Apply nowJob no: 513535
Work type: Regular Full-time (Benefits eligible)
Location: Tuscaloosa
Categories: Director/Executive, Research/Scientific

Pay Grade/Pay Range: Based on qualifications.

Department/Organization: 701101 - VP Research

Normal Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00am to 4:45pm

Note to Applicants: The earliest planned start date is August 16, 2021 with the latest planned start date of October 11, 2021. Only applicants currently legally eligible to work in the United States will be considered. This is an open, national and rolling search. Review of applications will begin immediately as they are received. Candidates meeting all the required qualifications may be contacted immediately for inquiry and an interview. It is possible that a preferred candidate may be selected as other applications are still being received. Therefore, the most serious and qualified candidates are encouraged to submit their application as soon as possible.

To receive the fullest and timely consideration, applications should be submitted prior to July 31, 2021; however, the position will remain open until filled. Applications submitted after July 31, 2021 will be reviewed and considered as long as the position remains unfilled.

Application materials should include: 1) a complete and updated resume, 2) cover letter summarizing the interest in the position and how the minimum qualifications and any preferred qualifications are met, and 3) a list of four references with full contact information. However, references will only be contacted after written consent of the candidate.

All applicants must apply online at: https://staffjobs.ua.edu/en-us/listing/

Job Summary: Under the direction of the Vice President, the Senior Associate Vice President provides senior-level strategic leadership and direction for multiple departments within a division.

Additional Department Summary: The University of Alabama (UA) seeks an experienced Senior Associate Vice President for Innovation & Research to Applications within the Office for Research & Economic Development (ORED).

This position, reporting directly to the Vice President for Research & Economic Development, is a full-time (12 month) administrative staff position at UA.

This position will drive both innovation and research to real-world applications, helping therefore to maximize the impact of UA’s intellectual assets to foster economic and societal impact as the state’s flagship university.

In December 2018, the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education® designated UA as a Very High Research Activity Doctoral University, formerly called “R1.” This designation is assigned to the nation’s highest level of research activity for institutions that grant doctoral degrees, and places UA among the most elite, public or private, research universities in the United States. The Carnegie designation followed almost a decade of unprecedented investment in the UA campus and new faculty. Since 2015, UA has invested $1.16 billion in the physical campus, adding more than 2.55 million gross square feet of space, and recruited over 150 new research-intensive faculty in many of UA’s signature research areas.

In June 2019, the Office for Research & Economic Development (ORED) launched a five-year strategic plan for UA research (2019-2024). The plan – emanating from UA’s goal to, “increase the University’s productivity and innovation in research, scholarship, and creative activities that impact economic and societal development,” – focuses on six strategic themes: (1) Research Environment, (2) Alabama Research Institutes, (3) Transformative Initiatives, (4) Translating Intellectual Property, (5) Economic and Business Engagement, and (6) Assessing Progress and Impact. The overarching goals of ORED’s plan are to double the research enterprise in five years and become one of the premier comprehensive research institutions in the southeastern United States. UA’s research enterprise has been surging higher for seven consecutive years. For the five-year period from 2014 to 2018, total sponsored awards grew by 85%. In the last two fiscal years (2019-2020), total sponsored awards increased by 70%. This growth rate strengthens UA’s position as one of the fastest growing research institutions in the nation.

A critical element supporting the overall growth of UA’s research enterprise is the growth of signature research areas as represented by the Alabama Research Institutes and Centers. These Institutes and Centers include the Alabama Transportation Institute, Alabama Water Institute, Alabama Life Research Institute, Alabama Cyber Institute, Alabama Analytical Research Center, and the emerging signature research areas of advanced and in-space manufacturing.

UA faculty and students have benefited greatly by strong partnerships with industry, as well as with federal partners including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), United States Geological Survey (USGS), and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Specifically, NOAA’s National Water Center and USGS’s Hydrologic Instrumentation Facility are co-located on UA’s campus. In addition, UA has been formally working with NASA’s George C. Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) for more than a decade. In November, 2019, UA and MSFC reaffirmed this collaboration by signing a Memorandum of Understanding to further develop several mutually beneficial priority areas including advanced and in-space manufacturing.

The Senior Associate Vice President for Innovation and Research to Applications will have the following Major Responsibilities:

• Work effectively and collaboratively with all colleges, research-designated centers, and the Alabama Research Institutes and Centers to advance innovation and research to real-world applications at UA, with a specific focus on the goals of the Alabama Water Institute and the emerging areas of advanced and in-space manufacturing.
• Develop strong relationships with both internal and external constituencies, including faculty, staff and students; campus and system-wide leadership; state and federal government officials; and foundation and industry representatives.
• Develop and secure long-term mutually-beneficial collaborations in the form of public/private and university/university partnerships and consortia with the overall goal to both grow externally sponsored research and create opportunities for students.
• Work effectively with all offices/units/institutes/centers within ORED to achieve these objectives.
• Serve as a member of ORED’s senior leadership team.

Required Minimum Qualifications: Doctorate or higher with a minimum of 7 years of related experience; OR Master's degree with a minimum of 10 years of related experience; OR Bachelor's degree with a minimum of 12 years of related experience. Specific experience requirements may be listed on the position description.

Additional Required Department Minimum Qualifications: Required Qualifications of the Associate Vice President for Innovation & Research to Applications. The candidate must meet all the following required qualifications:

• PhD degree in geosciences, engineering, or related discipline with at least 15 years of post-PhD related experience in academic, industrial and/or government settings.
• Established national and/or international reputation related to water research and operations and/or advanced and in-space manufacturing or space operations.
• Extensive multi-disciplinary leadership experience in research and research to applications or operations with evidence of successfully leading large teams to achieve defined objectives and goals.
• Clear ability and capacity to identify needs of both UA and private industry to develop lasting and mutually beneficial public/private partnerships.
• A clear understanding of technology transfer and licensing from a research-intensive university to the private sector.
• History of successful and effective staff management and professional development.
• Acute understanding of the priorities, operation, and strategies of successfully securing resources to support research and development.

Preferred Qualifications: Preferred Qualifications of the Associate Vice President for Innovation & Research to Applications. In addition to meeting all the required qualifications, the preferred candidate will ideally have one or more of the following:

• Prior research and development and operational experience or collaboration with NASA relating to space systems development and spaceflight operations.
• Prior research, development and operational experience or collaboration with NOAA and USGS.
• Strong academic record and eligibility for faculty appointment in the appropriate academic department at The University of Alabama.
• Strong existing relationships with R&D leaders in industry, universities and federal agencies.
• Prior teaching experience and developing and delivering academic programs and/or training experiences.
• Strong academic record and eligibility for consideration of an adjunct faculty appointment in the appropriate academic department at The University of Alabama.

Background Investigation Statement: Prior to hiring, the final candidate(s) must successfully pass a pre-employment background investigation and information obtained from social media and other internet sources. A prior conviction reported as a result of the background investigation DOES NOT automatically disqualify a candidate from consideration for this position. A candidate with a prior conviction or negative behavioral red flags will receive an individualized review of the prior conviction or negative behavioral red flags before a hiring decision is made.

Equal Employment Opportunity: The University of Alabama is an Equal Employment/Equal Educational Opportunity Institution. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment or volunteer status without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, age, genetic or family medical history information, disability, protected veteran status, or any other legally protected basis, and will not be discriminated against because of their protected status. Applicants and employees of this institution are protected under Federal law from discrimination on several bases. Follow the link below to find out more. "EEO is the Law" Poster

Advertised: 01 Jul 2021 Central Daylight Time
Applications close: 31 Jul 2021 Central Daylight Time

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