Vice President for Research, Creative Activity, and Economic Development

SRA International; Las Cruces (NM); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

New Mexico State University (NMSU) invites nominations and applications for the role of Vice President for Research, Creativity and Economic Development (VPRCED). Serving as the University’s Chief Research Officer, the VPRCED guides research across a broad portfolio, including interdisciplinary initiatives with FY24 expenditures of $143 million.

The next VPRCED will strengthen NMSU’s status as a top research university, drive innovation for student success, and expand state and national

Qualifications

• Extensive leadership experience managing large research ecosystems.
• Proven track record securing federal and industry funding for research.
• Experience scaling industry-funded research initiatives and leading commercialization efforts.
• Earned terminal degree with extensive scholarly, professional, and leadership achievements.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with academic and community colleges to integrate and grow research activities university-wide.
• Provide leadership for securing research funding and planning research space.
• Oversee research commercialization and incubation of new companies.
• Recruit corporate research partners and expand industry-funded initiatives.
• Lead partnerships with national laboratories and industry players.

Skills

Leadership experience

Federal research funding

Technology transfer

Strategic partnerships

Education

Terminal degree

Job description

Vice President for Research, Creative Activity, and Economic Development

Overview

New Mexico State University (NMSU) invites nominations and applications for the role of Vice President for Research, Creativity and Economic Development (VPRCED). Reporting to the President, the VPRCED serves as the University's Chief Research Officer, guiding research efforts across a broad portfolio, including collaborative and interdisciplinary projects, with FY24 research expenditures of $143 million. The next VPRCED will leverage and enhance NMSU's 2025 R1 designation to grow the research enterprise, enhance national and global visibility, and support student success through innovation within the university's land‑grant and space‑grant missions.

Responsibilities

• Work closely with academic and community colleges to integrate and enhance research activities for university-wide strategic growth.
• Provide leadership for acquiring research funding, planning and developing academic research space, and overseeing research commercialization and incubation of new companies.
• Recruit corporate research partners and coordinate public outreach to expand industry-funded research initiatives.
• Oversee a research enterprise where 58% of funding comes from federal agencies, and lead efforts to align with federal funding priorities and trends.
• Leverage strategic partnerships with national laboratories and industry partners such as Los Alamos, Sandia, the Air Force Research Laboratory, White Sands Missile Range, Spaceport America, and the NASA White Sands Test Facility.
• Serve as the lead institution for the National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program in New Mexico and provide NASA resources through the statewide NM Space Grant Consortium.
• Champion agricultural research, food security, sustainability, rural development, and water‑related research to maintain national leadership.
• Drive technology commercialization, secure industry partnerships, and scale university‑based intellectual property portfolios.
• Lead research initiatives in cybersecurity, advanced manufacturing, biosciences, radionuclide research, and mechanical and aerospace engineering.

Qualifications

• Extensive, demonstrated leadership experience managing large research ecosystems at a major institution.
• Proven track record in securing federal and industry research funding and successfully scaling intellectual property and technology transfer efforts.
• Experience in scaling industry‑funded research initiatives and leading commercialization strategies.
• Earned terminal degree with extensive scholarly, professional, and leadership achievements.

Equal Employment Opportunity

New Mexico State University (NMSU) does not discriminate on the basis of age, ancestry, color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, retaliation, serious medical condition, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, spousal affiliation or protected veteran status in its programs and activities, including admissions, as required by state and federal law and University policy. NMSU's Office of Institutional Equity is designated as the office that receives and processes internal complaints of unlawful discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and sexual misconduct on behalf of NMSU.

New Mexico State University (n) has designated as the Title IX Coordinator, responsible for ensuring compliance with Title IX and other state and federal laws addressing sexual and gender‑based harassment, including sexual assault, dating and domestic violence, stalking, and other forms of sexual misconduct based on sex, gender, sexual orientation, or gender identity. NMSU recognizes that individuals with disabilities are entitled to access, support, and, when appropriate, reasonable accommodation.

William Nutt is also assigned to coordinate compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504, and other state and federal laws that prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability in admission, treatment, and/or access to its programs and activities.

Inquiries may be directed to the Executive Director, Title IX and Section 504 Coordinator, Office of Institutional Equity, P.O. Box 30001, E. 1130 University Avenue, Las Cruces, NM 88003; 575.646.3635; 575.646.7802 (TTY) [e-mail]