.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Six years of related experience in management.
• Work beyond normal office hours and/or on weekends.
• Travel required.

Skills

• Knowledge of word processing, spreadsheet, and database applications.
• Knowledge of management development programs and implementation, and strategic planning.
• Ability to multitask and work cooperatively with others.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Effective analytical, interpersonal, and organizational skills.

Benefits

• Health, dental, vision, life, and long-term disability insurance with Texas A&M AgriLife contributing to employee health and basic life premiums.
• 12-15 days of annual paid holidays.
• Up to eight hours of paid sick leave and at least eight hours of paid vacation each month.
• Automatic enrollment in the Teacher Retirement System of Texas.
• Employee Wellness Initiative for Texas A&M AgriLife.