Position Information & Application

The Position

The University of North Dakota (UND) is home to internationally recognized research programs that contribute to the creation of new knowledge, to the economy of the state of North Dakota, and to the well-being of people across the globe. UND and the state of North Dakota have made significant investment in faculty hiring and research infrastructure, and we continue to expand our portfolio of external grants and contracts with the federal government, state government, and industry. Our commitment recently yielded a substantial increase from $110 million to $147 million in externally funded research. This growth trajectory will continue and positions us to make the jump to the very highest level of research under the Carnegie classification.

We seek a dynamic vice president for research and economic development (VPRED) who will provide support and leadership for the implementation of the UND LEADS strategic initiative related to Discovery to advance research, creative activity, and scholarship, to serve and lead the region in UND’s distinctive areas of expertise and excellence.

UND looks to springboard off its growth in externally funded research to enhance the national reputation of the University and contribute in meaningful and positive ways to the economic development of the state of North Dakota. The VPRED will lead the operations of sponsored programs and identify opportunities to build relationships aimed at securing external funding from federal, state, and industry sponsors and partners; and lead efforts to transition research and intellectual property toward commercial viability, via partnerships with industry and in conjunction with the UND Center for Innovation and others. The VPRED will build research capacity through the recruitment and retention of research-active faculty and students; support philanthropic efforts to create endowed positions, scholarships, and/or laboratory/research; and enhance undergraduate research programs as a vital part of the student experience while growing the graduate student research enterprise.

The VPRED will oversee the operations of the Research Institute for Autonomous Systems, the Human Nutrition Research Center, and the Center for Biomedical Research, and serve as the point person for UND’s Grand Challenges in energy and environmental sustainability, rural health and communities, human health, autonomous systems, computational data science, and national security and space; and broaden participation in Grand Challenges from across the wide array of disciplines represented on campus.

Collaboration is crucial to the success of this position. The VPRED will report to the president and, as a member of the President’s Executive Council, will work with campus leadership to help coordinate and manage resources that support a strategic balance of breadth and depth in scholarship across campus. The VPRED will develop and sustain university partnerships across the nation and within the state, including but not limited to the North Dakota University System (NDUS) schools and North Dakota Tribal College System; U.S. Space Force, U.S. Space Command, and Grand Forks Air Force Base; Mountain and Plains University Innovation Alliance, a five-state regional partnership targeting funding through the National Science Foundation and the CHIPS and Science Act (of 2022); and EPSCoR and IDeA programs.

Moreover, the VPRED will oversee the Capacity Building Award Team which coordinates jurisdictional grants (NASA EPSCoR, NASA Space Grant Consortium, NIH INBRE, NSF EPSCoR) to leverage commonalities when feasible. The VPRED will also serve on the executive board for the Northern Plains Unmanned Systems Authority, participate on the ND EPSCoR State Steering Committee, and work with a variety of other organizations and
research collaborations as needed.

The VPRED will oversee compliance with human subjects and animal research, intellectual property and commercialization, export control and research security; foster diversity, equity, inclusion throughout our research enterprise; manage staff, budgets, and expenditures and enhance and improve UND’s research business processes and reporting to facilitate strategic and data-based decisions.

The VPRED’s ability to coordinate effective internal and external communications on UND’s success in research and economic development is imperative. The VPRED will represent the University’s research programs to the State Board of Higher Education and work collaboratively with the research administration offices at the other NDUS institutions. They will also serve as liaison to the federal congressional delegation, local staffers, and
legislative liaisons, and participate in the development and delivery of the UND legislative agenda.

Qualifications

Minimum Requirements for a Candidate to be Considered:

A terminal degree in a relevant field or equivalent degree; and
A minimum of five years of demonstrated leadership and administrative experience, including budgetary and development experience, in a university or in a relevant professional field, industry, or government.

Preferred Qualifications:

Demonstrated success in working with federal funding agencies, including, but not limited to, NIH, HHS, EDA, DOE, DOT, NASA, SBA, NSF, DoD, and DHS, and their subordinate agencies;
Proven record of securing external funding;
Demonstrated commitment to education, scholarship, research, and/or commercialization; and
Record of academic achievement meriting appointment as a tenured professor.

Application

The UND Vice President for Research & Economic Development Search Committee is being assisted by Academic Search. Apply online. Applications received by Tuesday, August 22, 2023, are assured consideration.

Applications should include a substantive letter of interest (not more than three pages) specifically addressing the applicant’s background in relationship to the qualifications described, a current résumé or curriculum vitae, and a list of five professional references with full contact information and a note indicating the nature of your working relationships with each. No references will be contacted without the explicit permission of the candidate. Applications, nominations, and expressions of interest can be submitted electronically, and in confidence, to: UNDVPRED@academicsearch.org.

Confidential discussions about this opportunity may be arranged by contacting consultants Ann Hasselmo Ann.Hasselmo@academicsearch.org and Chris Butler Chris.Butler@academicsearch.org.

Applicants needing reasonable accommodation to participate in this application process should contact Academic Search at 202-332-4049.

Supplemental University Information

University Profile - Learn more about the position, University strategic plan, points of pride, the budget model, the Greater Grand Forks community and state of North Dakota
Benefits Package - From fully-paid family health plans to tuition waivers, UND employees are provided with benefits that make great careers even better.
UND YouTube Channel - View a plethora of videos including campus tourse, Leaders in Action feature stories, life as a UND student, research, athletics, and much more.