Associate Vice President, Strategic Research Development

Overview

Organization

Research is integral to the overall mission of The Ohio State University to enhance the university’s discovery and innovation activities and to fuel our commitment to economic development and the well-being of our community. A top priority of the Office of Research includes increasing Ohio State’s participation in large-scale funding initiatives, improving the competitiveness of our researchers in their efforts to secure funding.

The Proposal Development Office (PDO) supports Ohio State's research community in the early-stage identification, analysis, planning and development of strategic, multidisciplinary funding opportunities. The PDO team works directly with faculty and key university administrators to promote a culture change designed to identify, develop, and implement strategies that increase institutional research capacity and competitiveness. To accomplish this goal the PDO team manages activities such as: faculty development; proposal planning consultations; profiling federal, industrial and foundation sponsors; tracking opportunity development; analyzing funding opportunity requirements; determining our research capabilities; capture planning; managing pink/red team reviews; positioning/facilitating win strategy development; building new interdisciplinary teams; networking; and proposal management/planning.

The AVP will provide direction of team activities related to limited submissions, seed grants, and efforts to promote a culture of external recognition for scholarship across the academy. S/he will also possess oversight the PDO’s educational and mentoring efforts designed to grow the research capacity for all of Ohio State’s research faculty members, institutes, and centers.

Opportunity

A recognized leader in our nation’s research, The Ohio State University is seeking an individual to play a key role in facilitating new discoveries at the frontiers of science, technology, and innovation. The Associate Vice President, Strategic Research Development will lead the University's research development planning initiatives through executive oversight of a suite of programs and services geared to increase the competitiveness of proposals for extramural funding, with an emphasis on large‐scale, interdisciplinary opportunities, which align with the university’s strategic priorities.

The AVP, Strategic Research Development will manage team facilitation of large, collaborative proposals to increase Ohio State’s profile by identifying additional sources of funding well in advance of an RFP release. S/he is directly responsible for a portfolio of colleges, centers/institutes, while supervising a team of research development professionals and proposal managers as well as a graphic designer and editor. The successful candidate will be an effective team builder, and adept at managing diverse groups, with a commitment to staff professional development, and diversity and inclusion.

Under the AVP’s leadership, the PDO team will accomplish their mission by discovering and disseminating in-depth knowledge of funding opportunities and advancing those that match Ohio State’s capabilities, strengths, and interests. They will strengthen our competitive advantage by fine-tuning faculty research ideas to make them most responsive to the particulars of a RFP.

The AVP will collaborate with other university offices (e.g., Govt Affairs, Corporate Engagement, Discovery Themes, etc.) and business development colleagues to target/track customer needs and identify new streams of funding. The AVP serves as a liaison with external entities such as city and state agencies, industry partners, nonprofit organizations, NGOs, etc.

S/he will need to cultivate a thorough knowledge of the University’s research community in order to identify and work with core teams of faculty researchers and college research leaders to focus and align competitive research proposal efforts. Oversees the nurturing and coordination of research business development activities, including bid/no-bid decisions, capture planning and strategy development, customer briefings, proposal development and management, reviews and oral presentations. Provides oversight for the development of plans, schedules and budgets for these activities.

The AVP, Strategic Research Development advises university leadership upon and facilitates distillation of strategic research priorities for the institution. Central to the university priority of building multi-disciplinary research partnerships, works with diverse teams of faculty, research administrators, and other staff members to develop and execute strategic plans for growing prioritized research areas. Collaborates with the Govt Affairs office on university funding priorities and building a case for funding. Oversees data analytics in support of research development, benchmarking, and evidence-based research resources. Leads and manages responses to institutionally prioritized, large and complex funding opportunities from federal, non-profit, and private sponsors.

Leads efforts within the Office of the Senior Vice President for Research to grow research capacity of the University in faculty researcher development, including recruitment, mentoring, research career and leadership development, and retention.

To be successful in this role, the AVP must demonstrate the ability to deal with ambiguity and work towards goals in a complex, diverse environment with multiple, changing demands. They must be proficient in leading through influence as well as positional authority.

Education and Experience Requirements

Requires a Master's degree in related area and a minimum of 10 years' experience managing complex projects with multidisciplinary teams and stringent time limitations. A record of successfully winning new contracts is also a requirement. The ideal candidate will have experience in convening and motivating research teams to convert transformational research ideas into funded awards.  Characteristics of the ideal candidate will include: collaborative and inspirational style; high degree of self-motivation in program creation and execution; strong understanding of research funding landscape (federal, state, corporate, & foundation) and the ability to develop capture strategies for each, both singly and in portfolio combinations; strong leadership and organizational skills with the ability to lead with formal and informal authority; excellent communication skills, including presentations.

Desired qualifications include doctoral degree in related area; experience in higher education with evidence of ability to develop strong relationships and to work with senior-level administration, faculty, and/or staff to reach shared goals; experience establishing alliances among academic, public, and private sector sponsors and partner, as well as managing the alliances to ensure mutually beneficial outcomes.

EEO/AA employer

For more details and to apply, please visit: https://www.jobsatosu.com/ and search for job opening #446957.

The Ohio State University is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation or identity, national origin, disability status, or protected veteran status.