Research Associate, Department of IROM

Job Posting Title: Research Associate, Department of IROM ---- Hiring Department: Department of Information, Risk, and Operations Management ---- Position Open To: All Applicants ---- Weekly Scheduled Hours: 40 ---- FLSA Status: Exempt from FLSA ---- Earliest Start Date: Immediately ---- Position Duration: Expected to Continue Until Aug 31, 2027 ---- Location: UT MAIN CAMPUS ---- Job Details: General Notes Texas McCombs is a top business school at the center of one of the most innovative cities in the U.S. The McCombs community champions hands-on experiences alongside the ground-breaking research and thought-leadership of a world-class faculty. The collaborative spirit and enterprising drive of the Longhorn alumni network, one of the largest university networks in the world, is embedded in our culture, making us human-centered and future-focused in all our endeavors. We are shaping those who will shape tomorrow, and solving challenging problems while remaining committed to creating a community that is dynamic, supportive, and challenging. What starts here really does change the world. For more information about Texas McCombs please visit: https://www.mccombs.utexas.edu/ Purpose The Research Associate position will support the Texas Advisory Committee on Geopolitical Conflict, established under Senate Bill 2312. This role will involve conducting comprehensive research and analysis on supply chains for goods and services, identifying risks, and recommending mitigation strategies. This benefits-eligible position is a fixed-term role for a one-year period with the possibility of an extension based on performance, available funding, and research project needs. Responsibilities Supply Chain Mapping: Analyze end-to-end supply chains for goods procured by state agencies and political subdivisions, from origin through vendors to destination. Risk Assessment: Identify critical procurements that could be disrupted by geopolitical conflict. Determine which goods are produced in or by foreign adversaries or sourced from high-risk regions. Strategic Recommendations: Develop alternative sourcing strategies, highlighting feasibility challenges and associated risks. Reporting: Prepare an initial audit and report on critical procurements vulnerable to geopolitical disruption. Collaboration & Communication: Regularly partner with Dr. Britt Freund, Clements Center for Policy, and project sponsor. Submit monthly summaries of progress toward objectives Required Qualifications Master’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Public Policy, Economics, International Relations, or a related field and two years prior research experience in supply chain analysis, procurement, or geopolitical risk assessment. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to synthesize complex data. Proficiency in data analysis tools (Excel, Power BI, or similar) and research methodologies. Excellent written and verbal communication skills for preparing reports and presenting findings. Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a structured research environment. Detail-oriented with strong organizational skills to manage multiple deliverables. Relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate. Preferred Qualifications Familiarity with public sector procurement processes and critical infrastructure. Understanding of global trade dynamics, geopolitical risk factors, and supply chain resilience strategies. Salary Range $60,000 Working Conditions Working in a standard office with repetitive use of a keyboard at a workstation. Work schedule is generally Monday - Friday 8am – 5pm This is an Austin, TX-based position. Applicants must be legally authorized to work for any employer in the United States. This position is not eligible for sponsorship of work visas. Required Materials Resume/CV 3 work references with their contact information; at least one reference should be from a supervisor Letter of interest Important   for applicants who are NOT current university employees or contingent workers:  You will be prompted to submit your resume the first time you apply, then you will be provided an option to upload a new Resume for subsequent applications. Any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) will be uploaded in the Application Questions section; you will be able to multi-select additional files. Before submitting your online job application, ensure that ALL Required Materials have been uploaded.  Once your job application has been submitted, you cannot make changes. Important for Current university employees and contingent workers:  As a current university employee or contingent worker, you MUST apply within Workday by searching for Find UT Jobs. If you are a current University employee, log-in to Workday, navigate to your Worker Profile, click the Career link in the left hand navigation menu and then update the sections in your Professional Profile before you apply. This information will be pulled in to your application. The application is one page and you will be prompted to upload your resume. In addition, you must respond to the application questions presented to upload any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) that were noted above. ---- Employment Eligibility: Regular staff who have been employed in their current position for the last six continuous months are eligible for openings being recruited for through University-Wide or Open Recruiting, to include both promotional opportunities and lateral transfers. Staff who are promotion/transfer eligible may apply for positions without supervisor approval. ---- Retirement Plan Eligibility: The retirement plan for this position is Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS), subject to the position being at least 20 hours per week and at least 135 days in length. ---- Background Checks: A criminal his