"Vice-President, Research and Innovation"

The University of British Columbia (UBC) is one of the world’s leading research universities—an institution inspiring people, ideas, and actions for a better world. With two main campuses (Vancouver and the Okanagan), more than 70,000 students, 20,000 faculty and staff, and a balanced annual budget approaching $4 billion, UBC is an institution of remarkable breadth and depth that is distinguished by its world-class research and societal impact.

Each year, UBC researchers lead over 10,000 research projects supported by over $900 million in funding, advancing knowledge across every field and driving innovation with partners around the world. Over the past 20 years, UBC researchers have created 284 spin-off companies that are a result of the University's innovation ecosystem, which aims to turn research discoveries into real-world products, services, and therapies.

Through its Vice-President, Research & Innovation (VPRI) portfolio, UBC supports the full research and innovation continuum—from discovery to creation and application. The portfolio provides leadership for research excellence, innovation and partnership development, as well as infrastructure and compliance. UBC’s renewed strategic plan, UBC Strategic Directions 2025–30, identifies Discover and Innovate for Impact, Excelling in the Development and Application of Emerging Technologies, and Partnering for Purpose as central priorities, in order to further enhance the university’s capacity to drive collaboration, discovery and societal impact.

UBC is seeking a visionary Vice-President, Research & Innovation to champion research excellence, enable innovation with impact, and deepen UBC’s role as a partner of choice in addressing the world’s most pressing challenges. A member of the senior leadership team and reporting directly to the President, the VPRI will provide strategic leadership across both campuses, fostering collaboration, strengthening research infrastructure, and advancing inclusion and reconciliation across the research enterprise.

A visible and inspiring advocate, the VPRI will elevate UBC’s global research reputation, expand partnerships with government, industry, Indigenous and community partners. The VPRI will play a pivotal role in shaping evidence-informed policy and driving innovation that makes a difference—locally and globally. This is an exceptional opportunity to lead one of the world’s top research universities into its next era of discovery and impact.

To explore this exceptional opportunity further, please contact our Search Consultants at Boyden at ubc@boyden.com or at (604) 685-0261. To apply directly, please click Apply and submit your cover letter and resume.

At UBC, we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research, innovation, and learning for all faculty, staff and students, and is essential to fostering an outstanding work environment. This commitment helps achieve inclusion and fairness, brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace, and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career, and we encourage applications from marginalized groups based on the grounds enumerated under the B.C. Human Rights Code. All applicants will be asked to complete a confidential diversity survey. If you have any accommodation or accessibility needs during the job application process, please contact the Centre for Workplace Accessibility at workplace.accessibility@ubc.ca.

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority. In accordance with BC’s Pay Transparency Act, the position has an expected base salary range of $325,000 - $390,000.

We thank all applicants for their interest in this position. Please note that we will only be in contact with those individuals moving forward with our client.