Please consider applying for this new position, described below, by 3/21/25.

Senior Associate VP for Research Administration and Central Services

Summary:
The Senior Associate Vice President for Research Administration and Central Services (SrAVP-RACS), reporting to the University’s Vice President for Research (VPR), serves a central role overseeing and managing the comprehensive research administration functions within the Office of the Vice President for Research to support the university’s research mission. Within the organizational structure, the SrAVP-RACS will interface in a leadership capacity on behalf of the OVPR units that impact grant administration broadly, including the Proposal Development Office, Collaborative Grant Services and Office of Sponsored Projects Administration. They also direct units that support the above activities including Research Communications, Research Information Services, and the Office of Undergraduate Research. The SrAVP-RACS will lead continuous improvement processes across the Research enterprise, providing strategic leadership in evaluation, planning and change within OVPR units to enhance support for UK researchers. The SrAVP-RACS will support the VPR in strategic planning and policy development and assist the VPR in implementation of OVPR initiatives.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Strategic Planning: 

   • Assist VPR in strategic planning and implementation. 

   • Prepare strategic planning documents, coordination of metrics for evaluation and tactics for meeting goals. 

   • Identification of targeted investments and implementation of continuous improvement processes. 

   • Review existing policies and procedures to reduce the administrative burden on researchers and staff.

   • Lead specific initiatives as assigned. 

2. Proposal and Grants Management:

   • Work with the Proposal Development Office, Collaborative Grant Services and the Office of Sponsored Projects Administration to provide enhanced services to PIs and coordinate limited submission review and selection in consultation with the VPR.

   • Work with unit directors to develop annual budget and personnel requests. Implement continuous improvement approaches to enhance services to researchers while maintaining staff engagement. 

   • Evaluate all office processes and policies. Integrate unit activities across grant lifecycle to enhance efficiency and improved processes.  

   • Evaluate and implement technology solutions where appropriate. 

3. Research Support Units:

   • Work with unit directors to develop annual budget and personnel requests.  

   • Implement unit activities to accomplish priorities set by VPR. 

   • Support decision making related to overall system integration for research across campus.

4. Undergraduate Research: 

   • Facilitate activities of the Office of Undergraduate Research to support all undergraduate research at UK. 

   • Consolidate dispersed programs across UK into OUR for more effective management. 

5. Research Space Committee: 

   • Coordinate with building staff and Research Administration and Fiscal Affairs to manage research buildings under the control of the VPR including assignment of space within the facilities, assessment of space utilization, and reassignment of research and office space to meet the evolving needs of the research community.  

   • Chair the Research Space Committee which advises the VPR on research space needs across the campus.

Qualifications: 

• Current employment as a tenured faculty member at the University of Kentucky with the ability to devote 40% effort to the role.

• Demonstrated success in leading and managing a large extramurally funded research portfolio.

• Leadership experience at the departmental, center, institute, college or university level with a successful track record of innovative programming, strategic planning, budget management, program development, evaluation and assessment. 

• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with colleagues across campus units on research-related activities. 

• Experience developing, reviewing and implementing operating plans; capable of analyzing complex operations and creating efficiencies in a thoughtful, organized and decisive manner. 

• Demonstrated experience in administration and supervision of various levels of staff engaged in research and operations management.

• Exceptional interpersonal and communication, mentoring and team-building skills.

• Ability to align people around shared goals, foster trust and work collegially.

• Demonstrated experience with leading teams through process and organizational change.

• Broad-based knowledge of various federal, state, corporate and foundation sponsors.  

Apply:

Application deadline is 3/21/25. All applicants should send a cover letter detailing their interest and qualifications and updated CV to vpr@uky.edu. Please use subject line: SrAVP-RACS.