Vice President for Research
Job Overview
The University of Cincinnati (UC) seeks a dynamic researcher and administrator to serve as its next Vice President for Research (VPR). Located in Cincinnati, Ohio, UC is a premier urban research university that has experienced impressive growth in research expenditures and activities over the past several years. The next VPR will develop a vision that will capitalize on this growth and research expansion to sustain UC’s reputation as a leader in innovation, advance UC’s role as a national model for engaged and innovative research, and further the University’s impact on the region and beyond.
Founded in 1819, the University of Cincinnati ranks among the nation’s best urban public research universities. More than 53,600 students, 12,000 faculty and staff and 360,000 alumni call UC home. UC, a Carnegie Research 1 (R1) institution, and its affiliates have surpassed $740 million in annual research expenditures. With 15 colleges and 454 programs of study, UC is one of the most comprehensive universities in the world. All of this on a physical setting The New York Times called “the most ambitious campus design program in the country.” UC's momentum has never been stronger: our co-op program, the oldest in the nation, generates $94 million annually for students; our academic health system is the region’s premier leader in breakthrough research and complex care; our 1819 Innovation Hub anchors the Cincinnati Innovation District; and our teams compete at the highest level in the Big 12 Conference. UC contributes $10.6 billion in economic impact to the city and $22.7 billion to the State of Ohio. At UC, next lives here. Additional information about the exciting initiatives occurring at UC can be found at www.uc.edu.
Essential Functions
The Vice President for Research (VPR) serves as the University of Cincinnati’s Chief Research Officer, providing strategic, academic, operational, and administrative leadership for UC’s rapidly growing research enterprise. As a Carnegie-classified R1 university with a substantial research footprint, UC seeks a visionary and collaborative leader who will elevate the institution’s research prominence, expand interdisciplinary impact, and strengthen UC’s role as an innovation and economic engine for Cincinnati, Ohio, and the broader region. The VPR reports directly to the President of the University and serves as the institution’s senior research executive, responsible for advancing UC’s research mission, fostering scholarly excellence, and driving innovation and discovery. This role includes strategic planning, research development, compliance oversight, external partnership cultivation, and stewardship of UC’s research infrastructure. The VPR will collaborate closely with the Provost, Deans, Department Heads, Centers and Institutes, Research Faculty, and UC’s Chief Innovation Officer, serving as a champion for research across all disciplines.
Required Qualifications
- Distinguished record of scholarly achievement, including success in securing extramural funding.
- An earned doctorate and the academic credentials required for a tenured faculty appointment at the rank of professor in an academic department of the University.
- Demonstrated leadership experience in research administration at a research-intensive institution.
- Deep understanding of federal research policies, compliance frameworks, and emerging global research trends.
- Proven ability to lead complex organizations, inspire teams, and collaborate across academic, administrative, and external domains.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with large-scale research infrastructure planning.
- Working knowledge of innovation, tech transfer, and industry partnerships.
- demonstrated skills in collaboration and communication.
- The ability to work closely with internal and external partners, especially those in government and industry.
- Experience in creating new partnerships and building on existing relationships.
- A record of leadership and innovation in the national and international research landscape.
- A history of prior interactions with government agencies and industry and existing and emerging trends in research and enterprise.
- Familiarity with patenting and licensing, technology transfer and understanding of foundation and corporate relations.
- Experience with personnel and budgetary management in a complex environment.
- Excellent interpersonal skills and effective written and oral communication; ability to communicate with constituents across all levels of the organization as well as with internal and external stakeholders.
- Demonstrated ability to lead effectively in a diverse, mission-driven environment with a variety of different constituencies.
Expected Leadership Attributes
- Strategic, visionary thinking
- Collaborative leadership and interpersonal excellence
- Strong advocacy for research and scholarship
- Commitment to integrity, compliance, and responsible conduct
- Entrepreneurial mindset and innovation orientation
Procedure For Candidacy
Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled. The anticipated start date for the VPR is July 1, 2026. Please submit your CV and cover letter using the DSG-Storbeck Talent Profile. Nominations or inquiries can be directed to the search team below.
DSG Storbeck
Jim Sirianni, Global Managing Partner and Practice Leader, Education
Tom Fitch, Managing Director
Brian Bustin, Senior Associate
DSG | Storbeck
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