Associate Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation

Fayetteville State University
Associate Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation

Fayetteville State University (FSU) is seeking to hire an Associate Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation. FSU is a public, comprehensive Historically Black University, located in Fayetteville, North Carolina. FSU is the second oldest public university in North Carolina and is the regional university of choice for students from rural, military, and other diverse backgrounds.

Institution
What began in 1867 as a one-building school established by black community leaders to educate black children in Fayetteville, has grown into a campus of 156 acres serving over 6,700 students. Fayetteville State University offers robust and innovative degree programs rooted in the liberal arts tradition. The university advances knowledge through the integration of teaching, learning, research, and public service. FSU strives to meet the educational, career, and personal aspirations of its students and serves the region through key community partnerships and by developing graduates who can have a positive impact through their profession.

FSU has many nationally ranked academic programs, including the school of nursing and online MBA. In addition to exceptional pre-professional programs, FSU has a proud tradition in the arts, humanities, and social sciences. FSU also touts phenomenal Army and Air Force ROTC programs that annually develop students into nationally ranked cadets, prepared to lead successfully in the US military. For more information about the university, please visit: https://www.uncfsu.edu/.

Since 1972, Fayetteville State University has been one of 17 institutions within the broader University of North Carolina System. This multi-campus university system is dedicated to serving the state of North Carolina and its people through world-class teaching, research and scholarship, and outreach and service. More than 239,000 students are enrolled in the UNC System’s 16 universities across the state and the N.C. School of Science and Mathematics.

Location
Fayetteville State University is the heart of a rich cultural life in the greater community and produces many of the region’s nurses, educators, artists, and business leaders. The thriving city of Fayetteville is located in the Sandhills region of southeastern North Carolina and is the seat of Cumberland County. The city is only 65 miles south of the state capital of Raleigh, and major highways provide easy access to North Carolina’s coast to the east and mountains to the west. The downtown area has been revitalized, complete with retail shops, dining establishments, historic sites, museums, local breweries, and even a new Class-A baseball stadium. With Fort Bragg and Pope Army Airfield, Fayetteville is home to a large and vital military community that adds significantly to the area economy and culture. For more information about Fayetteville, please visit: https://www.visitfayettevillenc.com/

Position
The Associate Vice Chancellor (AVC) for Research and Innovation will guide Fayetteville State University’s (FSU) implementation of a comprehensive research agenda that is consistent with its mission of “promoting the educational, social, cultural and economic transformation of southeastern North Carolina and beyond.” The position will be responsible for increasing externally funded and internally funded research productivity at FSU, increasing external funding for research and special programs, strengthening institutional support for research, and identifying appropriate areas of emphasis for research at FSU. Due to the growing presence of military installations and resources in North Carolina, the research agenda will necessarily emphasize research and programs that meet the needs of the U.S. Department of Defense. Reporting directly to the Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, the AVC for Research & Innovation will have supervisory responsibility for the Office of Sponsored Research and will work collaboratively with faculty, department chairs, deans, and staff throughout the university.

This position supervises the Director of the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs, the Pre-Awards Administrator, and the Budget Officer. This team provides support for grant development and submission, grant monitoring and reporting, faculty/constituent training, and partnership building.

Specific responsibilities include:

• Establish an effective, responsive, and productive infrastructure for research at FSU;
• Develop and implement a comprehensive strategic plan for research that will guide FSU’s research and grant writing activities;
• Act as a resource for university stakeholders to empower faculty, staff, and students in carrying out their scholarly, experimental, pedagogical, creative, and organizational projects;
• Comply with federal, state, and university regulations and other appropriate guiding principles through a professionally supported relationship with our stakeholders;
• Provide oversight in areas that are not limited to, Biological Safety, Export Control, Conflict of Interest, Radiation Safety, Research Misconduct, Toxic Substances, research involving Vertebrae Animals or Human Subjects, Materials Transfer Agreements, research involving Controlled Substances, Memorandums of Understanding, Teaming Agreements, and Non-Disclosure Agreements;
• Provide oversight for the successful administration of sponsored programs-to include grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements;
• Build on-campus and external coalitions to leverage support for research and related innovations in the division’s priority areas;
• Strengthen FSU’s research capability by building interdisciplinary teams to generate funded research to address contemporary needs;
• Build diverse and successful research teams that contribute to knowledge creation while also helping to increase underrepresented students’ participation in research and the number of students who are on track for research careers;
• To provide data-driven information to the state, regional, national, and global community on environmental, health, educational, aesthetic, and economic challenges to well-being;
• Provide effective supervision to the development and submission of grants and contracts;
• Represent the university to external agencies and constituencies, including the military and Department of Defense civilian employees, to match needs with FSU’s research effort and capabilities;
• Collaborate with University Advancement as a key stakeholder/partner;
• Assess the university’s research productivity on specific measures, such as amount of external funding for research productivity; number and quality of publications, presentations, and creative works; and other appropriate measures;
• Increase extramural funding to support research, instructional improvement, and public engagement and service;
• Develop the infrastructure and resources needed to promote increased productivity in externally and internally-funded research, scholarship, and creative activity across all disciplines;
• Identify opportunities for grants, contracts, and other external funding sources and assisting faculty and staff individually or in groups to write successful grants and negotiate contracts;
• Initiate programs and services that will enable more faculty to produce research and secure external grant funding;
• Facilitate technology transfer, and working with faculty and UNC General System to increase technology transfer;
• Ensure academic integrity in research and compliance with federal, state, and local regulations/policies pertaining to research and technology transfer;
• Facilitate the engagement of undergraduate and graduate students in research;
• Advise the provost and other university officials on strategies for supporting research activities;
• Complete other related tasks associated with research; and
• Act as the Chief Research Officer (CRO) for the University, and the research Point of Contact for the UNC System.

Qualifications
FSU seeks a collaborative, transparent, innovative, and visionary leader with a record of successful grant writing and contract procurement with administrative responsibility for research in a higher education setting. Other minimum requirements include: (1) 7-10 years of experience with technology support for research and innovation submissions internal and external to campuses, strategic planning, assessment, budget management, and supervision and evaluation of personnel; and (2) an earned doctorate degree from an accredited institution. A Certified Research Administrator designation is preferred. Dedication to preserving and advancing FSU’s HBCU legacy, mission, and culture is essential.

Other qualifications include:

• Knowledge of federal and state regulations pertaining to research and ability to implement regulations on a higher education master’s level campus similar to FSU;
• Knowledge of federal, state, and private funding agencies and the variety of requirements for successful grant writing for each;
• Knowledge of the diversity for research, scholarship, and creative activities within the university and the ability to promote increased productivity in all areas;
• Strong oral and written communication, presentation skills, decision making, and critical/creative thinking;
• Ability to effectively supervise staff;
• Ability to work as a team member with faculty, administrators, and staff to carry out the overall mission of an institution similar to or aspirational for FSU;
• Ability to work with faculty individually and in groups to strengthen their research capabilities;
• Ability to work collaboratively with various of partners both inside and outside the university to increase research and grant writing productivity; and
• Ability to provide training programs for successful research and sponsored-programs activities.

How to Apply
Interested applicants should visit https://jobs.uncfsu.edu/postings/20575 to apply. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. For priority consideration, a candidate’s materials should be received by October 24, 2021. Note, all candidate materials will be confidential. References will not be contacted without a candidate’s knowledge.

The UNC System HR Office is assisting FSU with this search. Confidential inquiries may be directed to Lynn Duffy, Senior Associate Vice President for Leadership Development and Talent Acquisition, at lsduffy@northcarolina.edu

Fayetteville State University is committed to equality of educational opportunity and employment and does not discriminate against applicants, students, or employees based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, genetic information or veteran status. Moreover, Fayetteville State University values diversity and actively seeks to recruit talented students, faculty, and staff from diverse backgrounds.

Fayetteville State University is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor and seeks priority referrals of protected veterans for our openings.