Vice Chancellor for Research
Position Overview
The University of Kansas (KU) seeks a visionary, strategic and entrepreneurial leader to serve as Vice Chancellor for Research (VCR). The Vice Chancellor will inspire a renewed commitment to discovery across the University, catalyzing research and the generation of new knowledge that will distinguish KU as a leading research institution nationally and on the world stage.
Reporting to the Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor and working closely with the Chancellor and KU senior leadership team, the Vice Chancellor for Research stewards KU’s research enterprise on the Lawrence and Edwards campuses, including oversight of research administration. A champion and advocate for research and scholarship, the Vice Chancellor provides leadership and strategy to the Office of Research in alignment with the University’s mission and strategic priorities.
Research at KU addresses opportunities and challenges of worldwide significance, delivers solutions that make a difference to Kansas and the region, and promotes an inclusive community of responsible inquiry and innovation for students and scholars. The Vice Chancellor for Research leads the Lawrence and Edwards campuses in pursuit of that mission, working in partnership with academic leaders, faculty and staff and in close collaboration with business and community partners and the KU Medical Center campus.
The next Vice Chancellor for Research will have a unique and exciting opportunity to champion a bold and unifying vision for the future of research, creative activity and engaged scholarship at KU. The VCR will diversify and grow KU’s research portfolio and optimize research administration, operations and infrastructure.
As the state’s flagship institution, the University of Kansas is a major comprehensive research and teaching university that serves as a center for learning, scholarship and creative endeavor. A Carnegie-classified R1 Doctoral University, KU is one of only 69 in the U.S. and the only state university in Kansas to hold membership in the prestigious Association of American Universities (AAU).
KU enrolls more than 29,000 students taught by over 3,300 faculty across 14 schools on five campuses. Its diverse elements are united by a mission to educate leaders, build healthy communities, and make discoveries that change the world.
The University seeks a Vice Chancellor with a commitment to multidisciplinary research, the capacity to inspire and catalyze scholarly achievement in all its diversity, and the ability to ensure administrative and operational excellence across KU’s research enterprise.
The successful candidate will have a distinguished research record in their own discipline; extensive professional experience in research and research administration; and a demonstrated understanding of federal appropriations processes and the roles of federal and other sponsors in research development. An earned doctorate or terminal degree and the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance is required.
Reporting to the Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor and working closely with the Chancellor and KU senior leadership team, the Vice Chancellor for Research stewards KU’s research enterprise on the Lawrence and Edwards campuses, including oversight of research administration. A champion and advocate for research and scholarship, the Vice Chancellor provides leadership and strategy to the Office of Research in alignment with the University’s mission and strategic priorities.
Research at KU addresses opportunities and challenges of worldwide significance, delivers solutions that make a difference to Kansas and the region, and promotes an inclusive community of responsible inquiry and innovation for students and scholars. The Vice Chancellor for Research leads the Lawrence and Edwards campuses in pursuit of that mission, working in partnership with academic leaders, faculty and staff and in close collaboration with business and community partners and the KU Medical Center campus.
The next Vice Chancellor for Research will have a unique and exciting opportunity to champion a bold and unifying vision for the future of research, creative activity and engaged scholarship at KU. The VCR will diversify and grow KU’s research portfolio and optimize research administration, operations and infrastructure.
As the state’s flagship institution, the University of Kansas is a major comprehensive research and teaching university that serves as a center for learning, scholarship and creative endeavor. A Carnegie-classified R1 Doctoral University, KU is one of only 69 in the U.S. and the only state university in Kansas to hold membership in the prestigious Association of American Universities (AAU).
KU enrolls more than 29,000 students taught by over 3,300 faculty across 14 schools on five campuses. Its diverse elements are united by a mission to educate leaders, build healthy communities, and make discoveries that change the world.
The University seeks a Vice Chancellor with a commitment to multidisciplinary research, the capacity to inspire and catalyze scholarly achievement in all its diversity, and the ability to ensure administrative and operational excellence across KU’s research enterprise.
The successful candidate will have a distinguished research record in their own discipline; extensive professional experience in research and research administration; and a demonstrated understanding of federal appropriations processes and the roles of federal and other sponsors in research development. An earned doctorate or terminal degree and the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance is required.
Job Description
Role of the Vice Chancellor for Research
Reporting to the Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor and working closely with the Chancellor and KU senior leadership team, the Vice Chancellor for Research oversees and stewards the research enterprise on the University’s Lawrence and Edwards campuses. A champion and advocate for research and scholarship, the Vice Chancellor provides leadership and strategy to the Office of Research in alignment with the University’s mission and strategy.
KU research addresses problems and opportunities of worldwide significance, delivers solutions that make a difference to Kansas and the region, and promotes an inclusive community of responsible inquiry and innovation for students and scholars. The Vice Chancellor for Research leads the Lawrence and Edwards campuses in pursuit of that mission, working in partnership with academic leaders, faculty and staff and in close collaboration with business and community partners and the KU Medical Center campus.
The Vice Chancellor advocates for research on and off campus, implements research integrity requirements, and, through the KU Center for Research (KUCR), oversees the administration of research grants and contracts on the Lawrence and Edwards campuses.
In grants administration, the Vice Chancellor ensures that KU research staff provide essential support for research investigators by negotiating contracts, providing proposal and post-award services, administering compliance oversight, managing research facilities and participating in the design of new research facilities or redesign of existing ones.
Duties and Responsibilities will include:
Reporting to the Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor and working closely with the Chancellor and KU senior leadership team, the Vice Chancellor for Research oversees and stewards the research enterprise on the University’s Lawrence and Edwards campuses. A champion and advocate for research and scholarship, the Vice Chancellor provides leadership and strategy to the Office of Research in alignment with the University’s mission and strategy.
KU research addresses problems and opportunities of worldwide significance, delivers solutions that make a difference to Kansas and the region, and promotes an inclusive community of responsible inquiry and innovation for students and scholars. The Vice Chancellor for Research leads the Lawrence and Edwards campuses in pursuit of that mission, working in partnership with academic leaders, faculty and staff and in close collaboration with business and community partners and the KU Medical Center campus.
The Vice Chancellor advocates for research on and off campus, implements research integrity requirements, and, through the KU Center for Research (KUCR), oversees the administration of research grants and contracts on the Lawrence and Edwards campuses.
In grants administration, the Vice Chancellor ensures that KU research staff provide essential support for research investigators by negotiating contracts, providing proposal and post-award services, administering compliance oversight, managing research facilities and participating in the design of new research facilities or redesign of existing ones.
Duties and Responsibilities will include:
- Enhance extramural research funding and provide budgetary oversight of research and research infrastructure.
- Through oversight of KUCR, guide university-wide research enhancement and compliance activities including the formulation and promotion of research policies and guidelines and promotion, leadership, and coordination of multidisciplinary research programs.
- Foster research collaboration among faculty at the University through inclusive programming, oversight of research centers and by encouraging cooperative efforts among deans and research center directors.
- Encourage and facilitate interdisciplinary research collaboration with the KU Medical Center campus and leverage administrative efficiencies between the two research enterprises.
- Collaborate with university, industry, and regional partners to expand the University's applied research capacity and enrich KU's innovation ecosystem.
- Facilitate and strengthen the University's research infrastructure and competitiveness and advise the Provost on research competitive issues.
- Work to increase external financial support for research at the University with a focus on large multidisciplinary and collaborative research programs that build upon KU's strengths and unique capabilities.
- Provide oversight of KU's national industrial security program (NISP) and be able to obtain and hold a US security clearance.
Required Qualifications
An earned doctorate or terminal degree and the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance is required. The successful candidate will have a distinguished research record in their own discipline; extensive professional experience in research and research administration; and a demonstrated understanding of federal appropriations processes and the roles of federal and other sponsors in research development.
Preferred Qualifications
Prior experience in a research-intensive public university, working collaboratively with an academic medical center, and success in technology transfer are preferred.
Additional Candidate Instructions
All applications, nominations, and inquiries are invited. Applications should include, as separate documents, a CV and letter of interest describing relevant experience and addressing the themes in the leadership profile.
Candidates will be considered until an appointment is made.
WittKieffer is assisting the University of Kansas in this search. Application materials should be submitted using WittKieffer’s candidate portal.
Confidential nominations and inquiries can be directed to:
Lucy Leske, Philip Tang, and Natalie Song KUResearch@wittkieffer.com
Candidates will be considered until an appointment is made.
WittKieffer is assisting the University of Kansas in this search. Application materials should be submitted using WittKieffer’s candidate portal.
Confidential nominations and inquiries can be directed to:
Lucy Leske, Philip Tang, and Natalie Song KUResearch@wittkieffer.com
Contact Information to Applicants
WittKieffer is assisting the University of Kansas in this search.
For a complete Leadership Profile and for Confidential nominations and inquiries, contact:
Lucy Leske, Philip Tang, and Natalie Song at KUResearch@wittkieffer.com
For a complete Leadership Profile and for Confidential nominations and inquiries, contact:
Lucy Leske, Philip Tang, and Natalie Song at KUResearch@wittkieffer.com
Advertised Salary Range
commensurate with experience
Application Review Begins
Friday March 1, 2024