Vice President for Research and Innovation Partnerships

SUMMARY OF OPPORTUNITY

Northern Illinois University (NIU), a student-centered, nationally recognized public research university located 65 miles west of Chicago invites applications for the position of Vice President for Research and Innovation Partnerships (VPRIP). NIU seeks an accomplished, visionary, research leader to advance NIU’s strong culture of scholarship, research, creative activities, and innovation.

Reporting to the President, VPRIP is responsible for the strategic and operational leadership of the research and innovation enterprise portfolio providing creative, efficient research administrative operations; promoting a bold, collaborative, innovative research environment; engaging and supporting investigators to promote multidisciplinary research projects; overseeing campus-wide planning efforts for research facilities; increasing opportunities with local, regional, federal, and other funding agencies, national laboratories, industry partners, and other constituencies; supporting intellectual property and technology transfer; and providing strategic guidance and decision making on matters relative to resource planning, policy development, promotion of research, scholarly and creative activity, and exploration of innovative interdisciplinary and cross-disciplinary collaborations in a shared governance environment.

The ideal candidate is a distinguished national scholar, researcher, and educator commensurate with the potential for an appointment as a tenured full professor. While academic experience, both professional and administrative, is strongly desired, exceptional candidates who have demonstrated a high degree of national or international scholarly and administrative success outside of academia will be considered. The successful candidate must also exhibit substantial administrative leadership experience at a research university or comparable setting, have knowledge of and commitment to research compliance and integrity, possesses the ability and acumen to help translate research for societal gain enhancing workforce development for economic growth, and have a knowledge of and commitment to shared governance.

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES

STRATEGY & VISION

• Develops and implements the vision, plan, and policies to guide the NIU research portfolio and consults regularly with university faculty, staff and administration to achieve the organizational research, scholarship and artistry goals;

• Serves as the primary advocate on research activities and as a representative in efforts to produce major new research programs within the scientific community as well as expanding the organization’s reputation in research, innovation and creative works;

• Champions, supports, and develops ways to catalyze the research and innovation pipeline through education, awareness, and utilization of resources;

• Develops a research and innovation strategy building on current assets, supports the regional needs of the community, and positions the institution for scholarly excellence.

COLLABORATION

• Advises, mentors, and collaborates with NIU leadership and investigators to strengthen output and success rate of high- quality publications, extramural grant proposals and research initiatives;

• Develops sustainable relationships with local, regional, federal, public, private and industry sources to increase innovative, collaborative scholarship and externally sponsored funding opportunities;

• Stimulates and supports the growth of innovative multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary research and scholarship throughout the NIU enterprise; and

• Promotes and assists with opportunities for intellectual property and technology transfer in partnership with the NIU senior administration (general counsel, financial and appropriate leadership team, etc.).

OPERATIONAL LEADERSHIP

• Advises senior administration on research initiatives, policy, and operations;

• Develops and promotes research support policies, practices, and programs fostering the professional growth and development of the NIU community including investigators, students, and staff;

• Ensures compliance with all federal, state and university regulations governing research ensuring research is conducted according to the highest ethical and safety standards;

• Directs activities of senior staff responsible for pre-award and post-award research administration, and staff charged with the preparation of grants that provide university-wide research support;

• Effectively supervises administration of the Office of Sponsored Programs Administration, Office of Innovation, Office of Research Development, Center for Burma Studies, campus-wide research facilities, and the Office of Research Compliance, Integrity, and Safety;

• Develops administrative infrastructure supporting and enabling successful, focused research across the NIU enterprise;

• Prioritizes and allocates internal budgetary resources for research opportunities; and

• Effectively collaborates with university shared governance.

More information on Northern Illinois University may be found here: www.niu.edu/visit and for the full leadership profile, please see: https://harrissearch.com/pub/publications/searches/harris-search-associates-selected-by-northern-illinois-university-to-lead-the-search-for-the-next-vice-president-for-research-and-innovation-partnerships/.

Procedure for candidacy

Applications should include a letter of interest and curriculum vitae. Applications and nominations will be accepted until the position is filled. Confidential review of materials and screening of candidates will begin immediately. Harris Search Associates is assisting Northern Illinois University for this search.

Please contact Jeffrey Harris, Managing Partner or Eric Christ, Senior Consultant for further details.

Jeffrey Harris, Managing Partner              Eric Christ, Senior Consultant

Tel: 614-798-8500                                             Tel: 614-798-8500

Cell: 614-354-2100                                            Cell: 614-800-9974

Email: jeff@HarrisSearch.com                   Email: eric@HarrisSearch.com

EEO STATEMENT

In accordance with applicable statutes and regulations, NIU is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, religion, age, physical and mental disability, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, political affiliation, or any other factor unrelated to professional qualifications, and will comply with all applicable federal and state statutes, regulations and orders pertaining to nondiscrimination, equal opportunity and affirmative action.