Associate Vice Chancellor, Research Administration

NC State University

North Carolina

On-site

USD 120,000 - 180,000

Full time

14 days+

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Benefits offered by this job

Childcare

Wellness & Recreation Membership

Wellness Programs

Job summary

NC State University seeks an Associate Vice Chancellor, Research Administration to lead the Office of Sponsored Programs. The AVC-RA will oversee enterprise-wide pre-award services, contract negotiations, and data governance, coordinating with campus partners to advance NC State’s research mission.

The role requires strategic vision, collaborative leadership, and the ability to align research administration with institutional goals while ensuring compliance and operational excellence.

Qualifications

Requires extensive leadership experience in sponsored programs or research administration.
Experience negotiating complex research agreements and managing institutional risk.

Responsibilities

Provide strategic leadership for the university’s sponsored programs enterprise.
Advise leadership on research administration strategy, compliance, risk, and operations.
Lead the development and implementation of policies and governance for research administration.

Job description

Associate Vice Chancellor, Research Administration

Please see Special Instructions for more details.

Posting Information

Posting Number

Posting Number PG194788EP

Internal Recruitment

Internal Recruitment No

Working Title

Working Title Associate Vice Chancellor, Research Administration

Anticipated Hiring Range

Anticipated Hiring Range Commensurate with experience and education

Work Schedule

Work Schedule Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 5:00pm, overtime as required to meet deadlines

Job Location

Department

Department Office of Sponsored Programs

About the Department

The Office of Sponsored Programs ( OSP ) is NC State’s central administrative hub for institutional research administration. OSP provides enterprise‑level leadership and operational support across three core institutional areas:

Institutional Pre‑Award Services

Institutional Contract Negotiations

Institutional Research Systems & Reporting

OSP oversees all institutional pre‑award and non‑financial post‑award activities, including proposal review, submission, negotiation, acceptance, and award management for more than 3,700 annual actions and over $500M in sponsored funding. The office leads the configuration, governance, and reporting infrastructure for the university’s research administration systems and partners closely with OPAFS, the Office of Research Commercialization, the Office of Information Technology, General Counsel, and academic units to ensure that NC State’s research enterprise operates with integrity, efficiency, and resilience.

Wolfpack Perks and Benefits

As a Pack member, you belong here, and can enjoy exclusive perks designed to enhance your personal and professional well‑being. As you consider this opportunity, we encourage you to review our Employee Value Proposition and learn more about what makes NC State the best place to learn and work for everyone.

Childcare

Wellness & Recreation Membership

Wellness Programs

Disclaimer: Perks and Benefit eligibility is based on Part-Time or Full-Time Employment status. Eligibility and Employer Sponsored Plans can be found within each of the links offered.

The Associate Vice Chancellor, Research Administration ( AVC -RA) serves as the university’s senior executive leader for sponsored programs and institutional research administration, providing strategic oversight of enterprise‑wide pre‑award services, sponsored project administration, research contracts, research administration systems, and research administration data governance. Reporting directly to the Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation, the AVC leads a high‑performing leadership team that includes the Director of Institutional Research Systems & Reporting, the Director of Research Administration & Campus Liaison, and additional OSP directors. Working collaboratively with university leadership, colleges, research centers, faculty, federal sponsors, and administrative partners, the AVC ensures a coordinated, compliant, and service‑oriented research administration enterprise that advances NC State’s research mission while strengthening institutional stewardship and operational excellence.

As the AVC RA, you will shape the future of research administration at one of the nation’s leading public research universities. Your leadership will influence how investigators secure external funding, how research operations evolve to meet an increasingly complex regulatory environment, and how institutional systems, data, and policies support innovation at scale. Success in this position comes from balancing strategic vision with collaborative leadership—building trusted partnerships across the university, championing continuous improvement, and fostering an environment where faculty and research administrators have the resources, guidance, and infrastructure needed to expand NC State’s research impact.

Key Responsibilities fall within the following functional areas.

Strategic Leadership & Research Administration

Provide strategic leadership for the university’s sponsored programs enterprise, aligning research administration priorities with institutional goals and the evolving external funding landscape.

Advise the Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation and university leadership on research administration strategy, sponsored programs, regulatory compliance, institutional risk, and operational effectiveness.

Lead the development and implementation of university‑wide policies, governance, and business practices that strengthen research administration and support faculty success.

Foster a culture of collaboration, service excellence, continuous improvement, and accountability across the Office of Sponsored Programs and the broader research community.

Provide executive oversight of institutional pre‑award operations, research agreements, and sponsored programs administration to ensure consistent, compliant, and customer‑focused service delivery.

Safeguard the university’s legal, financial, and operational interests through effective risk management, contract oversight, and compliance with federal, state, and sponsor requirements.

Lead the university’s response to significant regulatory changes, audits, investigations, and other matters impacting the research enterprise.

Research Systems, Data & Operational Excellence

Provide executive sponsorship for research administration systems, institutional data governance, and modernization initiatives that enhance operational effectiveness and decision‑making.

Champion technology, process improvement, and analytics strategies that strengthen research administration services and support institutional growth.

Ensure research administration infrastructure evolves to meet the changing needs of faculty, sponsors, and the university.

University & External Engagement

Build trusted partnerships with university leadership, faculty, colleges, and research administrators to advance the institution’s research mission.

Represent NC State in relationships with federal agencies, industry, nonprofit organizations, and national research administration associations.

Serve as the university’s senior institutional representative for complex sponsor negotiations, strategic collaborations, and matters requiring executive‑level consultation.

If you are a collaborative and strategic leader who is passionate about advancing research, building strong institutional partnerships, and shaping the future of research administration, we encourage you to apply.

Other Responsibilities

In addition to the core responsibilities of this role, there will be occasional opportunities to take on additional duties. This offers an opportunity to build on your skills, explore new areas, and gain a deeper understanding of the department’s operations.

Qualifications

Minimum Education and Experience

Requires a relevant post‑Baccalaureate degree with a minimum of three (3) years or greater of related professional experience, or a relevant undergraduate degree and a minimum of five (5) years or greater of relevant experience may be substituted for the advanced degree.

Other Required Qualifications

Extensive progressively responsible leadership experience in sponsored programs, research administration, or a closely related function within a large, complex research institution.

Demonstrated success leading enterprise‑wide research administration operations, including developing strategy, guiding organizational change, and advancing operational excellence.

Experience negotiating complex research agreements and managing institutional risk while ensuring compliance with federal regulations, sponsor requirements, and university policies.

Proven ability to lead organizational transformation through process improvement, technology modernization, or implementation of enterprise research administration systems.

Demonstrated success building collaborative partnerships, influencing executive and academic leaders, and leading high‑performing teams within a decentralized organization.

Exceptional communication, strategic decision‑making, and relationship management skills with the ability to represent the institution in complex, high‑impact matters.

Preferred Qualifications

Terminal degree (e.g., PhD, JD, or equivalent) in a relevant discipline.

Executive leadership experience within an R1 university or similarly complex research‑intensive organization.

Experience leading enterprise‑wide research administration technology, data governance, or institutional modernization initiatives.

Demonstrated success leading and developing senior leaders within a large, decentralized organizational environment.

Required License(s) or Certification(s)

N/A

Valid NC Driver's License required

Valid NC Driver's License required No

Commercial Driver's License required

Commercial Driver's License required No

Recruitment Dates and Special Instructions

Job Open Date 08/10/2026

Anticipated Close Date 10/1/2026; if posting is active we are still accepting and reviewing applications

Position Number

Position Number 00001681

Position Type

Position Type EPS/SAAO

Full Time Equivalent (FTE) (1.0 = 40 hours/week) 1.00

Appointment

Appointment 12 Month Recurring

Mandatory Designation - Adverse Weather

Mandatory Designation - Adverse Weather Non Mandatory - Adverse Weather

Mandatory Designation - Emergency Events

Mandatory Designation - Emergency Events Non Mandatory - Emergency Event

Department ID

Department ID 060401 - ORI-Ofc of Sponsored Programs

EEO

NC State University is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive equal opportunities for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, and veteran status. The University encourages all qualified applicants, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities, to apply. Individuals with disabilities requiring disability‑related accommodations in the application and interview process are welcome to contact 919-513-0574 to speak with a representative of the Office of Equal Opportunity. If you have general questions about the application process, you may contact Human Resources at (919) 515-2135 or workatncstate@ncsu.edu. Final candidates are subject to criminal & sex offender background checks. Some vacancies also require credit or motor vehicle checks. Degree(s) must be obtained prior to start date in order to meet qualifications and receive credit. NC State University participates in E-Verify. Federal law requires all employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States.

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*)

* How did you learn of this opportunity?
- NCSU Website
- NCSU Executive Search Services
- Monster.com
- CareerBuilder.com
- InsideHigherEd.com
- The Chronicle of Higher Education
- HERC
- Professional Journal
- Print Advertisement (Newspaper / Periodical)
- Professional Organization
- Direct Contact from NCSU HR Representative / Recruiter
- NCSU Employee Referral
- Social Media (LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Other)
- Other