What are the responsibilities and job description for the Associate Vice President, Research Initiatives and Development position at University of Rhode Island?
Position Information
Posting Number SF02127 Job Title Associate Vice President, Research Initiatives and Development Position Number 109319 FTE 1.00 FLSA Exempt Position Type Professional Staff Union Non-Union Non-Classified Staff Pay Grade Level Grade Level: 18 Pay Grade Range Anticipated Salary Hiring Range: $185,000 - $200,000 Status Calendar Year, Full-time, Limited
Department Information
Department SPA - VP Res & Econ Devel Contact(s)
Please note: Job applications must be submitted directly online only at: (https://jobs.uri.edu)
Contact Phone/Extension Contact Email Physical Demands Campus Location Kingston Grant Funded No Extension Contingency Notes
The position is full-time, calendar year, limited to 06/26/2027
with anticipated renewal.
___________________________________________________________________________
Job Description Summary
The search will remain open until the position has been filled. First consideration will be given to applications received by February 28, 2026. Applications received after February 28, 2026 may be reviewed depending on search progress and needs but are not guaranteed full consideration.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
About URI
The University of Rhode Island enrolls approximately 17,000 students across its graduate and undergraduate programs and is the State’s flagship public research university, as well as the land grant and sea grant university, for the state of Rhode Island. The main campus is located in the historic village of Kingston, and the Bay Campus is located in Narragansett. Both campuses are near major beaches in a beautiful coastal community. URI is just 30 minutes from Providence, RI and within easy reach of Newport, Boston, and New York City.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Position Summary
The Associate Vice President, Research Initiatives and Development is responsible for strategic direction and growth of URI’s research ecosystem. Reporting to the Vice President for Research and Economic Development, work closely with other members of the Vice President for Research and Economic Development’s leadership team to facilitate a service-oriented leadership culture that benefits URI and its faculty, cultivating a culture of collaboration while providing leadership and strategic direction for URI’s research to flourish. Work and provide support and counsel to the Vice President for Research and Economic Development and senior leaders on matters of strategic, operational, and tactical importance. Work closely with college research leadership and URI’s government relations team to identify areas of strategic research growth and alignment with URI’s strategic plan. Ensure that various groups and stakeholders are aligned and working in concert to achieve shared goals and objectives. Display a deep understanding of today’s complex academic research and innovation environment and funding landscape. Cultivate professional relationships with faculty and institutional leaders and be an effective thought partner in organizing diverse and inclusive research teams, engaging external partners, and developing management and outreach plans to capitalize on funding opportunities while ensuring services meet the research community’s needs and align with university priorities.
Duties and Responsibilities
Key Duties And Responsibilities
Develop and implement strategies to facilitate close collaboration with faculty and administrative staff for grant submissions, particularly for large interdisciplinary and center grants.
Direct strategy for communicating information about research funding opportunities to the university research community.
Support the role of the University as a convener of stakeholders to define and explore vital and emerging societal challenges.
Develop and implement a service model to support major URI research initiatives.
Develop and implement a strategy to create and pursue targeted external funding opportunities for research strengths and interests at the University, including by working with URI’s government relations team.
Direct strategy for URI’s external research relations and web presence, in collaboration with External Relations and Communications.
Support and develop research partnerships with federal, state, and local governments, foundations, industry, the entrepreneurial community, and other non-governmental entities, including community groups.
Develop and support partnerships with a broad spectrum of educational institutions including other RI public and state universities including community colleges; schools outside the RI region, particularly in EPSCoR states; and universities and colleges that predominantly serve underrepresented minorities.
Work closely with campus leadership across colleges and institutes. Partner with staff from organizations outside URI including the URI Research Foundation and the Business Engagement Center in the URI Foundation.
Provide support for the Vice President for Research and Economic Development to the URI Board of Trustees and faculty senate committees.
Lead and mentor staff to operationalize the activities, programs, and services set forth by the Associate Vice President, Research Initiatives and Development in coordination with the Vice President for Research and Economic Development and the research community.
Direct the management of the internal process for selecting candidates to compete for opportunities with limited competitions.
Advise the Vice President for Research and Economic Development and URI Faculty senate in the allocation of seed funds within the Office of the Vice President for Research and Economic Development for proposal development and project completion.
Prepare qualitative and metric-based analyses on the impact of research development on submissions and funding trends.
Other Duties And Responsibilities
Perform other duties and special projects as needed.
Licenses, Tools, And Equipment
Personal computers, printers; word processing, database management and spreadsheet software.
Required
Required Qualifications
Preferred Qualifications
Eeo Statement
URI is unwavering in its commitment to equal opportunity, community, equity, and diversity. In furtherance of its mission to serve and support all learners as the state’s public flagship university, URI continues to expand efforts to recruit and retain a broadly representative workforce as well as to regularly evaluate the effectiveness of those efforts. All employment decisions, including hiring, are made without regard to protected status. Qualified individuals with disabilities may request a reasonable accommodation by contacting the URI benefits office at 401-874-2416. For TTY assistance, contact R.I. Relay Services at 711.
Environmental Conditions
This position is not substantially exposed to adverse environmental conditions.
Posting Date 02/16/2026 Closing Date Special Instructions to Applicants
Please attach the following 2 (PDF) documents to your online Employment Application:
(#1) Cover letter.
(#2) Curriculum Vitae.
Note: References will be upon request by the search committee.
Quicklink for Posting https://jobs.uri.edu/postings/16177
Posting Number SF02127 Job Title Associate Vice President, Research Initiatives and Development Position Number 109319 FTE 1.00 FLSA Exempt Position Type Professional Staff Union Non-Union Non-Classified Staff Pay Grade Level Grade Level: 18 Pay Grade Range Anticipated Salary Hiring Range: $185,000 - $200,000 Status Calendar Year, Full-time, Limited
Department Information
Department SPA - VP Res & Econ Devel Contact(s)
Please note: Job applications must be submitted directly online only at: (https://jobs.uri.edu)
Contact Phone/Extension Contact Email Physical Demands Campus Location Kingston Grant Funded No Extension Contingency Notes
The position is full-time, calendar year, limited to 06/26/2027
with anticipated renewal.
___________________________________________________________________________
Job Description Summary
The search will remain open until the position has been filled. First consideration will be given to applications received by February 28, 2026. Applications received after February 28, 2026 may be reviewed depending on search progress and needs but are not guaranteed full consideration.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
About URI
The University of Rhode Island enrolls approximately 17,000 students across its graduate and undergraduate programs and is the State’s flagship public research university, as well as the land grant and sea grant university, for the state of Rhode Island. The main campus is located in the historic village of Kingston, and the Bay Campus is located in Narragansett. Both campuses are near major beaches in a beautiful coastal community. URI is just 30 minutes from Providence, RI and within easy reach of Newport, Boston, and New York City.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Position Summary
The Associate Vice President, Research Initiatives and Development is responsible for strategic direction and growth of URI’s research ecosystem. Reporting to the Vice President for Research and Economic Development, work closely with other members of the Vice President for Research and Economic Development’s leadership team to facilitate a service-oriented leadership culture that benefits URI and its faculty, cultivating a culture of collaboration while providing leadership and strategic direction for URI’s research to flourish. Work and provide support and counsel to the Vice President for Research and Economic Development and senior leaders on matters of strategic, operational, and tactical importance. Work closely with college research leadership and URI’s government relations team to identify areas of strategic research growth and alignment with URI’s strategic plan. Ensure that various groups and stakeholders are aligned and working in concert to achieve shared goals and objectives. Display a deep understanding of today’s complex academic research and innovation environment and funding landscape. Cultivate professional relationships with faculty and institutional leaders and be an effective thought partner in organizing diverse and inclusive research teams, engaging external partners, and developing management and outreach plans to capitalize on funding opportunities while ensuring services meet the research community’s needs and align with university priorities.
Duties and Responsibilities
Key Duties And Responsibilities
Develop and implement strategies to facilitate close collaboration with faculty and administrative staff for grant submissions, particularly for large interdisciplinary and center grants.
Direct strategy for communicating information about research funding opportunities to the university research community.
Support the role of the University as a convener of stakeholders to define and explore vital and emerging societal challenges.
Develop and implement a service model to support major URI research initiatives.
Develop and implement a strategy to create and pursue targeted external funding opportunities for research strengths and interests at the University, including by working with URI’s government relations team.
Direct strategy for URI’s external research relations and web presence, in collaboration with External Relations and Communications.
Support and develop research partnerships with federal, state, and local governments, foundations, industry, the entrepreneurial community, and other non-governmental entities, including community groups.
Develop and support partnerships with a broad spectrum of educational institutions including other RI public and state universities including community colleges; schools outside the RI region, particularly in EPSCoR states; and universities and colleges that predominantly serve underrepresented minorities.
Work closely with campus leadership across colleges and institutes. Partner with staff from organizations outside URI including the URI Research Foundation and the Business Engagement Center in the URI Foundation.
Provide support for the Vice President for Research and Economic Development to the URI Board of Trustees and faculty senate committees.
Lead and mentor staff to operationalize the activities, programs, and services set forth by the Associate Vice President, Research Initiatives and Development in coordination with the Vice President for Research and Economic Development and the research community.
Direct the management of the internal process for selecting candidates to compete for opportunities with limited competitions.
Advise the Vice President for Research and Economic Development and URI Faculty senate in the allocation of seed funds within the Office of the Vice President for Research and Economic Development for proposal development and project completion.
Prepare qualitative and metric-based analyses on the impact of research development on submissions and funding trends.
Other Duties And Responsibilities
Perform other duties and special projects as needed.
Licenses, Tools, And Equipment
Personal computers, printers; word processing, database management and spreadsheet software.
Required
Required Qualifications
- Advanced degree (Masters, etc.) in science, technology, medicine, management, or related field.
- Minimum of ten years of education/government experience.
- Experience analyzing federal research budgets and agency research priorities.
- Familiarity with government relations.
- Familiarity with EPSCoR programs and priorities.
- Experience in academic research development and helping institutions pursue research funding.
- Experience in directing projects requiring financial and complex data analysis.
- Experience in building and sustaining strategic partnerships.
- Experience in building, managing, and improving organizations.
- Strong interpersonal and verbal communication skills.
- Proficiency in written communication skills.
- Ability to provide clear, concise presentations of complex and/or scientific material.
- Ability to work with diverse groups/populations.
Preferred Qualifications
- PhD.
- Leadership in national research development organizations.
Eeo Statement
URI is unwavering in its commitment to equal opportunity, community, equity, and diversity. In furtherance of its mission to serve and support all learners as the state’s public flagship university, URI continues to expand efforts to recruit and retain a broadly representative workforce as well as to regularly evaluate the effectiveness of those efforts. All employment decisions, including hiring, are made without regard to protected status. Qualified individuals with disabilities may request a reasonable accommodation by contacting the URI benefits office at 401-874-2416. For TTY assistance, contact R.I. Relay Services at 711.
Environmental Conditions
This position is not substantially exposed to adverse environmental conditions.
Posting Date 02/16/2026 Closing Date Special Instructions to Applicants
Please attach the following 2 (PDF) documents to your online Employment Application:
(#1) Cover letter.
(#2) Curriculum Vitae.
Note: References will be upon request by the search committee.
Quicklink for Posting https://jobs.uri.edu/postings/16177
Salary : $185,000 - $200,000