Director - Regional Research Institute

The Regional Research Institute (RRI) at West Virginia University is seeking applications for a Director. The Director of the Regional Research Institute (RRI) provides intellectual leadership to faculty and students engaged in basic and applied regional research and fosters a stimulating environment that supports interdisciplinary research. The Director has full budgetary authority for the Institute including all related personnel matters. The Director is responsible for ensuring that the Institute effectively and efficiently carries out its many functions.

In order to be successful in this position, the ideal candidate will:

Instruction

• Engage in the instructional mission of the University through activities that can include sponsoring and conducting seminars and workshops, providing research training and experience to graduate students through involvement in funded research projects, offering guest lectures, and sponsoring activities that supplement course offerings and encourage student research.

Research/Scholarship

• Initiate and collaborate in the preparation and submission of external research funding proposals.
• Conduct high-quality scholarly research that maintains and enhances WVU’s standing as an internationally recognized center of excellence for regional science research; develop and maintain analytic tools and skills for the conduct of basic research on regional development; obtain competitively awarded external support for their research and assist in seeking support for the research of other faculty affiliated with the Institute both conceptually and administratively; and make available results their personal research by publishing in leading journals of regional research.

Service/Administrative Responsibilities

• Serve if and as requested on Research Office and university-level committees. The Director is expected to maintain high visibility within related professional organizations, to participate in research communication activities including service on editorial boards and as reviewer, to engage the regional research community by advancing activities including seminars, conferences, advanced short courses, visiting scholars, working paper series, and other activities that contribute to a stimulating scholarly environment. The Director is expected to:
• Create learning opportunities for faculty members and students through numerous imaginative programs related to regional economic and social development within Appalachia and abroad; sponsor seminars, conferences, advanced short courses, visiting scholars, working paper series, and other activities that contribute to a stimulating scholarly environment.
• Serve as a center for regionally based research at West Virginia University; promote multi-disciplinary, multi-university, and international regional research; provide seed support and stimulate externally funded regional research by faculty members and students; create a collegial environment and forums for exchanging ideas.
• Oversee the development and enhancement of the RRI website and the RRI publications available on the WVU Research Repository website, which together provide valuable services to the regional research community and enhance the visibility and reputation of the Institute and the University.
• Develop support for research and other scholarly activities from external sources to advance the mission of the Institute.
• Represent the RRI and WVU to the external regional research community through participation in and service to regional research oriented professional associations.

Qualifications :

• The minimum educational requirement for this position is a Ph.D. in a discipline related to regional research.
• Ten (10) years of experience in the following:
  • Record of timely promotion and increasing responsibility throughout career.
  • Experience in team research settings and fostering interdisciplinary research.
  • Demonstrated ability to compete successfully for external research funding.
• The Director will have demonstrated innovative and energetic leadership, strong administrative skills and excellence in scholarship, a track record of success in obtaining external funding, and the ability to work with faculty from diverse disciplines and a variety of professional staff.
• The individual must be an articulate advocate and spokesperson for the Regional Research Institute’s contribution to scholarly activities and must be capable of leading the Institute to new heights in its contributions to regional research and service.

At West Virginia University, we leverage our talents and resources to create a better future for our state and the world. As West Virginia's land-grant university, WVU has three campuses that touch each corner of the state. The WVU System includes 518 buildings on 15,880 acres, Extension Service offices in all 55 counties, ten experimental farms and four forests.

From the groundbreaking R1 research of our flagship campus in Morgantown to the career-oriented programs of WVU Potomac State in Keyser to the technology-intensive programs at WVU Tech in Beckley — the contributions of WVU employees directly impact the 1.8 million people of West Virginia every day, no matter their role or position.

Service, curiosity, respect, accountability, and appreciation are the core values that unite Mountaineers, inspiring one another to work tirelessly and support others as they seek to reach new heights. After all, when you're a Mountaineer, impossible is just another mountain to climb.

To learn more about West Virginia University, visit go.wvu.edu . View current career opportunities at careers.wvu.edu .

West Virginia University is proud to be an Equal Opportunity employer and is the recipient of an NSF ADVANCE award for gender equity. The University values diversity among its faculty, staff, and students, and invites applications from all qualified applicants regardless of race, ethnicity, color, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, nationality, genetics, disability, or Veteran status.