Associate Vice President for Academic Programs and Research

Associate Vice President for Academic Programs and Research
The University of North Carolina System Office

Overview
The University of North Carolina System is a treasured public institution dedicated to serving the people of North Carolina through world-class teaching, research, and community engagement. Today, nearly 250,000 students are enrolled in our 16 universities across the state and at the NC School of Science and Mathematics. 

Individually Remarkable. Collectively Extraordinary. 
The UNC System is one of the strongest and most successful systems of public higher education in the nation. Its mission—to discover, create, transmit, and apply knowledge to address the needs of individuals and society—remains true to the University’s founding ideal of shared knowledge in a free society. In addition, the UNC System has a long-standing commitment to public service. The UNC Center for Public Television, the UNC Health Care System, the NC Arboretum, and other University affiliates and programs reap social and economic benefits for the citizens of the state. 

System Office
The UNC System Office, located in Chapel Hill, houses the offices of the president and senior administrative staff for the University. This core administrative staff executes the policies of the UNC Board of Governors and provides System-wide leadership and support in the areas of academic affairs, business and financial management, communications, strategy and policy, human resources, legal affairs, and government relations. The UNC System Office also has administrative oversight of a number of University affiliates.

The Opportunity
The UNC System Academic Affairs Division coordinates the University’s core academic mission and provides leadership, support, and guidance to the constituent institutions. Academic Affairs is led by the Senior Vice President and includes four units, each led by a Vice President: Academic Programs, Faculty, and Research; Student Affairs; Data and Analytics; and Digital Learning. The Academic Programs, Faculty, and Research unit shapes the future direction of academic programs across the University and provides leadership for special projects that represent innovative collaborations among institutions and with other constituencies. The Vice President for the unit is responsible for University-wide academic planning, the assessment of program and institutional performance and development, and implementation of competency-based approaches to curriculum development and student learning. 

The Associate Vice President (AVP) for Academic Programs and Research leads the implementation of UNC Board of Governors policies on academic program planning and approval. The AVP works closely with campus academic leaders as well as the System Office Data and Analytics and IT teams. The AVP staffs the UNC Graduate Council and facilitates graduate education initiatives. The AVP oversees research initiatives – including the Research Opportunities Initiative (ROI) grant program, Inter-institutional Planning Grant (IPG), and Undergraduate Research grant program – and develops the annual president’s report on sponsored research. The AVP staffs UNC Chief Research Officers (CRO) meetings and other meetings of research staff as needed. The AVP supports the VP for Academic Programs, Faculty, and Research on initiatives of strategic importance, including assessment of graduate program development, effectiveness, and outcomes; long-range academic planning; and others.

Qualifications

• An earned doctoral degree from a regionally-accredited institution is required.
• Minimum of five years in academic administration at a regionally accredited four-year higher education institution or system office, preferably related to academic programs and sponsored research.
• Knowledge and experience with campus and/or system policies and procedures regarding graduate academic program planning, evaluation, and sponsored research.
• Ability to think critically about existing and potential policies and procedures to develop solutions and improvements when needed.
• Familiarity with the considerations of face-to-face, online, and off-site degree program delivery methods.
• Appreciation for and ability to manage, maintain, and improve web-based processes and inventories that improve efficiency and effectiveness.
• Service-minded orientation and desire to be a resource for audiences with diverse needs and perspectives, including administrators, faculty, System Office colleagues, and the UNC Board of Governors.
• Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills; strong public relations skills; and outstanding organizational skills.
• Performs other duties and special projects as assigned by the Vice President, Chief of Staff, or the President as a senior member of the Division of External Affairs. 

Location
Chapel Hill, where the System Office is located, is part of a larger area called “The Triangle,” a term that references Research Triangle Park, a globally recognized center of research, innovation and thought leadership located between, and around, the three cities of Durham, Raleigh, and Chapel Hill. Each of these cities is home to one or more UNC System institutions, as well as private universities, and other centers of learning and research.

These three cities, as well as the cities and communities in the surrounding areas, offer a mix of suburban, urban, and rural living, combined with access to an outstanding array of civic, cultural, and athletic events. Outdoor enthusiasts will be thrilled with the area’s comfortable climate and easy access to both mountains and sea. Food lovers will appreciate access to a thriving Triangle restaurant scene often profiled in national media.

More affordable living than many metropolitan areas and host to many vibrant businesses, the Triangle area is part of the reason North Carolina was voted #1 by Forbes as the “Best State to Do Business.” Often ranked high on lists of best places to live, the Triangle area offers beauty, diversity, and interest for residents and visitors alike. For more information, see: http://www.workinthetriangle.com/

How to Apply
Interested applicants, please visit: https://uncgacareers.northcarolina.edu/postings/70998  For priority consideration, please apply by March 7, 2021.

The UNC System Office is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or status as a protected veteran.