"Associate Vice President for Research Advancement & Strategy"

The Office of Research (OR) at Washington State University (WSU) is responsible for advancing the research enterprise at WSU systemwide. The OR facilitates all aspects of research from pre-award to compliance, advancement, development, and commercialization. The Office of Research amplifies WSU's land-grant mission by partnering with the university community, industry leaders, and other stakeholders to advance, extend, and grow the positive impact of WSU research for the state, the region, and the nation.

As the Associate Vice President for Research Advancement and Strategy, you will work closely with the Vice President for Research to provide long-range strategy and tactical planning to advance Washington State University’s research mission in alignment with its land-grant purpose. In this position, you will lead system-wide efforts to expand WSU’s research impact through high-value partnerships with industry, key university partners, national laboratories, and cross-disciplinary consortia/centers that address critical challenges and provide solutions-oriented strategies across Washington and beyond.

Your position plays a central role in enhancing WSU’s capacity for large-scale, transdisciplinary, and translational research, including oversight of university-wide research development activities and support for innovation, entrepreneurship, and the formation of high-impact research centers and institutes. You will proactively identify emerging research trends, funding opportunities, and strategic growth areas, and provide data-informed leadership to build institutional competitiveness.

You will ensure the university’s research strengths and priorities are communicated at both state and national levels. Your role serves as a trusted advisor to the Vice President for Research and a key member of the Office of Research leadership team supporting institutional efforts to elevate research excellence and align research strategy with public needs, workforce development, and federal and state priorities.

Job Functions:

• 70%: Research Advancement and Strategy
  • Strategic Research Planning and Partnerships: In collaboration with the Vice President for Research (VPR), lead and implement data-informed strategic plans that position WSU’s research enterprise to address pressing challenges facing the state of Washington and beyond, focusing on WSU’s land-grant identity and public service mission.
  • Cross-Disciplinary Research Initiatives: Lead efforts to conceptualize, launch, and sustain large-scale interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research initiatives that align with emerging scientific trends, societal needs, and potentials for collaboration with industry and federal agencies.
  • Funding Strategy and Proposal Development: Oversee proactive identification and dissemination of high-value funding opportunities in federal, state, and philanthropic sectors.
  • Communication and Advocacy: In collaboration with the VPR, define and implement the OR communication strategy, and iterate as necessary.
• 25%: Direct Research Development and Advancement, External Partnerships & Strategy and Communication Units
  • Leadership and Management and Reporting Units: The Research Development and Advancement, External Partnerships, and Communications teams will be direct reports. Ensure staff alignment with institutional needs.
  • Strategic Resource Management: Manage the unit’s budget and resources to enable responsiveness to strategic opportunities and institutional priorities.
  • Organizational Alignment and Continuous Improvement: Set strategic and operational goals for research development, external partnerships, and advancement units.
  • Workforce Planning and Talent Development: Recruit, retain, and mentor a high-performing staff committed to service, innovation, and interdisciplinary engagement.
• 5%: Other duties as assigned

This is a full time (100% FTE), permanent position. This position is overtime exempt.