Vice Pres​/Research & Programs

VICE PRES/RESEARCH & SPONSORED PROGRAMS

Position Number: S-3861

Central Michigan University (CMU) is a Carnegie Research 2 (R2) institution with high research activity and doctoral education. The Vice President for Research and Sponsored Programs (VPRSP) reports to the Provost/Executive Vice President and leads the university in advancing and strengthening its research enterprise. As a senior member of the leadership team, the VPRSP advises institutional leadership on research strategy, policy, investment, and risk, and represents CMU internally and externally on matters related to research, scholarship, creative work, and innovation.

The VPRSP cultivates a culture of scholarship, creative work, research, development, and innovation; advances interdisciplinary and community‑engaged initiatives; expands strategic research partnerships; and further develops CMU’s infrastructure and administrative support to enable growth. The VPRSP also provides leadership for the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs, encompassing research compliance, laboratory and field safety, animal facilities, and functions related to sponsored programs, partnerships, intellectual property, human subjects research, biosafety, and export control.

• Supports the Leadership Standards of CMU and fosters a culture that inspires excellence.
• Provides strategic leadership to advance, expand, and elevate CMU’s research, scholarly, creative, and innovation enterprise in alignment with strategic priorities.
• Facilitates and supports research, scholarship, and creative works consistent with the expectations of a Carnegie Research 2 institution engaged in significant graduate and undergraduate education.
• Leads efforts to engage on‑ and off‑campus communities to promote research and creative opportunities for faculty and students.
• Serves as the Research Integrity Officer (RIO) for CMU, coordinating and implementing the university’s Research Integrity and Misconduct Policy and ensuring compliance with federal and state regulations. Ensures prompt and fair assessment of research misconduct allegations.
• Assists in developing and distributing training on research ethics, integrity, and regulatory requirements and serves as a liaison to external funding agencies and oversight bodies.
• Provides leadership and oversight to the Offices of Research Compliance and Laboratory and Field Safety, ensuring compliance with all federal and state guidelines and regulations.
• Enhances and strengthens infrastructure and organizational support to enable increased research and creative activity, external funding, and technology transfer, preparing CMU to handle fluctuations in research activity and funding.
• Engages government agencies, foundations, and other public and private partners to identify and promote research funding opportunities.
• Collaborates with the CMU Research Corporation to create a hub for innovation that supports entrepreneurial activity based on CMU intellectual property and expertise, including the technology transfer process.
• Advances innovation and translational activity through support for intellectual property creation, technology transfer, commercialization, and related activities, and through securing and managing sponsored research programs.
• Acts as an advocate by cultivating a research ecosystem that reduces barriers to participation, supports investigators across disciplines and career stages, and enhances access to resources, guidance, and opportunities that advance scholarship, creative work, and sponsored research.
• Collaborates with and brings investigators together to conceptualize and develop large‑scale, multidisciplinary research initiatives and translate them into compelling funding requests.

• Doctorate or equivalent combined with an academic record sufficient to be granted advanced rank and tenure in one of CMU’s academic departments.
• Five years of successful leadership experience in research administration within a large, complex organization, preferably in a public research university setting.
• Demonstrated record of significant scholarship, research, or creative activity,…