Associate Vice Provost, Research
An Associate Vice Provost for Research advances a university’s research mission, supporting the strategic growth, administration, and integrity of its research enterprise. This is a sample job description from Excelon Associates that you can adapt as a template for your own hire.
What does an Associate Vice Provost for Research do?
The Associate Vice Provost for Research advances the university’s research mission by supporting the strategic growth, administration, and innovation of its research enterprise. Reporting to the Vice Provost for Research, the role enhances research funding, fosters interdisciplinary collaboration, and ensures compliance with research policies and regulatory standards.
It works closely with faculty, staff, and external partners to expand research capacity, enhance institutional visibility, and support impactful outcomes. It is a senior research-administration role within the higher education sector.
The IRB (Institutional Review Board) reviews research involving human subjects, and the IACUC (Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee) oversees research with animals. Both operate under federal standards, including those from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and research compliance is central to this role.
What does the Associate Vice Provost oversee?
Key responsibilities of an Associate Vice Provost for Research
- Assist in developing and implementing a comprehensive strategy for advancing the university’s research agenda and competitiveness, promoting interdisciplinary collaboration across departments, colleges, and external organizations.
- Collaborate with faculty to secure external funding from federal, state, and private sources, and develop initiatives and workshops supporting grant writing and proposal development.
- Partner with research centers and institutes to foster innovation and expand funding opportunities.
- Oversee research compliance, ensuring adherence to federal, state, and institutional regulations, including IRB, IACUC, and research safety protocols, and promote a culture of research integrity.
- Provide leadership and mentorship to faculty, postdoctoral researchers, and graduate students engaged in research.
- Lead initiatives that enhance professional development and foster a supportive research environment for early-career investigators.
- Assist in managing research infrastructure, resources, and administrative operations, and support technology transfer, commercialization, and intellectual property initiatives.
- Analyze and report research performance metrics to inform decision-making, and build partnerships with industry, government agencies, and research collaborators.
What qualifications does the role require?
- Doctorate (PhD) or equivalent terminal degree in a relevant field.
- Minimum of eight to ten years of progressive experience in research leadership, academic administration, or research development, with demonstrated success securing and managing external research funding.
- Experience with research compliance, policies, and regulatory frameworks, including federal and state guidelines.
- Proven ability to foster interdisciplinary collaborations and partnerships, with strong strategic planning, leadership, and organizational skills.
- A commitment to research integrity and a data-driven approach to managing complex projects, budgets, and teams.
Why is the Associate Vice Provost for Research role important?
Research funding, output, and integrity drive a university’s reputation and impact. The Associate Vice Provost for Research expands funding and collaboration while protecting the institution through rigorous compliance, where a lapse in IRB or IACUC oversight can halt research or trigger federal sanction.
Because the role blends growth ambitions with compliance discipline, the strongest candidates can court new funding and partnerships while holding the line on integrity and regulation. That balance is what lets a research enterprise grow safely.
A hiring note from Excelon
Research administration leaders are valued for a rare mix: the credibility to advise faculty PIs, fluency in federal compliance, and the development instinct to grow funding. Through our higher education practice, we look for doctorally prepared leaders who have both won grants and managed IRB or IACUC compliance, since the role demands ambition and caution in equal measure.
The strongest candidates court new funding and partnerships while holding the line on integrity and regulation.
Related sample job descriptions
Associate Vice Provost, Research: frequently asked questions
What does an Associate Vice Provost for Research do?
An Associate Vice Provost for Research advances a university’s research mission by supporting strategy, funding, and compliance. The role promotes interdisciplinary collaboration, helps faculty secure external funding, oversees research compliance, mentors researchers, and builds external partnerships.
What qualifications does the role require?
This sample role requires a doctorate or equivalent terminal degree and eight to ten years of progressive experience in research leadership, academic administration, or research development, with success securing external funding and managing compliance.
What are IRB and IACUC?
The IRB (Institutional Review Board) reviews research involving human subjects, and the IACUC (Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee) oversees research involving animals. The Associate Vice Provost helps ensure research complies with both.
How does this role relate to the Vice Provost for Research?
The Associate Vice Provost reports to the Vice Provost for Research and supports the broader research enterprise, often owning specific areas such as funding development, compliance, or faculty research support.
Why is this role important?
Research funding, output, and integrity drive a university’s reputation and impact. The Associate Vice Provost for Research expands funding and collaboration while protecting the institution through rigorous research compliance.
Hiring an Associate Vice Provost for Research?
Excelon Associates recruits research administration leaders, vice provosts, and academic research executives for universities and research institutions across the United States through our higher education recruitment practice. Retained executive search since 2007, headquartered in Asheville, NC, with offices in Boca Raton and Delray Beach, FL.
More Sample Job Descriptions
Templates you can adapt for your own roles.