AVP for Research Infrastructure/Capacity Building

Michigan State University(MSU); East Lansing (MI); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Michigan State University (MSU) seeks a visionary AVP for Research Infrastructure/Capacity Building to lead the Office of Research and Innovation. You will oversee the portfolio of shared resources, including the Research Technology Support Facility (RTSF) and RTSF‑related centers, coordinating investments and partnerships to strengthen MSU’s research enterprise.

You will collaborate with the VPRI, colleges, institutes, and external partners to advance a cohesive, globally competitive shared

Responsibilities

• Implement the strategic vision of MSU’s research infrastructure and align it with university research priorities, faculty hiring plans, and external funding opportunities.
• Develop and implement a forward-looking strategy to prioritize investments in research infrastructure and align these investments with strategic faculty recruitment.
• Create and deploy a comprehensive performance and impact framework that integrates scientific, operational, financial, outreach and training metrics, supported by data-informed decision-making.
• Advance and elevate MSU’s standing as a leading global research university and premier land-grant institution, driving discovery and societal impact.

Job description

Working/Functional Title AVP for Research Infrastructure/Capacity Building

Position Summary

The Office of Research and Innovation (OR&I) advances MSU’s research mission by supporting excellence across the full spectrum of scholarly, creative, and scientific activity. OR&I delivers comprehensive research support services; safeguards the safety, integrity, and ethical conduct of research; fosters technology transfer and strategic external partnerships; supports shared research resources and core facilities; and implements university policies that guide and strengthen research and creative activity. The AVPR serves as a senior leader and steadfast advocate for MSU’s shared research infrastructure. Working in close collaboration with the Vice President for Research and Innovation (VPRI), academic colleges, research institutes and centers, core facilities, museums, libraries, and administrative partners, the AVPR helps shape and coordinate strategic investments in people, infrastructure, and shared resources that advance MSU’s research enterprise forward. The AVPR provides executive oversight and strategic leadership for university’s portfolio of shared research resources (SRRs), including direct administrative responsibility for the Research Technology Support Facility (RTSF), the MSU Bioeconomy Institute, and the St. Andrews Facility at the Midland site. Through this role, the AVPR will play a pivotal part in expanding MSU’s impact as a leading global research university and premier land-grant institution, whose faculty and staff drive leadership, innovation, discovery, and economic opportunity for Michigan, the nation, and the world. Guided by data-informed decision-making, collaborative leadership, and strategic partnership development, the AVPR will strengthen connections across the university and with external partners to advance a cohesive, forward-looking, and globally competitive shared research infrastructure strategy. The AVPR models inclusive and collaborative leadership while ensuring that researchers, institutional partners, and community stakeholders can readily access and benefit from MSU’s world-class research capabilities.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership of Shared Research Infrastructure

• Implement the strategic vision of MSU’s research infrastructure, ensuring strategic alignment with university research priorities, faculty hiring plans, and external funding opportunities.
• Develop and implement a forward-looking strategy to prioritize investments in research infrastructure, aligning these investments with strategic faculty recruitment to accelerate progress on institutional priorities and strengthen MSU’s research enterprise.
• Develop and implement a comprehensive performance and impact framework that integrates scientific, operational, financial, outreach and training metrics, supported by robust systems for continuous monitoring and data-informed decision-making.
• Advance and elevate MSU’s standing as a leading global research university and premier land-grant institution, driving discovery, innovation, and societal impact.

Oversight of OR&IT Core Facilities and Coordination of Shared Research Resources

Provide executive leadership and administrative oversight for the Research Technology Support Facility (RTSF), a multi-core facility delivering cutting‑edge capabilities in genomics, proteomics, metabolomics, cryo‑electron microscopy, flow cytometry, advanced imaging, gene editing, and other transformative research capabilities. Ensure the operational excellence, financial sustainability, and long‑term strategic vitality of RTSF, with a focus on optimizing cost recovery and recharge models, strengthening workforce capacity, and guiding forward‑looking capital investment and infrastructure planning. Foster strategic co