South Dakota State University has opened a formal recruitment process to appoint a new Deputy Director of the South Dakota Space Grant Consortium. The 12-month, full-time position is housed within the university’s Department of Mechanical Engineering in Brookings, South Dakota, operating under the supervisor of the Director.
The role centers on daily operational management and ensuring compliance, specifically focusing on requirements tied to the NASA Space Grant and NASA EPSCoR. According to institutional postings, the position carries a starting minimum salary of $61,786, with compensation commensurate with qualifications.
As the state’s largest, most comprehensive university, South Dakota State University commands over $94 million in annual research expenditures, supports more than 200 academic programs, and serves an enrollment of approximately 12,000 students. The incoming administrator will step into an academic environment situated in a community that offers an abundance of attractions and activities for students, young professionals, and families.
Core Responsibilities and Operational Oversight
The incoming deputy director will take charge of statewide programming, compliance, and internal processes across member institutions and affiliates. Primary duties span the coordination of student research initiatives, faculty grants, outreach, and K–12 and public engagement programs.
Furthermore, the administrator will lead internal grant competitions—including SDSGC Program Innovation Grants, NASA Internships and Fellowship student awards, Teacher Grants, and EPSCoR Research Initiation faculty seed funding—while managing proposal reviews and communicating award decisions. Additional duties involve budgeting and fiscal management in coordination with the Director and Management Team, and compiling annual or ad hoc reporting for NASA and state stakeholders.
Travel is a routine component of the position, requiring statewide visits to member campuses alongside periodic attendance at national conferences or partner meetings, including NASA Space Grant consortium gatherings. The appointee will also assist in developing funding proposals to expand collaborations with academic affiliates, industry, government agencies, and other stakeholders.
Institutional Background and Qualifications
Nationwide, the Space Grant national network encompasses over 850 affiliates from universities, colleges, industry, museums, science centers, and state and local agencies. These entities belong to one of 52 consortia in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, collectively funding student fellowships, scholarships, curriculum enhancement, and faculty development.
Locally, the South Dakota Space Grant Consortium operates with the vision of expanding opportunities for all through education, research, and public service across aerospace, earth science, and supporting STEM disciplines. By using science, technology, engineering and math, the organization aims to instill the spirit of exploration and discovery into students, educators and the general public with the mission of creating a positive impact on the nation’s developing workforce.
Candidates seeking the deputy director post must possess at minimum a bachelor’s degree in a STEM or Education field—covering science, engineering, mathematics, or STEM education—by their start date. The university notes that authorization to work in the United States is required, as sponsorship is unavailable for this position.
Compensation and Benefits Package
Beyond the minimum salary of $61,786, the position qualifies for a range of benefits. Total compensation offerings include medical, dental, and flexible benefits, alongside a retirement plan featuring a 6% matching.
Leave provisions provide employees with 10 hours of annual leave and 9.34 hours of sick leave each month, supplemented by eleven paid holidays. Staff members also gain access to internal and state-sponsored training, reduced tuition for state-supported courses at all State of South Dakota academic institutions, and relocation benefits per university’s guidelines.
As the search moves forward, institutional leaders will evaluate applicant pools against operational and compliance benchmarks. Prospective applicants can review full application requirements and submission portals directly through employment boards associated with higher education administration.
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