"Assistant Vice Chancellor for Research Strategy and Impact"

Position Summary/Description

The Assistant Vice Chancellor (AVC) for Research Strategy and Impact reports to the Vice Chancellor for Research (VCR) and plays a pivotal role in strengthening the university's research enterprise by fostering connections, partnerships, and initiatives that amplify the reach and impact of UNC's research. The AVC serves as an advisor to the VCR and drives initiatives that strengthen collaboration, expand the university's research influence, and promote the impact of UNC's research enterprise. This role integrates executive management, research strategy, and strategic collaboration to increase organizational effectiveness and ensure that UNC's research priorities align with institutional goals and emerging opportunities at the state, national, and global levels.

Key areas of responsibility include:

• Increasing the capacity and effectiveness of the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research (OVCR) and its 14 centers and institutes. This includes leading the assessment and evaluation of centers and institutes and their directors through the annual review, five year review, 360 degree review processes, and leadership development initiatives. The AVC also directs organizational development efforts including streamlining and standardizing internal processes and improving cross unit information exchange and coordination across the OVCR. Through these efforts, the AVC builds institutional capacity, enhances operational effectiveness, and supports a culture of continuous improvement.
• Developing, implementing, and tracking initiatives that advance UNC's research mission and support VCR's Strategic Research Roadmap. Working with relevant OVCR teams and leaders, the AVC coordinates efforts to assess research strengths, identify emerging opportunities, and align with state, national, and global priorities. The role designs and implements frameworks to assess research impact, strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration, and enhance research engagement across the university.
• Fostering strategic partnerships, interdisciplinary collaborations, and programs that enhance connections between researchers, funding agencies, external collaborators, and university partners. The AVC provides high-level leadership for cross-campus initiatives that involve the OVCR, working closely with university leadership, faculty, and external partners to maximize the visibility and influence of UNC's research. This role is responsible for developing and implementing strategic approaches to assess and interpret research performance, generate impact data, and engage key partners In addition, the AVC serves as a key liaison in ensuring that the university research community remains informed and aligned with evolving federal, state, and system office regulations. The AVC organizes town halls, informational sessions, and campus-wide discussions to inform campus about updates on research compliance and policies, regulatory shifts, and best practices, ensuring that UNC's researchers have the knowledge and resources necessary to navigate the changing research landscape effectively. The AVC plays a key role in ensuring that UNC's research contributes to innovation, economic growth, and societal advancement.

This position is instrumental in fostering a culture of collaboration, expanding the university's research influence. By advancing engagement efforts across campus and beyond, the AVC plays a critical role in amplifying UNC's research leadership, broadening its impact at state, national, and global levels, and elevating the visibility of UNC's $1.55 billion research enterprise.

Education and Experience

• Prior experience leading research engagement and strategic efforts within a high research activity university.
• 5+ years of experience successfully managing research-related initiatives, cross-campus collaborations, or strategic engagement efforts within a university, government, or research-intensive environment.

Essential Skills

• Demonstrated experience leading research engagement, collaboration, and impact-driven initiatives within a large, complex organization.
• Experience successfully managing research-related initiatives, cross-campus collaborations, or strategic engagement efforts within a university, government, or research-intensive environment.
• Proven ability to develop and implement strategies that enhance research engagement, interdisciplinary collaboration, and the broader societal impact of research.
• Experience fostering partnerships with internal and external stakeholders, including faculty, university leadership, funding agencies, industry, government, and community organizations.
• Strong leadership skills, with the ability to inspire teams and work collaboratively across a decentralized research environment.
• Ability to communicate complex scientific, regulatory, and institutional policies clearly to a wide range of audiences, ensuring accessibility and engagement.
• Expertise in developing and implementing engagement frameworks, research impact assessments, and data-driven strategies to advance institutional research goals.
• Experience leading high-profile events, public engagement initiatives, and strategic discussions that elevate the visibility of research efforts at the university, state, and national levels.
• Skilled at managing regulatory and policy communications, including organizing town halls and information sessions to share updates on federal, state, and system-wide research policies.
• Strong writing, public speaking, and facilitation skills with an ability to synthesize complex information for diverse audiences.
• Adept at working in fast-paced, evolving environments with multiple priorities, requiring adaptability, diplomacy, and problem-solving skills.
• Detail-oriented and deadline-driven with strong organizational and analytical capabilities.
• Highly collaborative, flexible, and collegial with strong interpersonal skills to engage effectively across research disciplines and administrative units.