Senior Vice President for Research and Innovation

Senior Vice President for Research and Innovation

The University of Arizona invites inquiries, nominations, and applications for the position of Senior Vice President for Research and Innovation (SVPRI). The University seeks a dynamic and entrepreneurial leader and scholar who will partner with the President, the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, and the faculty to develop a bold, new vision for the University's research enterprise. The SVPRI will be tasked to lead, stimulate, and nurture the culture and capacity for knowledge creation and discovery at the University, creating industry and public partnerships, and moving inventions and technologies to the marketplace.

The University
Established in 1885 and synonymous with academic and research excellence, the University of Arizona (U of A) is recognized as a Carnegie R1 institution and is a member of the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities (APLU). As a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU) with more than $955 million in research and development activity in fiscal year 2023, the U of A is recognized for advancing interdisciplinary scholarship and entrepreneurial partnerships across all academic disciplines. With a total faculty of 3,744 and staff of 17,929, the U of A serves more than 40,000 undergraduate and over 10,000 graduate students. With an estimated economic impact of $8.3 billion annually, the U of A's reach spans well beyond the campus borders. Through impactful research, accessible education, and partnerships with local stakeholders, the U of A addresses challenges faced by citizens across the globe. For more information about the University of Arizona, please visit: https://www.arizona.edu/.

Position Summary
The SVPRI will report to the President and work closely with the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost and other executive leaders in aligning research with the U of A's overall academic mission. The SVPRI will also work in conjunction with the Senior Vice President, Health Sciences to advance the University's overall research mission across all campuses. The SVPRI will also be responsible for developing institutional research policies and procedures, coordinating and providing oversight of research, scholarship, and creative activity at U of A, and serving in a crucial leadership role in defining and meeting emerging future research opportunities.

The SVPRI will serve as an executive officer and chief research official for the U of A. The SVPRI will also work closely with the deans, center directors, research centers, institutes, and various industrial partners to help drive the University's research development agenda. By partnering with industry, businesses, government agencies, municipalities, community colleges, and non-profit organizations, the SVPRI will play a significant role in sustaining and expanding the U of A's research agenda.

The SVPRI will be tasked with leading the U of A in achieving the goals of its research and economic development agenda. Featuring over 100 world-class research centers and 135 start-ups commercializing U of A inventions, the U of A has contributed over $1.6 billion in economic output from commercialization activities. The SVPRI will also promote and facilitate intellectual property development and commercialization by supporting translational research to help move discoveries from the conceptual stage through the start-up phase.

Furthermore, the SVPRI will play a critical role in fostering increased business engagement, entrepreneurship, and economic development opportunities by leveraging business development and technology transfer to promote the University's land-grant mission.

For additional information about the University of Arizona's Office of Research, Innovation, and Impact, please visit: https://research.arizona.edu/

Qualifications
The successful candidate should hold national/international recognition as a scholar, researcher/practitioner, with the accomplishments necessary for appointment as a tenured full professor. Academic experience (professional and administrative) is strongly desired. Exceptional candidates who have demonstrated a high degree of national or international scholarly and administrative success outside of academia will be considered. The SVPRI must exhibit substantial administrative leadership experience at a research university or comparable setting.

Procedure for Inquiries
Every effort will be made to preserve the confidentiality of information received. General expressions of interest, nominations, and inquiries should be submitted electronically in confidence to: m.herrera@spaexec.com.

Application / Nomination Process
The Search Committee will begin reviewing applications immediately and will continue to accept applications and nominations until the position is filled. Applications should include a current curriculum vitae and a letter of interest describing relevant experience and interest in the position. Submission of materials via email is strongly encouraged. Nomination letters should include the name and contact information of the nominee. Applications and letters of nomination should be submitted by email to:


Alberto Pimentel, Managing Partner
Matthew Herrera, Senior Associate
Email: apsearch@spaexec.com
Refer to code "UA-SVPRI" in the subject line
SP&A Executive Search
6512 Painter Avenue
Whittier, CA 90601

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