Vice President of Research and Economic Development

Vice President of Research and Economic Development

Montana State University is seeking to hire an effective and impactful leader to provide institution- wide leadership for the University’s nationally and internationally renowned research and economic development initiatives. Montana State is one of only 146 universities in the U.S. designated as an institution with very high research activity by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.

The Vice President of Research and Economic Development is the principal research officer for the University. This position reports to the President and is a critical member of the executive team. The Vice President provides the dynamic leadership necessary to foster steady increases in external funding for research, strengthen scholarly dissemination, promote growth, collaboration, and student success in appropriate and relevant graduate programs, and foster innovative and nationally recognized scholarship and creative activity in all fields, including interdisciplinary collaborations as a champion of the University’s Strategic Plan, Choosing Promise.

Montana State University's main campus is located in Bozeman, Montana, a community of about 58,000 nestled in the Rocky Mountains in Southwest Montana, only 90 miles north of Yellowstone National Park. In addition to its role as the University of the Yellowstone™, with unparalleled access to an extraordinary ecosystem for teaching and research programs, Bozeman is renowned for year-round recreational and cultural opportunities including access to world class ski areas, multiple blue-ribbon trout streams, and the Gallatin National Forest. The local airport is Montana’s busiest airport and is served by seven national airlines with over 20 flights a day and non-stop flights to 17 cities in the United States with connections all over the world.

Candidates should possess the following minimum qualifications: earned doctorate or equivalent degree from an accredited institution; rank of full professor or record justifying appointment at that level or title equivalent to senior research manager in industry, non-profit, or government; demonstrated effectiveness in administration and management of a complex institutional organization or unit; demonstrated record of excellence in progressive levels of leadership, responsibility and expertise in research administration at a major research university, organization, or government agency; outstanding, nationally recognized record of scholarship and success in attracting competitive research funding along with experience in leading multidisciplinary research/creative initiatives; must be able to obtain a U.S. national security clearance through Department of Defense and Department of Energy; and demonstrated ability to work effectively as a team member in a diverse, collaborative campus environment and provide effective leadership to enhance the increasing diversity and global character of Montana State University.

Preferred qualifications include the following: demonstrated excellence in leading or participating in a complex organization with a broad focus across disciplines; experience in cultivating diversity in research and education and fostering development of faculty research programs; comprehensive understanding of the role a public land-grant university serves to enhance the vitality of the region and the state, and of the importance of research, creative activity, and scholarship across the university; demonstrated experience and effectiveness in technology transfer activities and startups, collaborating with industries, and working actively with state and local government; ability to articulate the university’s vision for research, creative activities, and technology transfer that represents the diverse disciplines of a land-grant university; and demonstrated excellence in graduate student education/mentoring.

 

How to Apply

Greenwood Asher & Associates is assisting Montana State University in this search. Applications and nominations are now being accepted. Confidential inquiries, nominations, and application materials should be directed to Greenwood Asher & Associates. For a full application package, please submit a cover letter, CV, and list of five references. Submission of application materials as PDF attachments is strongly encouraged. The search will be conducted with a commitment of confidentiality for candidates until finalists are selected. Initial screening of applications will begin immediately and will continue until an appointment is made.

 

Please direct inquiries, nominations and application materials to:

Bob Caret, Vice President of Executive Search & Search Manager

E-mail: bobcaret@greenwoodsearch.com

 

Ann Bailey, Senior Executive Search Consultant

E-mail: annbailey@greenwoodsearch.com

 

Montana State University reaffirms its policy of equal opportunity regardless of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, or status as a disabled veteran or Vietnam era veteran. This policy applies to all programs and facilities, including, but not limited to, admissions, educational programs, and employment.