Associate Vice-President, Research, Scholarship, and Community Engagement

Reporting to the Provost and Vice-President, Academic, the Associate Vice-President Research, Scholarship, and Community Engagement (AVP-RSCE) is responsible for developing and enhancing a culture of research and scholarship guided by the office’s Strategic Research and Scholarship Plan.  The AVP-RSCE has overall responsibility for institutional leadership in the development and promotion of research, scholarship, and community engagement in all disciplinary and interdisciplinary areas, as well as research administration and budgetary control.  The AVP-RSCE will lead the Office of Research, Scholarship and Community Engagement (ORSCE), and lead or serve on a variety of University committees that develop, support or enhance a broad array of scholarly activity. 

As a key collaborator, the AVP-RSCE will work closely with the Deans to enhance and advance the overall research and scholarly enterprise at Mount Royal University and provide information and recommendations to the President’s Executive Committee and Dean’s Council.  To promote research excellence and the integrity of research, the AVP-RSCE will provide support to committees responsible for compliance and adjudication of faculty scholarly activity. The AVP-RSCE will also serve as the institutional representative to relevant provincial and national committees and organizations for the advancement of research.  Internally, the AVP-RSCE is also a member of the General Faculties Council, Provost’s Council, and of numerous Standing and Ad Hoc committees. 

The AVP-RSCE will lead and promote the expansion of research and scholarship at MRU by growing existing programs and identifying new opportunities.  This innovative and strategic individual should have an understanding of and an appreciation for a wide range of philosophical and programmatic approaches to scientific and scholarly inquiry.  The AVP-RSCE will work closely with other administrative officers and members of faculty in advancing the five thematic areas of strategic priority.  The AVP-RSCE portfolio includes several units that are essential to faculty and student success and that serve to build institutional reputation and advance knowledge, learning, and understanding.  These include: the Office of Research, Scholarship and Community Engagement, the Institute for Environmental Sustainability (IES), the Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, the Institute for Community Prosperity, and the Trico Changemakers Studio.

The ideal candidate will have a proven track record of leadership, advancing research and innovation excellence, and connecting and translating research impacts to the community.  The successful candidate will have a PhD and demonstrated experience in attracting funding and support for research, including developing and sustaining partnerships with industry, government, funding and granting organizations and community agencies. This leader is a strong communicator and relationship builder who is enthusiastic about advocating, inspiring and generating excitement around undergraduate research and scholarship.  With a personal and authentic commitment to diversity, equity and inclusive practices, the next AVP-RSCE will be motivated to take risks that are innovative, forward thinking and that advance the institution.

Located in Calgary, Alberta, Mount Royal University is a student-first community supported by dedicated faculty and staff and offering exceptional teaching, personalized learning, and a strong foundation of general education.  Founded in 1910, Mount Royal grew into a vibrant college in the 1930s, began offering baccalaureate degrees in 2007 and became a university in 2009.

In the 2019/20 academic year, about 10,500 full-load equivalent students (15,000 individual students) chose from 35 majors and 12 bachelor’s degrees.  Degrees are offered in arts, criminal justice, business administration, communication, computer information systems, education (elementary), health and physical education, nursing, and science, as well as specialized degrees in interior design, midwifery, and child studies.  Mount Royal is also home to one of Canada’s elite Aviation Accreditation Board International (AABI) accredited programs.

Mount Royal attracts students from within Calgary and the surrounding region and aspires to provide a flexible and collaborative learning experience provincially, nationally, and internationally.  More than 100,000 Mount Royal alumni are contributing to their communities worldwide.

Janet Soles and Associates has been retained to conduct this search on behalf of Mount Royal University. To explore this opportunity further, please send your curriculum vitae and letter of interest in confidence to MRU-AVP-RSCE@jssearch.ca.