Assistant Vice Chancellor for Research Administration and Compliance (0550U) 10002
Overview
University of California, Berkeley
Assistant Vice Chancellor for Research Administration & Compliance, Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research
Position Announcement
UC Berkeley is seeking an experienced, collaborative, and service-focused leader who is committed to supporting research at a large, public research university.
The Assistant Vice Chancellor for Research Administration and Compliance (AVC RAC) reports to the Vice Chancellor for Research (VCR) and directs contract and grant administration and research compliance for the Berkeley campus by providing oversight to a diverse and broad portfolio of functions. The areas that Research Administration and Compliance (RAC) include are: Sponsored Projects Office (SPO), the Office for the Protection of Human Subjects (OPHS), the Animal Use and Care Committee (ACUC), the campus Conflict of Interest Committee (COI), Export Control, research compliance regulations, and the related IT function. The research contract and grant administration account for over 3,500 proposals, 1,800 awards, and $750 million on average per year, which is approximately one-third of Berkeley’s annual operating budget. The AVC RAC has broad impact and importance to the Berkeley campus, its operation, and its researchers and the affiliated administrators.
About UC Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley, is one of the world’s leading institutions of higher education, distinguished by its combination of internationally recognized academic and research excellence; the transformative opportunity it provides to a large and diverse student body; its public mission and commitment to equity and social justice; and its roots in the California experience, animated by such values as innovation, questioning the status quo, and respect for the environment and nature. Since its founding in 1868, Berkeley has fueled a perpetual renaissance, generating unparalleled intellectual, economic and social value in California, the United States and the world.
Berkeley is committed to creating a community that fosters equity of experience and opportunity, and ensures that students, faculty, and staff of all backgrounds feel safe, welcome and included. Our culture of openness, freedom and belonging make it a special place for students, faculty and staff. Berkeley is looking for equity-minded applicants who represent the full diversity of California and who demonstrate a sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, and ethnic backgrounds present in our community. When people join the team at Berkeley, they can expect to be part of an inclusive, innovative and equity-focused community that approaches higher education as a matter of social justice that requires broad collaboration among faculty, staff, students and community partners. To learn more about Berkeley, please feel free to visit: our Guiding Values and Principles, our Principles of Community, and our Strategic Plan.
Research at UC Berkeley
Berkeley addresses the biggest challenges of the day to create a better world, and Berkeley’s faculty and researchers are changing the way we understand and interact with the world. Consistently ranked among the top research universities, Berkeley is highly rated for its quality and breadth of its research programs and the distinction of its faculty. From robotic legs to the origins of the universe, research at Berkeley crosses disciplines and illuminates new ideas.
Berkeley has a long legacy of innovations and leaders that have created groundbreaking products, revolutionary companies, and entirely new industries. The campus plays a critical role in California’s economy. Faculty and researchers at UC Berkeley and the Berkeley Lab are developing renewable and sustainable energy sources, advancing new technologies to help curb energy demand, understanding the implications for climate change and the environment, and formulating appropriate and timely policy responses.
As the world becomes increasingly digital, new approaches to aggregating and analyzing data are bringing huge benefits to fields as diverse as health care, astrophysics, genetics, business and public policy. Berkeley researchers lead the way in the data science that is accelerating scientific discovery across many areas. Exploring the world and tackling global problems have long been a key part of UC Berkeley’s traditions. A vast number of international programs ranging from study abroad opportunities to large- scale global research collaborations facilitate the work of our faculty and students.
Division, Department, and Position Overview
The Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research (VCR) has overall managerial responsibility for Berkeley's research enterprise. It seeks to maintain a research environment that fosters creativity, collaboration and community. Its specific goals are to provide effective support for campus-wide research efforts; to advocate for research needs and resources; and to maximize the benefits of Berkeley's research to the scholarly community, and to the quality of life in the local community, the state, and the nation. In support of these goals, the Office of the VCR: supervises over 50 research units, six museums, and seven field stations; administers the flow of research funding to the Berkeley campus; oversees the compliance of campus research with federal, state and university regulations; facilitates relations between University researchers and private industry for the benefit of society.
The AVC RAC reports to the VCR and directs the Office of Research Administration and Compliance (RAC) and is responsible for the management of two distinct core functions of central campus services: the research contract and grant administration that is performed through the Sponsored Projects Office (SPO) and the research compliance programs administered through the Office for Protection of Human Subjects (OPHS), the Animal Care and Use Committee (ACUC), the Conflict of Interest Committee (COI), Export Control, the Responsible Conduct of Research program, and the RAC IT unit. The AVC RAC is responsible for leading all RAC operations, which includes a budget of approximately $7.2 million and a staff of 44 FTE and additional part-time and student workers.
The AVC RAC advises and provides guidance to the Vice Chancellor of Research, other senior campus managers, and committees of the Academic Senate on federal and state research regulations and University research policy. The AVC RAC is responsible developing and implementing research policies and processes to improve efficiencies in managing pre-award and non-financial post-award functions for Berkeley’s $750+ million research portfolio. The position is responsible for providing vision, strategic planning, and implementation for enterprise-level online research administration, compliance, and tracking systems. The AVC RAC directs communication efforts to inform campus research community of new funding opportunities, regulatory developments, and changes in governmental research policies. The AVC RAC represents the Berkeley campus in systemwide Research Compliance Advisory Committee and Contract and Grant Officers meetings and in national organizations such as the Council on Governmental Relations, Society of Research Administrators International, and the National Conference of University Research Administrators. Represents the UC system on the National Academies of Sciences International Research Collaborations Workgroup. The AVC RAC also has a dotted line reporting relationship to the Associate Chancellor & Chief Ethics, Compliance, and Risk Officer (CERCO) in the Chancellor’s Office.
SPO is responsible for all aspects of pre-award and non-financial post-award contract and administration. SPO works to ensure that Berkeley is fully compliant with sponsor terms and conditions, University policies, and federal regulations and requirements. SPO initiates the set-up of sponsored project accounts, and prepares, issues and negotiates subawards for collaborative research. SPO, as well as the broader RAC, works closely with Contracts & Grants Accounting (CGA) in the Controller’s Office, Research Administrators in Berkeley Regional Services (BRS), and various departments and organized research units.
Key Responsibilities
The AVC RAC oversees central campus research administration and compliance units with broad impact to a significant portion of the campus faculty, researchers, and staff. The position directs the activities of a broad organizational department through subordinate senior managers, having overall responsibility for contracts and grants administration and research compliance programs. The AVC RAC makes long- term strategic decisions concerning organizational structures of assigned units and resources, research policy, research administration operations, and research enterprise-wide information systems. The position ensures the success of assigned functions and for the integration of the units’ activities with other areas of campus and the UC system.
The position advises and interacts with senior management in academic, administration, compliance, and research areas on specific research compliance and policy situations, regulatory enforcement negotiations, and/or being an ambassador for the operations of the research enterprise. In support of research, outreach, and public service missions – the AVC RAC negotiates and directs complex agreements with other institutions, federal, state, local, and foreign governmental entities and foundations.
Candidate Qualifications
To successfully oversee various important functions within the RAC department that has broad impact to the campus and diverse subject matter areas, the candidates should be committed to supporting research and researchers, able to effectively balance risk with service, and able to learn quickly and identify creative solutions. We are seeking a strong manager, leader with vision, and a diplomatic and efficient communicator. Someone who understands complex negotiations and who can negotiate yet reach closure in a timely fashion will be important. The person should work well in a complex organizational framework and be highly collaborative.
Other desired qualifications and leadership characteristics include:
• Broad knowledge of and expertise in leading the administration, compliance, contracting, and/or
related support services for research within a complex organization. Broad knowledge and understanding of issues, regulations, and emerging trends related to research administration and compliance.
• Sophisticated strategic leadership skills to develop, implement, and measure strategies and programs; demonstrated problem solving ability and analytical skills.
• Ability to establish mission and goals for the responsible areas; demonstrated skills in supervision and ability to effectively coach, mentor, assess, and motivate professional staff.
• Strong collaboration, conflict management, political acumen, and service orientation. Strong communication and listening skills to establish trust and credibility.
• Commitment to the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion; equity-minded.
• Outstanding ethics demonstrated by an uncompromising commitment to integrity, ability to
confront highly sensitive issues and maintain objectivity.
To Apply
To view the full job posting and to apply, please visit:
https://apptrkr.com/1985564
The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.