Vice President for Research

Job Details

The American University of Armenia seeks qualified candidates for the full-time position of a Vice President for Research (VPR). The VPR is a newly created executive position within the University’s senior leadership team for advancing research, scholarship, and creative activity. The VPR will provide strategic vision for the University’s research programs, fostering excellence and impact associated with its mission to build a robust, sustainable research enterprise that complements the University’s strong tradition of teaching excellence. Reporting to the President, the VPR will lead research development, administration, innovation, and partnerships and will work closely across the University with the Provost, other members of the Executive Team, academic leadership, and the student body.

Key Responsibilities

Research Strategy and Growth

• Develop and implement a comprehensive research strategy to increase scholarly output, external funding, and institutional impact.
• Identify and cultivate priority research areas aligned with institutional strengths, strategic priorities, and regional opportunities.
• Promote interdisciplinary collaboration and the development of research centers and institutes.
• Foster new research initiatives.

Faculty Research Development

• Support faculty in building active research agendas while maintaining excellence in teaching.
• Establish mentoring, seed funding, and professional development programs to enhance research productivity.
• Partner with academic leadership on hiring strategies that strengthen research capacity.

Research Infrastructure and Support

• Build and oversee effective research support systems, including grant development, compliance, and post-award administration.
• Strengthen infrastructure such as laboratories, libraries, and digital resources necessary for high-quality research.
• Develop policies and processes that enable efficient and ethical research activity.

External Funding and Partnerships

• Expand opportunities for external funding from governmental agencies, foundations, industry, and international organizations.
• Build strategic partnerships with local, regional, and global institutions to support collaborative research.
• Represent the University to external stakeholders and elevate its research profile.

Integration with Teaching Mission

• Ensure that research growth enhances the University’s commitment to high-quality teaching.
• Promote the integration of research into the student experience, including undergraduate research opportunities.

Compliance and Ethics

• Oversee research administration by ensuring the maintenance of policies and procedures and fiscal responsibilities of pre- and post-award activities.
• Foster and enable a compliant University human research participants protection program (IRBs).
• Oversee research compliance, including human subjects, animal care (if applicable), and research integrity.

Leadership and Administration

• Oversee University research operations.
• Oversee University research centers, including those in colleges, institutes and interdisciplinary facilities.
• Promote and support a culture of innovation, entrepreneurship, and technology transfer.

Qualifications

• Strong academic and leadership credentials
• An earned doctorate degree
• Distinguished record of scholarship and external funding appropriate for appointment at the rank of full professor
• Evidence of successful teaching, administrative and managerial abilities
• A strong track record of research as evidenced by scholarly publications
• Demonstrated leadership experience in research administration
• Senior faculty and academic management experience in U.S. or Western educational institutions
• Financial management skills
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and change-management skills
• Knowledge of grant application and administration
• Previous experience in conducting academic duties in an international setting, and knowledge of Armenia is desirable but not required

Additional Information

Requirements: This position requires the successful candidate to reside in Armenia. It will require interaction with the Armenian government, the U.S. Embassy, and various funding agencies; it will also require coordination for joint programs with other local and international universities.

Compensation: AUA offers competitive compensation and benefits packages.

Submission: Review of applications will begin on May 30, and will continue thereafter until the position is filled. To apply for this position, please send a letter of interest, a CV, a statement of academic and managerial philosophy, and a list of five references (PDF format is preferred) to VPresearchsearch@aua.am.

AUA is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to an active non-discrimination program within the institution.