Associate Vice President, Research Strategy

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Position Overview
The Associate Vice President for Research Strategy, reporting to the Vice President for Research (VPR), plays a pivotal role in strengthening the university's research enterprise. This role, which leads the Enterprise for Research, Innovation and Knowledge’s Research and Proposal Development Office, integrates executive management, research strategy, and strategic collaboration to ensure that Ohio State is positioned for research growth aligned with institutional goals and emerging opportunities at the state, national, and global levels.

A successful candidates will possess the proven ability to build, lead, and mentor high-performing teams; experience utilizing research data and analytics to produce data-informed growth strategies and competitive intelligence reports; knowledge of academic research enterprises; and a deep understanding of federal funding mechanisms across multiple agencies. In addition, successful candidates will demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively with faculty researchers across disciplines; familiarity with academic research administration and university research operations; and understanding of interdisciplinary, translational, and team science research approaches.

Job Functions

• Serves as chief research strategy advisor to the VPR and drives initiatives that position Ohio State for research growth and leadership in areas of known strength and emerging opportunity.
• Implements initiatives that foster interdisciplinary and team science collaborations and position interdisciplinary teams for major federal research initiatives.
• Provides executive leadership and direction to the university’s Research Development team and leads efforts to curate research analytics tools for use with research portfolio and sponsor analyses, competitive analyses, and strategic research planning.
• Works with the Office of Government Affairs to foster research connections with federal and state sponsors.
• Interfaces and coordinates with unit academic, Wexner Medical Center, and ERIK leadership to help align research development strategy with identified growth opportunities.
• Manages the President’s Research Excellence seed fund and central university cost-share support programs and identifies and recommends opportunities for collaborative infrastructure investments across disciplinary boundaries that will position Ohio State for research growth.

General Responsibilities

• Implements ERIK’s strategic vision by developing, initiating, and/or creating new programs and initiatives in coordination with other ERIK core functions.
• Manages financial/budget for the Research and Proposal Development Office and program record-keeping systems for the unit.
• Oversees a strategy research team to develop and implement strategy
• Represents the program to internal and external stakeholders, collaborators, and partners.
• Troubleshoots and resolves complex issues.
• Accountable for consistent administration of university policies and procedures.

Skills for Success

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrates a high level of accuracy, even under pressure.
• Possesses a high degree of independent drive.
• Understanding of research data/analytics and competitive analysis.
• Ability to inspire and energize teams to achieve high performance.
• Skilled in building productive relationships with faculty and staff
• Demonstrates excellent judgment and decision-making skills.
• Competence with the Microsoft Office suite of software tools.

Required Qualifications

• Master's degree.
• 12 years of work experience successfully managing research-related initiatives, cross-campus collaborations, or strategic engagement efforts within a university, government, or research-intensive environment.

Desired Qualification

• Advanced degree in any field.
• 15 years of work experience successfully managing research-related initiatives, cross-campus collaborations, or strategic engagement efforts within a university, government, or research-intensive environment.
• Tableau/data visualization tools and subscription research analytics tools.

Application Materials

• A resume and cover letter are required to be submitted at the time of application to be considered for this position.

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Salary

Salary is commensurate with education and experience.

Work Location

This position is expected to work in-person on The Ohio State University's main campus in Columbus, Ohio. Some domestic travel is expected.

Additional Information

Ohio State will not sponsor applicants for a work visa for this position.

Enterprise for Research, Innovation and Knowledge Overview

Join the Enterprise for Research, Innovation and Knowledge (ERIK) at The Ohio State University and become a part of a dynamic, forward-thinking team dedicated to pushing the boundaries of discovery and innovation. ERIK positions Ohio State to expand curiosity-driven research and creative expression, further develop our research community of faculty, staff, and students, and grow the innovation ecosystem to address big challenges and improve communities locally and globally. We are seeking passionate individuals who are committed to making a meaningful impact through collaboration, innovation, and excellence.

Research Development Office

The Research Development Office is the strategic development part of Ohio State's central research enterprise by positioning the university for research leadership and growth. The team analyzes agency research priorities and funding portfolios with Ohio State’s capabilities and capacities and the competitive landscape to develop the university’s strategy. 

Thank you for your interest in positions at The Ohio State University and Wexner Medical Center. Once you have applied, the most updated information on the status of your application can be found by visiting the Candidate Home section of this site. Please view your submitted applications by logging in and reviewing your status. For answers to additional questions please review the frequently asked questions.

The university is an equal opportunity employer, including veterans and disability.