Assistant Vice President for Research

The Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR) invites applications for the position of Assistant Vice President for Research Infrastructure, reporting directly to the Vice President for Research (VPR) and will be an associate or full research professor determined by the individual's research background. The Assistant Vice President for Research serves as senior advisor to the VPR regarding strategic development and stewardship of UNM's research enterprise, including participating in strategic planning and management of OVPR Category 3 center and institute assets. The portfolio includes responsibility for the areas within the OVPR listed below. This is a 12-month position, subject to review and renewal on an annual basis. The final FTE of the Assistant VPR role will be negotiated to accommodate candidates who choose to maintain an active research portfolio.

Areas of responsibility for this position include:

Research Facilities and Core Facilities (30%)

• Provide executive oversight for university research infrastructure, including shared instrumentation, core facilities, laboratories, and specialized research centers, including developing strategic plans for the growth, modernization, and sustainability of research facilities to support current and emerging research needs.
• Promote shared-resource models that maximize utilization, foster interdisciplinary research, and enhance competitiveness for external funding, including establishing policies (e.g., facilities use agreements), governance structures, and operational standards that promote excellence, accessibility, compliance, and efficient and effective utilization of research resources by both internal researchers and external partners.
• Collaborate with facility directors, faculty, and university leadership to prioritize investments in research equipment, technology, and infrastructure.
• Oversee the financial management and business operations of core facilities, including budgeting, cost recovery models, and long-term sustainability planning.
• Represent research infrastructure priorities in institutional planning efforts and advocate for investments that advance the university's research mission.

National Laboratory and Industry User Facility and Shared Research Infrastructure Management (25%)

• Serve as the university's primary research facilities liaison to Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Sandia National Laboratories (SNL), the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), and other federal research laboratories to strengthen research-based strategic partnerships and collaborative initiatives.
• Promote coordination of research facilities at national laboratories, including user facilities (i.e. CINT, Quantum Demonstration Facility, and CAMINO), and UNM research facilities, including user facilities (i.e. CHTM, CMEM, and ARTsLab), to maximize research and training effectiveness and reduce duplication of regional resources
• Promote and coordinate utilization of UNM research facilities by private partners, including regional industry and start-ups to maximize utilization of facilities and their sustainability.
• Work with the OVPR's Office of Research, Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships (ORTIP) to identify and advance opportunities to enhance the university's role in addressing national and regional priorities through external partnerships (national labs, industry), faculty engagement with national laboratory research programs, user facilities, and funding initiatives, and trainee experiences, fellowships, and career pathways.
• Monitor federal research and laboratory initiatives to identify emerging opportunities that align with institutional strengths and strategic priorities and coordinate institutional participation in such initiatives as laboratory-sponsored research programs, educational initiatives, and regional innovation partnerships.
• Work with university and laboratory leadership to foster relationships that advance the university's research, education, and workforce development missions through agreements, frameworks, and strategic initiatives that expand collaborative research and innovation activities.

Faculty, Postdoctoral Scholar, and Graduate Student Success Programs (40%)

• Provide strategic leadership, oversight, and assessment for faculty, staff, and student success initiatives and recognition (e.g., research awards) initiatives that support research excellence, including the WeR1 Faculty Success Program, the Zancada Graduate Fellowship Program, the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs (OPA), and the STEM-H Center (joint with HSC).
• Collaborate with the Faculty Research Development Office (FRDO), UNM ADVANCE, and Academic Affairs to develop and implement research-focused programs that enhance faculty research development, mentoring, scholarly productivity, external funding competitiveness, and engagement with UNM's research infrastructure and partnerships.
• Lead initiatives that promote and expand undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral participation in research, experiential learning, and career development opportunities.
• Partner with academic leaders, faculty, and administrative units to align faculty and student success programs with institutional strategic priorities and serve as a resource regarding national laboratory partnerships for UNM researchers.
• Collaborate with the Faculty Research Development Office (FRDO) to identify and pursue external funding opportunities to sustain and expand faculty development, graduate student, and postdoctoral success programs.

Leadership and Strategic Engagement (5%)

• Serve as an OVPR executive team member and senior advisor to the Vice President for Research on faculty success, student research engagement, national laboratory partnerships, and research infrastructure strategy.
• Work with the VPR and the AVP for External Relations to build and maintain partnerships with academic units, government agencies, industry partners, and community stakeholders to advance research and workforce development goals.
• Lead cross-functional teams and committees focused on enhancing the university's research ecosystem/infrastructure and institutional impact.
• Champion a culture of innovation, collaboration, inclusion, and operational excellence across faculty development, student success, and research support programs.

Minimum Job Requirements:

• Earned doctorate in a research-intensive field from an accredited institution.
  
• Minimum of 10 years of combined active research experience as principal investigator and/or in leadership or oversight roles supporting research operations at a large public or private academic/research institution

Preferred Qualifications:

• Significant experience leading one or more aspects of research administration at a university or research institution
  
• Experience in establishing, running, and/or overseeing research facilities and core facilities
  
• Broad experience working across multiple sectors and/or disciplines to develop successful research-focused partnerships
  
• A record of successful collaboration with national laboratories, consortia, and/or industry partners in a research environment
  
• Commitment to effectively cultivating discovery, innovation and entrepreneurship among faculty, staff, and students
  
• Excellent and proven administrative and managerial skills, including leadership and team building, and strong interpersonal skills, including successful conflict resolution
  
• Established track record procuring external funding as appropriate to candidate's field
  
• Excellent written communication, oral communication, and presentation skills across disciplines, sectors, and communities
• A demonstrated commitment to cultivate an understanding of the rich and varied cultures of New Mexico and to the success of the university's mission to serve local and global communities

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The University of New Mexico is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class.