Job Details

Senior Associate Vice President for Research

Position Number: 6155773
Location: Lubbock, TX
Position Type: Administrative Vice Presidents

Senior Associate Vice President for Research
Lubbock
40857BR
VP Research

Position Description
The Senior Associate Vice President is a key member of the university's leadership team, providing strategic direction and operational oversight to support Texas Tech University's mission. This role involves high-level administrative responsibilities, cross-functional leadership, and the implementation of policies and programs that drive institutional excellence and operational efficiency.

Major/Essential Functions
The Senior Associate Vice President for Research (SAVP) is an important leader in the research, scholarship and creative activities of the University. This position is responsible for the oversight and strategic direction of University Recognized Research Centers and Institutes and provides leadership and stewardship to support the research mission of the University. The SAVP works strategically to support Texas Tech faculty, students, and staff researchers, increase federal sponsored project funding, and help the institution achieve its ambitious research goals. Reporting directly to the Vice President for Research & Innovation (VPR&I), the SAVP is supported by two Executive Directors - one focused on Research and Innovation and the other on building Strategic Research Partnerships - and an Executive Associate.

The directors of nine research centers and institutes report to the SAVP:

Additionally, two research institutes that report directly to the VPR&I, the Critical Infrastructure Security Institute and the Institute for One Health Innovation, have dotted line reporting to the SAVP. As a key steward of the University's research mission, the SAVP will provide broad strategic oversight and support to these Research Centers and Institutes, including those that report directly to the Vice President of Research & Innovation.

The key responsibilities for the SAVP include:

Research Strategy

Assisting in executing the University's Strategic Research Plan.
Aiding in allocating research investment funds for current and new strategic initiatives, consistent with the Texas Tech's identified strategic research priorities.
Identifying potential targets for strategic faculty recruitment.
Identifying new research opportunities to maximize the impact of the Texas Tech research enterprise.
Establishing dialogues with OR&I's Faculty Research Advisory Council and Associate Deans for Research to monitor and promote College and institutional research goals.
Collaborating with University leadership to identify policy and procedural changes that promote Texas Tech research.
Promoting the institutional strategic research plan and the accomplishments of faculty, staff and students both internally and to external stakeholders and partners, exemplifying the University's commitment to research and innovation.

Required Qualifications
The VPR&I and university stakeholders anticipate and appreciate that each candidate will possess strengths in different measures. Nonetheless, the successful candidate will bring a majority of the following qualities to the role:

A strategic and global perspective about the university research mission.
Demonstrated administrative experience, including budget and people management (examples include, but are not limited to, having served as a chair of a major department, an associate dean for research, and/or a center/institute director).
Understanding of faculty needs related to research, and capacity to support faculty efforts.
Ability to work collaboratively within a large management team.
Strong management, interpersonal, and communication skills, including the ability to work well with senior OR&I staff (non-faculty) as colleagues.
Ability to evaluate, refine, and grow the Texas Tech research enterprise, positioning Texas Tech to achieve its goal of AAU status.
Openness to engagement with and willingness to learn about different disciplines, departments, and Colleges at Texas Tech.
Demonstrated experience in effectively organizing and managing large projects.
A flexible mindset, with the ability to evaluate what is working and what is not, and to pivot when necessary.

The successful candidate must have a Ph.D. (or equivalent academic degree) and five years of demonstrated academic leadership experience. In addition, the successful candidate will be expected to support sensitive strategic research initiatives, including those involving projects regulated under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and/or the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). As such, the candidate must be able to work in environments subject to these regulations, either currently meeting, or actively working to meet, the requirements as specified by the relevant project sponsors.

It is anticipated that the SAVP will have a 10% appointment as a tenured full professor in an academic department within Texas Tech in alignment with candidate-specific qualifications.

Preferred Qualifications
The following qualifications are preferred:

STEM background.

Prior experience at an R1 and/or AAU member institution.
Strong record of competitive extramural funding, faculty mentoring, interdisciplinary scholarship, and leadership.
Experience addressing research administration and compliance issues in a complex organization; ability to balance federal, state, and local regulations with practical needs and limitations.
Experience leading multidisciplinary institutional centers or institutes.
Experience in leading interdisciplinary research initiatives and developing successful international research partnerships.
Experience with private-public partnerships, multiple federal, private sector, and philanthropic granting agencies.

Special Instructions to Applicant
Texas Tech University has retained Opus Partners to support this recruitment. Katie Dean, Partner, Ann K. Adams, Associate Partner, and KD Sweaney, Senior Associate, are leading the search. Confidential inquiries and nominations should be submitted by email to KD Sweaney at kd.sweaney@opuspartners.net. The search process will unfold with the greatest possible attention to candidate confidentiality. Required application materials include a resume and cover letter by May 30, 2025.

Minimum Hire Rate

To apply, visit workattexastech.com

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information or status as a protected veteran.