Vice Provost for Research Administration

Overview

New York Institute of Technology's six schools and colleges offer undergraduate, graduate, and professional degree programs in in-demand disciplines including computer science, data science, and cybersecurity; biology, health professions, and medicine; architecture and design; engineering; IT and digital technologies; management; and energy and sustainability. A nonprofit, independent, private, and nonsectarian institute of higher education founded in 1955, it welcomes nearly 8,000 students worldwide.

The university has campuses in New York City and Long Island, New York; Jonesboro, Arkansas; and Vancouver, British Columbia, as well as programs around the world. Nearly 110,000 alumni are part of an engaged network of physicians, architects, scientists, engineers, business leaders, digital artists, and healthcare professionals. Together, the university’s community of doers, makers, healers, and innovators empowers graduates to change the world, solve 21st-century challenges, and reinvent the future.

For more information, visit nyit.edu.

New York Institute of Technology (NYIT) seeks a Vice Provost for Research Administration (VPRA) to provide leadership across the research enterprise as it seeks to grow its sponsored portfolio. The VPRA will serve as a member of NYIT’s executive leadership team, providing a strategic partner to expand and build the infrastructure supporting the research enterprise. The VPRA will have operational oversight of the Office of Sponsored Programs and Research (OSPAR) which supports both pre- and post-award administrative activities. The VPRA will be responsible for understanding the needs of the research community, synthesizing where efficiency opportunities exist, and advocating among leadership for operational enhancements.

Responsibilities include:

Operations & Compliance Service Delivery – 50%

• Provide institutional leadership of OSPAR, overseeing a staff of 6+ individuals, with responsibility across the award life cycle and regulatory requirements for sponsored and internally funded research activities.
• Oversee strategy and implementation regarding protection of IP generally and decisions on patent prosecution and IP commercialization efforts.
• Maintain a complete and accurate knowledge of laws, regulations, policies, and agency guidance, required for institutional oversight of sponsored programs, laboratory animal care and use, conflicts of interest, and human subjects protections.
• Ensure that all research administration operations are in compliance with regulations, policies, and laws that govern externally sponsored research activities and are conducted in a manner that supports the needs of the research community and effectively meets Federal guidelines.
• Monitor internal compliance concerns related to effort, COI, human subjects, animal subjects, and others as applicable and hold units or individuals responsible for their role in compliance monitoring by creating action plans to review/monitoring protocols and follow-up on audit findings and responses that relate to post-award administration.
• Regularly review draft and collaboratively implement changes to NYIT policies relating to these research compliance areas. Ensure the integration of research policies and procedures into daily operations through regular review and follow-up with the OSPAR, other administrative partners and faculty.
• Evaluate the effectiveness and efficiencies in the research administrative functions and continue to develop and create improvements through operational adjustments, staffing needs, and technology advancements.

Sponsored Programs Administration Leadership & Strategy– 30%

• Develop and lead comprehensive approach for research administration at NYIT. Essential elements in this approach must include enhanced levels of customer service for faculty and researchers, the development of optimized business processes and systems, and excellent training and development support for staff and resources for faculty.
• Set and execute against a comprehensive research administration strategy that includes client service, strategic planning, work process review and enhancement, development of information systems to support business processes and human resources, budget and finance, and infrastructure.
• Promote the integration of research into the educational mission of NYIT by advocating and solutioning for research specific needs in standard processes and voicing the potential impacts of a decision to the research enterprise.
• Provide expert support and information to support Deans and/or Associate Deans for Research in their leadership and oversight of research and their faculty members.
• Provide administrative and sponsored programs expert perspective into research infrastructure and space utilization opportunities to assist with NYIT’s research growth.

Research Community Engagement and Development – 20%

• Serve as the core representative for research and sponsored programs administration to key stakeholders; participate in institutional and external committees, serve as the point-of-contact for research coordination across NYIT, and provide subject matter expertise on research administration across the institution.
• Ensure the overall skills and readiness of administration staff through consistent information dissemination and cross-unit coordination by setting the direction and curriculum for job training, emphasizing continuous improvement and enhancement of documentation (policies and procedures), and facilitating team and community meetings.
• Manage and expand campus communication related to sponsored programs and research in a variety of formats (e.g., regular newsletters, website, campus gatherings, important announcements).
• In partnership with academic leadership, support faculty in their ability to secure and manage external funding by developing and facilitating research development opportunities, like townhall discussions on relevant topics.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or master’s required. Doctorate highly preferred.
• Eight years or more of progressively responsible experience in a senior role in sponsored programs and extramural funding in a higher education or research institution.
• Demonstrated personnel management, motivation, and development experience, including hiring and performance management of team members, to coach and develop the OSPAR staff in their ability to work independently and efficiently and build their knowledge of sponsored programs administration.
• Demonstrated experience and expert understanding of both pre- and post-award management with a variety of sponsor types (e.g., federal, state, non-profit) and expertise in Uniform Guidance (UG), NIH GPS, NSF PAPPG, Federal Acquisition regulations, and other regulations.
• Well-developed managerial, decision-making, planning, organizational, problem-resolution and leadership skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills, including demonstrated success working productively and collaboratively faculty and administrative leadership, colleagues and staff to establish partnerships across diverse stakeholder groups.
• Outstanding communication skills, both verbal and written, in order to represent research among NYIT’s leadership, hold research community townhalls, and develop and disseminate research communications on a regular basis.
• Willingness to work at both the detailed level when needed as well as communicate at the highest levels of the institution; and
• Ability to analyze technical, complex, and sensitive issues and determine a pragmatic approach and solution.
• Position is hybrid remote with some time required on campus.

New York Institute of Technology offers numerous opportunities to enhance personal and professional growth and provides employees with a competitive compensation and benefits program inclusive of  generous paid time off, holidays, tuition remission, and retirement plans with employer contributions.  

The health and safety of our community is the highest priority.  As such, New York Institute of Technology is requiring all newly hired employees to be fully vaccinated with an FDA authorized and/or approved COVID-19 vaccine as a condition of employment. Requests for reasonable accommodations for medical or religious reasons will be reviewed and considered in accordance with applicable law.  

New York Institute of Technology is an Equal Opportunity Employer – M/F/Veteran/Disability/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity

Other Information

In compliance with local legislation as well as to provide greater transparency to candidates, the annual base salary range for this position is listed. New York Tech considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate experience/expertise, education/training, key skills, geographic location, internal peer equity as well as market, organizational considerations and/or applicable collective bargaining agreement when extending an offer.