Assistant Vice Chancellor, Research Business Operations

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; Chapel Hill (NC); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research (OVCR) seeks an Assistant Vice Chancellor, Research Business Operations (AVC-RBO) to provide senior leadership for the financial and operational infrastructure supporting a roughly $1.6 billion research enterprise.

The AVC-RBO oversees Research Finance and Business Operations, Research HR, and Research Information Systems, guiding multi-year budgets, F&A strategy, and data analytics to support sustainable

Qualifications

• Eight or more years of progressively responsible experience in financial management, business operations, or related functions within a large, complex organization.

Responsibilities

• Provide senior leadership for the financial and operational infrastructure supporting UNC-Chapel Hill's investigations enterprise.
• Lead multi-year financial planning, budgeting, resource modeling, and data analytics.
• Develop and negotiate F&A strategy, rate development, and capital investment requirements.
• Collaborate with OVCR and university partners to align business operations with research priorities.

Skills

Leadership

Financial management

Budgeting

Data analytics

Excellent communication

Project management

Education

Advanced degree in business/finance/public administration or related field

Relevant post-baccalaureate degree

Tools

ERP systems

Business intelligence tools

Job description

Department:

VC for Res-620100

Career Area :

Other

Posting Open Date:

11/06/2026

Application Deadline:

11/20/2026

Open Until Filled:

No

Position Type:

Permanent Staff (EHRA NF)

Working Title:

Assistant Vice Chancellor, Research Business Operations

Appointment Type:

EHRA Non-Faculty

Position Number:

01001287

Vacancy ID:

NF0010182

Full Time/Part Time:

Full-Time Permanent

FTE:

1

Hours per week:

40

Position Location:

North Carolina, US

Hiring Range:

Dependent on Qualifications

Proposed Start Date:

01/04/2027

Be a Tar Heel!:

A global higher education leader in innovative teaching, research and public service, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill consistently ranks as one of the nation’s top public universities. Known for its beautiful campus, world-class medical care, commitment to the arts and top athletic programs, Carolina is an ideal place to teach, work and learn.One of the best college towns and best places to live in the United States, Chapel Hill has diverse social, cultural, recreation and professional opportunities that span the campus and community.University employees can choose from a wide range of professional training opportunities for career growth, skill development and lifelong learning and enjoy exclusive perks for numerous retail, restaurant and performing arts discounts, savings on local child care centers and special rates on select campus events. UNC-Chapel Hill offers full-time employees a comprehensive benefits package, paid leave, and a variety of health, life and retirement plans and additional programs that support a healthy work/life balance.

Primary Purpose of Organizational Unit:

The Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research (OVCR) oversees, develops, supports, and grows UNC-Chapel Hill’s $1.6 billion research enterprise. The offices reporting to the OVCR set strategic priorities for research, manage proposals and awards, provide research infrastructure, identify funding opportunities, develop research teams and partnerships, oversee regulatory compliance, and communicate the impact and value of the University’s research enterprise. The OVCR enables research endeavors for faculty, students, and scholars; encourages interdisciplinary research collaboration across campus; and fosters expansion and diversification of the University’s sponsored research portfolio by collaborating with foundations, federal agencies, corporations, and the state and federal governments. The Vice Chancellor for Research also oversees multiple pan-University, multidisciplinary research centers and institutes.

Position Summary:

UNC’s Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research (OVCR) supports a research enterprise approximately $1.6 billion in total research activity. The Assistant Vice Chancellor, Research Business Operations (AVC-RBO) provides senior leadership for the financial and operational infrastructure that supports this enterprise, including Research Finance and Business Operations, Research Human Resources, the Office of Research Information Systems, and Research Space Planning. The position reports to the Associate Vice Chancellor for Research Operations, Protections, and Security, with dotted line to the Vice Chancellor for Research, and works closely with OVCR senior leaders, and University partners to align business operations with institutional research priorities.

The AVC-RBO develops and maintains the multi-year financial forecast for the research enterprise, including projected sponsored funding growth, indirect cost recovery, workforce and space needs, and capital investment requirements. The role provides leadership for F&A strategy, rate development and negotiation, resource-allocation modeling, data analytics, and business intelligence, and builds the financial and resource cases supporting major research investments. The position also partners with OVCR’s revenue-generating units and affiliated centers and institutes to provide financial modeling and sustainability analysis supporting research growth.

The AVC-RBO has line authority over Research Finance and Business Operations, Research Human Resources, the Office of Research Information Systems, and Research Space Planning, including supervision and development of the leaders responsible for those functions. Day-to-day transactional and operational responsibilities remain with the respective functional leaders; the AVC-RBO establishes strategic direction, priorities, performance expectations, and the financial and operational framework within which those functions operate.

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements:

Relevant post-baccalaureate degree: relevant undergraduate degree with 5 -7 years of related professional experience may be substituted for the advanced degree.

Required Qualifications, Competencies, and Experience:

The successful candidate will be a person of high personal integrity, exhibit a strong commitment to service, and demonstrate a broad understanding of the role of research at a modern university. The successful candidate will have eight or more years of progressively responsible experience in financial management, business operations, or related functions within a large, complex organization, including significant leadership responsibility for multi-year financial planning, budgeting, resource modeling, or comparable enterprise-level business functions. The successful candidate will have strong organizational, analytical, and problem-solving abilities; excellent written and oral communication skills; demonstrated ability to present financial models and resource cases to senior leadership; and the ability to work effectively with a wide range of stakeholders. Significant experience with budget development and management, project management, team leadership, data analytics, and business intelligence is also required.

Preferred Qualifications, Competencies, and Experience:

Experience with indirect cost recovery (F&A) rate development and negotiation, higher education or federal research finance, and enterprise resource planning systems is strongly preferred. Experience in a major research university, academic health system, or similarly complex research environment is preferred. Experience representing an institution in federal or multi-institutional policy settings is desirable. An advanced degree in business, finance, public administration, or a related field, or an equivalent professional certification (e.g., CPA, MBA), is preferred.

Campus Security Authority Responsibilities:

This position is designated as a Campus Security Authority in accordance with the Clery Act. This position will be required to report Clery crimes to the Clery Compliance Manager and complete annual training about reporting responsibilities.