Associate Vice Provost for Research

Johns Hopkins University (JHU), which has led the nation in research spending for 44 consecutive years, is seeking an Associate Vice Provost for Research (AVPR) . Reporting to the Vice Provost for Research, the AVPR oversees the development, strategic planning, and implementation of institution-wide research programs that increase interdisciplinary collaboration, expand research services and infrastructure, and support the individual excellence of Johns Hopkins researchers. These programs include but are not limited to the Bloomberg Distinguished Professorships (BDP), Research Development Team (RDT), limited submissions, flagship awards programs (including the Catalyst Awards, Discovery Awards, President’s Frontier Awards), Hopkins on the Hill with the Office of Federal Strategy, and time-bound strategic initiatives.

As part of the VPR senior leadership team, this position requires the ability to handle both operational and strategic challenges while managing competing priorities and maintaining a high level of confidentiality. The role also requires superior interpersonal and communication skills as the AVPR will regularly present briefings and updates on these research programs to high-level audiences, including the Board of Trustees, Bloomberg Philanthropies, President, Provost, Deans and more. The ideal candidate has a deep interest in science, the research enterprise, and innovative ways to best support our research community.

The AVPR will have three direct reports: a Director for Research, Sr. Research Initiatives and Analytics Manager, and an Executive Assistant. The position leads a team of approximately thirty staff.

Specific Duties & Responsibilities

• Lead the development and implementation of strategic plans and manage a cohesive, collaborative office that achieves high levels of communication, productivity, effectiveness and efficiency in order to support JHU’s overall research mission.
• Work closely with the VPR and with other senior administrators, including those in the Office of the President, Office of the Provost, the Office of Development and Alumni Relations, the Office of Finance and Administration, the Office of Federal Strategy, the Office of Communications, and with deans, vice deans for research, divisional business officers, faculty and staff across the university.
• As a trusted source of information for senior leadership, this position will frequently present or report on the VPR portfolio of programs.
• Provide leadership to the central VPR team, BDP team, and Research Development Team.
• Provide constructive and forward-thinking leadership for the Bloomberg Distinguished Professorships Program, an initiative critical to the university’s future.
• Launch the data science and AI BDP clusters in collaboration with the President, Provost, deans and directors, divisional business officers, vice deans for research, and institute leadership.
• Oversee the development of strategic plans and efficient processes for BDP 130 recruitment, program direction, and organizational management.
• Manage escalated concerns and issues across all associated programs.
• Ensure the continued success and evolution of the Research Development Team as a key function for increasing the university’s competitiveness in large-scale research grants.
• Identify engagement opportunities with federal sponsors and programs of institutional importance.
• Through relationships with leaders across the divisions, identify programs and policies to better support the productivity and excellence of the research community.
• Build on current research intelligence efforts to improve the institution’s research strategy and expand data-driven decision-making capacity.
• Provide leadership to the institutional awards programs, including program strategy and process oversight.
• Assess the university’s shared equipment, facilities, and resources infrastructure and policies, and provide recommendations for central personnel, policy and resources.
• Lead efforts in the science of science, producing studies and articles on the research enterprise.
• Drive other initiatives to promote collaboration across the university, identifying areas of need and opportunities to advance collaboration.
• Represent the VPR on institutional committees, industry conferences, professional associations, and other public venues.
• Contribute to building a culture of high performance and a positive employee experience.
• Communicate with appropriate internal and external administrative offices to ensure established procedures are followed.
• Other responsibilities as assigned.

Skills & Experience

• Will have a minimum of seven years of related experience and familiarity with a college or university environment.
• Will bring the following experiences and demonstrate these characteristics,
• Be a thoughtful listener, a strategic thinker, respect and understand mission-driven organizations, and be a strong communicator, collaborator and negotiator with unquestionable integrity within the research administration community.
• Outstanding leadership, problem-solving, and relationship-building capabilities.
• Proven history as a successful manager of high-volume research operation in a complex environment.
• Proven track record of successfully developing, building, managing, and mentoring a staff as well as proven skills working effectively building relationships with key clients such as faculty, staff, students, and external partners.
• Will have demonstrated the ability to interpret and synthesize complex information, to work effectively in an environment requiring the use of influence and persuasion rather than authority, and to lead strategically with vision in a culture of ambiguity.
• Strong oral and written communication skills and exceptional negotiation skills.
• Have an entrepreneurial, problem-solving approach to operations and customer service.
• Have a deep appreciation of and respect for academic values and culture and an understanding of the critical role research plays in sustaining and broadening the intellectual rigor of an elite research university.
• Will have participatory management style that models the values of client service, initiative, and collaboration.
• Strong organizational skills, a flexible work style, and be able to manage multiple challenging projects simultaneously in a fast-paced work environment.

Work Modality

• Hybrid – onsite 4 days per week and may require work outside of normal business hours.

Minimum Qualifications

• Advanced or professional Degree or equivalent experience is required.

• Seven years of relevant experience and familiarity with a college or university environment.

Classified Title: Associate Vice Provost-MGM
Job Posting Title (Working Title): Associate Vice Provost for Research
Role/Level/Range: ADMOFF/01/EX
Starting Salary Range: Commensurate with Experience
Employee group: Full Time
Schedule: Monday-Friday / 8:30am-5:00pm
Exempt Status: Exempt
Location: Hybrid/Homewood Campus
Department name: Vice Provost Research Office of
Personnel area: University Administration 

Total Rewards
The referenced salary range is based on Johns Hopkins University’s good faith belief at the time of posting. Actual compensation may vary based on factors such as geographic location, work experience, market conditions, education/training and skill level. Johns Hopkins offers a total rewards package that supports our employees’ health, life, career and retirement. More information can be found here: https://hr.jhu.edu/benefits-worklife/

Please refer to the job description above to see which forms of equivalency are permitted for this position. If permitted, equivalencies will follow these guidelines:
JHU Equivalency Formula: 30 undergraduate degree credits (semester hours) or 18 graduate degree credits may substitute for one year of experience. Additional related experience may substitute for required education on the same basis. For jobs where equivalency is permitted, up to two years of non-related college course work may be applied towards the total minimum education/experience required for the respective job.

**Applicants who do not meet the posted requirements but are completing their final academic semester/quarter will be considered eligible for employment and may be asked to provide additional information confirming their academic completion date.

The successful candidate(s) for this position will be subject to a pre-employment background check. Johns Hopkins is committed to hiring individuals with a justice-involved background, consistent with applicable policies and current practice. A prior criminal history does not automatically preclude candidates from employment at Johns Hopkins University. In accordance with applicable law, the university will review, on an individual basis, the date of a candidate’s conviction, the nature of the conviction and how the conviction relates to an essential job-related qualification or function.

The Johns Hopkins University values diversity, equity and inclusion and advances these through our key strategic framework, the JHU Roadmap on Diversity and Inclusion .

Accommodation Information

If you are interested in applying for employment with The Johns Hopkins University and require special assistance or accommodation during any part of the pre-employment process, please contact the Talent Acquisition Office at [email protected] . For TTY users, call via Maryland Relay or dial 711. For more information about workplace accommodations or accessibility at Johns Hopkins University, please visit accessibility.jhu.edu .

Johns Hopkins has mandated COVID-19 and influenza vaccines, as applicable. The COVID-19 vaccine does not apply to positions located in the State of Florida. Exceptions to the COVID and flu vaccine requirements may be provided to individuals for religious beliefs or medical reasons. Requests for an exception must be submitted to the JHU vaccination registry. For additional information, applicants for SOM positions should visit https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/coronavirus/covid-19-vaccine/ and all other JHU applicants should visit https://covidinfo.jhu.edu/health-safety/covid-vaccination-information/ .

The following additional provisions may apply, depending on campus. Your recruiter will advise accordingly.

The pre-employment physical for positions in clinical areas, laboratories, working with research subjects, or involving community contact requires documentation of immune status against Rubella (German measles), Rubeola (Measles), Mumps, Varicella (chickenpox), Hepatitis B and documentation of having received the Tdap (Tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) vaccination. This may include documentation of having two (2) MMR vaccines; two (2) Varicella vaccines; or antibody status to these diseases from laboratory testing. Blood tests for immunities to these diseases are ordinarily included in the pre-employment physical exam except for those employees who provide results of blood tests or immunization documentation from their own health care providers. Any vaccinations required for these diseases will be given at no cost in our Occupational Health office.

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