Associate Vice President for Research and Faculty Development

The Office of Vice President for Research and Creative Activity (RCA) of North Dakota State University (NDSU) invites applications and nominations as we launch a national search for an  Associate Vice President for Research and Faculty Development.

The Associate Vice President will serve in the inner leadership circle of the Vice President for Research and Creative Activity and play a vital role in NDSU's efforts to increase faculty success in securing external funding and to pursue strategic research priorities with both state and federal funding potential. 

This is an exciting and dynamic time at NDSU, a Carnegie R1 "very high research activity" land-grant university. With new leadership in President David Cook and Vice President for Research and Creative Activity Colleen Fitzgerald, the research enterprise is poised to build on recent successes. Significant awards include a $14 million National Science Foundation Innovation Corps (I-Corps) Hub award, National Institutes of Health R01 and Center for Biomedical Research Excellence awards, and new funding from the Department of Defense. NDSU had its second most successful year to date in dollars awarded for the 2022 fiscal year.

The new Associate Vice President will build momentum in key strategic research priorities through the design and implementation of programmatic approaches to building faculty success in all the disciplines across campus (STEM, arts, humanities, social sciences, education, and more), as well as in interdisciplinary and convergent efforts. The ideal candidate will bring a can-do, accomplishment-oriented approach, and even new or different knowledge or skills that complement the existing leadership team. We are especially looking for candidates with a proven track record in operationalizing effective research development programs to support early career faculty success and to grow research leadership among mid-career and even senior faculty. This job is not a remote or hybrid position.

NDSU is located in Fargo, North Dakota, recently featured in the New York Times travel section as well as in the Wall Street Journal for its downtown revitalization. The Greater Fargo-Moorhead population was 126,111 in 2021 and continues to grow, including with a vibrant community of New Americans. With two James Beard-nominated restaurants and a thriving entrepreneurship scene, Fargo offers easy access to the lake country in Minnesota. Western North Dakota offers the Badlands and new Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in Medora. The state is also home to five sovereign Tribal Nations and five Tribal Colleges.  

Additional Responsibilities

• Establish and carry out processes and procedures to fulfill key responsibilities in research development Design and implement research development programs and trainings to increase faculty success (in all disciplines on campus) on external grant proposals Develop and implement activities to foster interdisciplinary collaborations and ensure follow through that realizes the potential of the most promising collaborations. Manage internal competitions. Create and maintain systems and resources for disseminating information about funding opportunities, application processes, and other grants-related information to the NDSU community. Keep abreast of developments in federal opportunities, regulations, policies, and procedures to ensure submission of compliant proposals.

Ensure faculty development that leads to greater success in their research and creative endeavors, including those directly relevant for maintaining Carnegie R1 status. Lead the office in providing proposal assistance to faculty to enhance the competitiveness of applications. Produce training modules to engage faculty in diverse disciplines to develop competitive grant proposals. Target and promote funding opportunities by developing, fostering, and training interdisciplinary and convergent research teams to prepare and submit grant proposals. Perform internal outreach to identify faculty and institutional interests and needs. Build and maintain collaborative relationships with faculty to promote excellence and growth in research and scholarly activity. Provide support for early career faculty on research career development. Provide or facilitate training and professional development on funding agency opportunities and developing strategies for writing to different agencies. Provide strategic advice to the VPR and work collaboratively with the RCA senior leadership team to identify and address gaps, capitalize on opportunities, and leverage resources and assets for greater return on investment. Promote NDSU’s research capabilities and accomplishments to strengthen its visibility with external funding sources. Enhance and facilitate development of convergent/transdisciplinary research to develop more competitive proposals.  Identify opportunities for faculty involving collaborations, partnerships, and creative pairings of campus or regional assets in support of initiatives that achieve RCA and NDSU goals. Leverage NDSU's status in an EPSCoR/IDeA jurisdiction and coordinate and collaborate with the statewide ND EPSCoR office which is housed at NDSU. Lead and manage the unit's staffing, budget, operations and strategic planning. Other duties as assigned. Minimum Qualifications

• An earned Ph.D. or terminal degree. Minimum of six (6) years of higher education experience with at least three (3) years in an administrative role (i.e., department chair, director). Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with faculty, staff, and students, and other stakeholders. Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. Ability to multi-task diverse projects. Demonstration of excellent interpersonal, oral and written communication skills. Demonstrated experience implementing approaches to increase faculty research success.

Preferred Qualifications

• Established track record in proposal development. Demonstrated prior leadership experience in a similar or related role. Prior experience in a central research office in research and/or faculty development Prior experience as a federal or private foundation program officer (grants program director). Credentials and achievement that merit appointment at NDSU at the rank of associate professor or above.

Application Process
Any questions about the search can be directed to the search committee at ndsu.rcasearch@ndsu.edu. While applications and nominations will be accepted until the position is filled, full consideration will be given to candidates who submit application materials by March 31, 2023. Applications accepted online at https://www.ndsu.edu/employment/.  Assoc. VP -Research and Faculty Development job posting #2947848 (Please include a curriculum vitae, the names and contact information for four (4) references (references will not be contacted without prior discussion with the candidate), and a cover letter specifically addressing the minimum and preferred qualifications with your application materials.)

Benefits

NDSU offers a comprehensive benefits package which includes single or family health insurance coverage with premiums paid for by the university – with an effective date for new employees the first of the month following date of hire. Other benefits include: wellness benefits, basic life insurance, retirement plan, tuition waiver, annual leave, EAP, sick leave and holiday pay. Optional benefits include supplemental life, dental, vision, long-term care insurance, flexible spending account, and supplemental retirement plans.

About Us 

North Dakota State University is distinctive as a student focused, land-grant, research university. Our main campus is located in Fargo, ND with Extension Service and Research Experiment Station locations across the state.

NDSU is the best college in ND, according to Money Magazine (September 2018).  NDSU was named a 2019 Best Value College by Forbes.   Fargo made Livability.com’s top 10 list of cities to find a job and ranked at #11 for best places to live overall. 

No Smoking Notice

As an employer, the State of North Dakota prohibits smoking in all places of state employment in accordance with N.D.C.C. § 23-12-10.

Veteran’s Preference Notice

This position is subject to North Dakota Veteran’s Preference requirements.

Reasonable Accommodation Information

North Dakota State University is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation in its services, programs, activities, education, and employment for individuals with disabilities. To request disability accommodation in the application process, please contact Human Resources at 701-231-8961 or ndsu.hr@ndsu.edu.

Land Acknowledgement

We collectively acknowledge we gather at NDSU, a land-grant institution, on the traditional lands of the Oceti Sakowin (Dakota, Lakota, Nakoda) and Anishinaabe Peoples in addition to many diverse Indigenous Peoples still connected to these lands. We honor with gratitude Mother Earth and the Indigenous Peoples who have walked with her throughout generations. We will continue to learn how to live in unity with Mother Earth and build strong, mutually beneficial, trusting relationships with Indigenous Peoples of our region. (see www.ndsu.edu/inclusioncouncil/native_american_initiatives/).