Vice Provost for Research and Innovation Position Profile

Vice Provost for Research and Innovation Position Profile

Vice Provost for Research and Innovation The University of Arkansas, Fayetteville is in an exciting time of growth in its nationally recognized research mission, and the university invites applications for the position of Vice Provost for Research and Innovation (VPRI). The ideal candidate will be a strategic, innovative and energetic leader who will bring a bold vision for expanding a major research university enterprise. As the chief research officer reporting directly to the Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor, and working closely with the Chancellor, the Vice Provost for Research and Innovation plays a leadership role in developing and implementing strategies to enhance the University of Arkansas research and discovery mission. The VPRI s priority is to build the university s research engine across the full range of disciplines through strategic leadership, developing and improving research infrastructure and research capacity, and energizing innovation across the campus. The VPRI will build and maintain relationships with faculty, deans, vice chancellors, and stakeholders in federal, industrial, and non-profit organizations, and will be the chief spokesperson promoting the visibility of the university s research efforts. The VPRI will oversee research administration including pre-award, research development, and postaward management (jointly with the Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration), research compliance, the planning and optimization of research space and shared instrumentation; interdisciplinary research centers including the High Performance Computing Center; undergraduate research; the University of Arkansas Press, and provide guidance to the research communications team at University Relations. The VPRI will work collaboratively with the Vice Chancellor of Economic Development to oversee industry engagement, technology commercialization and the University of Arkansas Research and Technology Park, as well as work with the Vice Chancellor for Government Relations in setting and communicating research priorities. The University of Arkansas Carnegie Classification TM is Doctoral University: Highest Research Activity. In FY 2017, the U of A s total research expenditures were $157 million and new sponsored project awards topped $103 million a growth of more than 80 percent since FY 2007. Additionally, the university is in the midst of a $1 billion fundraising campaign supporting faculty, facilities, students and programs. Two transformational gifts received through that campaign last year have positioned the U of A to be a leader in fine arts a $120 million gift created the School of Art and another $40 million gift will create an art and design district to serve as a regional hub for creativity and design innovation. In a previous campaign, the university received a single $300 million gift that supports more than $4 million annually in graduate student stipends helping to attract exceptional graduate student researchers; supports more than 75 endowed chairs across campus and has helped increase the university s reputation by building one of the nation s highest ranked honors colleges. The VPRI will participate in the ongoing fundraising campaign, and will have the opportunity to work with the university s Page 2

Advancement Division and the philanthropic community to develop initiatives to build the university s research and creative engine. The U of A is nationally recognized for its innovative and groundbreaking research across a wide array of disciplines, including the visual, performing and literary arts and humanities; agriculture, food and life/health sciences; mathematics and data analytics; physical and materials sciences; social sciences; business; engineering; architecture and design; law, education and public policy. With more than 50 research centers including three NSF Industry/University Cooperative Research Centers and a collaborative spirit, the university has the interdisciplinary flexibility to continue to push research boundaries with innovative research funded through both the public and private sectors and industry partnerships. The university is using a data-driven process to identify a small set of distinctive research areas that draw on the full range of disciplines and have the potential for future expansion. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to design and implement strategies to drive these cross-campus areas forward while continuing to support the full array of research, scholarship and creative activities on campus. Additionally, the successful candidate may have the opportunity to lead the development of a cross-disciplinary innovation institute. The university is also focused on recommitting to its land grant mission, and a key component of that focus is the role that research innovation plays in driving the economic development of the region and the state. The successful candidate will work closely with the newly created position of Vice Chancellor for Economic Development to evolve the university s Technology Ventures program, which supports commercialization of research discoveries and other intellectual property, to bolster Arkansas knowledge-based economy and facilitate the practical application of new technology in the marketplace. Additionally, the successful candidate will work with the Vice Chancellor for Economic Development to build research partnerships with industry and to optimize the university s partnership with the adjacent Arkansas Research and Technology Park. The university is uniquely situated to build strong industry partners with the more than 300 Fortune 500 companies that call Northwest Arkansas home, including Walmart, Tyson Foods and J.B. Hunt Transport Services. Many of these companies draw on University of Arkansas researchers and students to solve real-world problems in industry through sponsored research programs across multiple disciplines. Additionally, the university s proximity to, and strong partnerships with, the world-renowned Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, offers an extraordinary foundation to build excellence in an array creative and humanistic disciplines. There is also substantial opportunity to build research partnerships in the region with the University of Arkansas Medical Sciences. Page 3

Position Responsibilities: Leadership in Research, Administration and Interdisciplinary Efforts Coordinating the development and implementation of the university s strategic plan for building the university s research engine and driving innovation in research, scholarship, and creative activities across the campus. Leading campus efforts to ensure the integrity and quality of research-related activities and maintain the University of Arkansas status of highest research activity in Carnegie classifications. Leading campus efforts to increase and diversify the amount of campus grant and contract funding for research, scholarship, and creative activities. Promoting inclusivity of all disciplines in seeking funding sources. Developing and overseeing campus planning for investments in research infrastructure and assessing the return on those investments. Activities include but are not limited to: the allocation of research space; the development of priorities for research space needs; planning for shared research equipment and facilities; optimizing the functionality of shared equipment and facilities; ensuring that faculty investigators, their departments, schools, and colleges are supported by effective and efficient research services, research compliance processes, and data systems; collaboratively working with academic units to strategically invest resources in the work of faculty, including the development of start-up support packages to attract outstanding new faculty members. Facilitating the development of successful multidisciplinary projects, centers, and institutes that draw from the full range of disciplines. Working collaboratively with academic units to finalize and prioritize campuswide research focal areas for targeted investment and to implement and assess strategies for such investments, including the possible creation of an innovation institute and the potential for cluster hiring. Ensuring ethical, informed, and safe conduct research, including overseeing compliance with laws and regulations governing research-related activities. Fostering cooperation among various disciplines and diverse research groups. Managing the fiscal affairs of the unit. Providing recommendations to the Provost on policies and procedures. Leadership in Articulation, Enrichment and Partnerships Serving as the leader and spokesperson for the significance of University of Arkansas research, scholarship, and creative activities and promoting and articulating the importance and the impact of the full disciplinary range of these activities to the nation, the state, the region and to graduate and undergraduate education at the University of Arkansas. Page 4

Facilitating, with academic units and the Vice Chancellor for Economic Development, the creation and success of research partnerships with industry, government, and non-profit partners that leverage the university s strengths and can drive innovation in the Northwest Arkansas Region and beyond. Promoting research programs and opportunities for students and faculty. Fostering the professional development of staff and administrators, as well as providing opportunities for the enrichment and development of faculty. Advancing research and creative activity among graduate and undergraduate students. Networking at the national level to ensure productive research and funding relationships. Facilitating, with the Vice Chancellor for Government Relations, the preparation of campuswide research priorities for federal support and to articulate those priorities to Congressional representatives and government agencies. Minimum Qualifications: A terminal degree from an accredited institution of higher education in the candidate s discipline. A distinguished record of research, scholarship, and/or creative activities appropriate for an appointment at the rank of professor with tenure in a relevant department at the University of Arkansas. Demonstrated experience leading and/or administering externally funded research programs in higher education, government, or industry, including familiarity with the research cycle of federally funded, corporate, foundation, and other competitive research grants and fellowships. A background as a department chair, dean or associate dean for research, chief or associate chief research officer, or director of a research center or institute, or significant research leadership experience with a national laboratory, or other private/public sector organization. Demonstrated experience in developing and implementing a strategic plan. Evidence of effectively managing a complex budget, assessing budget investments, and prioritizing investments to meet strategic goals. Demonstrated experience facilitating partnerships and collaboration across disciplinary boundaries and diverse organizations. Demonstrated ability to craft a vision for further enhancing the research and discovery mission. Page 5

Preferred Qualifications: Evidence of an entrepreneurial spirit exemplified through experience with identifying new research-related opportunities and a readiness to invest in opportunities at the forefront of research, scholarship, and creative activities that will help realize the strategic goals of the University of Arkansas. Experience developing and implementing a successful plan to grow both the volume and impact-potential of research, scholarship, and/or creative activities of an organizational unit or an organization. Experience advocating for and publicizing the importance of academic research, scholarship, and creative activities to a wide array of stakeholders. Experience managing academic or research centers, research space, and research equipment. Established ability to mentor scholars at all levels and from diverse disciplines. Experience with community outreach or collaboration with nonprofit, extension services, and marginalized or underrepresented communities. Demonstrated commitment to diversity and inclusion. A national and international reputation for success. Desired Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: Ability to develop and implement a strategic plan to enhance the research and discovery mission of a university. Knowledge of processes and compliance procedures related to the development, submission, negotiation, and management of external grants and contracts. Knowledge of a diverse range of funding sources that support research, scholarships and creative activities. Knowledge of laws and regulations governing research activities and an understanding of best practices in ensuring responsible conduct of research. Strong administrative and management skills. Effective written and oral communication skills. Ability to motivate a team. Ability to actively listen to the needs of constituents. Ability to work collaboratively and successfully with diverse groups across broad fields of investigation. Ability to gain trust and inspire others toward reaching the goals of an organization s strategic plan. Ability to appreciate the role of research in graduate and undergraduate education and economic development. Excellent organizational skills. Knowledge of the land-grant mission. Page 6

General Information The University of Arkansas is a top-tier research and land-grant institution located in vibrant Northwest Arkansas. As flagship of the University of Arkansas System, the U of A is home to 15 colleges and schools, a growing student population and expanding research and discovery mission. The Chronicle of Higher Education listed the U of A as the 14 th fastest growing public doctoral institution in the nation in 2017. The University of Arkansas campus is affectionately known throughout the state as The Hill, having been established under the Morrill Land-Grant Act in 1871 on the site of a hilltop farm overlooking the Ozark mountains. The Class of 1905 launched a unique college tradition by proudly writing their names in the sidewalk in front of Old Main, the original campus building. Today Senior Walk covers more than five miles of walkways and is inscribed with more than 185,000 names of university graduates. Today, as the U of A approaches its 150 th anniversary, enrollment exceeds 27,000 students who come from all 50 states and 120 countries. The university is the state s foremost partner and resource for research, education and economic development. It serves as the major provider of graduate-level instruction in Arkansas and its public service activities reach every county in Arkansas, throughout the nation and around the world. The University of Arkansas is located in the idyllic, diverse, inclusive, and growing town of Fayetteville, routinely considered among the country s finest college towns, and the surrounding Northwest Arkansas region is regularly ranked one of the best places to live in the country. The nation s newest paved bike trail, the 36-mile Razorback Regional Greenway, interconnects Fayetteville with the rest of the region. Farmers markets, fine dining, casual lifestyle, nature, music, arts and cultural amenities such as the Walton Arts Center, the Arkansas Music Pavilion and the internationally acclaimed Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art round out the quality life enjoyed by residents of the region. Northwest Arkansas emerged from modest beginnings to become one of the nation s most dynamic economic regions. Fueled by an amazing entrepreneurial spirit, the region is home to a bustling economy that has low unemployment and is ranked by the U.S. Conference of Mayors with IHS Global Insight as one of 18 metros that will see the most economic growth in the next year. Proximity and partnerships with numerous Fortune 500 companies based in the area, including Walmart, J.B. Hunt Transport services Inc., and Tyson Foods, provide opportunities for students as well as philanthropic support. The University of Arkansas nourishes the knowledge-based economy and provides resources to companies of all sizes to stimulate growth. Learn more about our growing and dynamic region. Explore Northwest Arkansas: http://www.northwestarkansas.org / and Northwest Arkansas Council: http://www.nwacouncil.org/ Page 7

Salary The salary is competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience. How to Apply For best consideration, applications and nominations should be provided by April 30, 2018. An application should include a letter describing relevant experiences and interest in the position; a curriculum vitae; a statement of research interests and expertise; and the names of five references with titles, addresses, business telephone numbers, and e-mail addresses. Individuals who wish to nominate a candidate should submit a letter of nomination, including the name, position, telephone number, and email address of the nominee. Submission of materials as PDF attachments is strongly encouraged. Greenwood/Asher & Associates, Inc., an executive search firm, is assisting the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville. Applications and letters of nominations should be submitted to: Jan Greenwood or Betty Turner Asher, Partners Julie Holley, Principal Greenwood/Asher & Associates, Inc. 42 Business Center Drive, Suite 206 Miramar Beach, FL 32550 Phone: 850.650.2277 Fax: 850.650.2272 E-mail: jangreenwood@greenwoodsearch.com E-mail: bettyasher@greenwoodsearch.com E-mail: julieholley@greenwoodsearch.com For more information about the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville please visit: www.uark.edu The University of Arkansas System is an Affirmative Action/EOE institution committed to achieving diversity in its faculty and staff. We encourage applications from all qualified candidates, especially individuals who contribute to diversity of our campus community. The university welcomes applications without regard to age, race/color, gender (including pregnancy), national origin, disability, religion, marital or parental status, protected veteran status, military service, genetic information, sexual orientation or gender identity. All applicant information is subject to public disclosure under the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act and persons must have proof of legal authority to work in the United States on the first day of employment. Page 8