Assistant Vice Chancellor for Research Strategy and Programs in Raleigh

The Office of Research Initiatives, housed within the Office of Research and Innovation, drives the strategic growth and long‑term competitiveness of the university’s research enterprise. RI identifies, develops, and advances major research opportunities and institutionally aligned initiatives, working across colleges, faculty, research centers, institutes, and external partners to position NC State for success in large‑scale, high‑impact funding opportunities.

Through strategic research development, complex proposal coordination, and oversight of centers and institutes administered within ORI, RI strengthens institutional research capacity, builds a pipeline of transformative initiatives, and ensures that research investments align with emerging federal priorities and institutional goals.

Essential Job Duties

As the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Research Strategy & Programs, you will provide strategic leadership for the Research Strategy & Programs unit within the Office of Research and Innovation (ORI). Reporting to the Associate Vice Chancellor for Research Initiatives, you will advance NC State’s research priorities by strengthening early‑stage concept development, strategic research planning, and alignment with emerging federal priorities. You will lead research development activities that support cross‑university individuals and teams, coordinate research strategy and federal engagement efforts within ORI, and assist with the coordination and oversight of Centers and Institutes administered by ORI.

Research Strategy & Programs Leadership

• Lead strategic planning and concept development for the Research Strategy & Programs unit, with a focus on institutional research priorities, emerging federal priorities, and high‑impact research opportunities.
• Direct the unit’s strategic research development and federal engagement activities, ensuring coordination with ORI priorities and university research strategy.
• Lead and support staff responsible for research development, federal engagement, and proposal readiness activities.
• Establish priorities and coordinate activities across ORI divisions, colleges, centers, and institutes to advance institutional research goals.

Strategic Research Development & Federal Alignment

• Monitor and analyze emerging federal research priorities, multi‑agency initiatives, and funding opportunities to identify areas of strategic opportunity for NC State.
• Guide development of competitive research concepts, teams, and strategies in high‑impact and emerging research areas.
• Partner with colleges, centers, and institutes to strengthen research concepts and align institutional capabilities with federal priorities and sponsor expectations.
• Coordinate with the Proposal Development Unit to connect strategic research planning with proposal development and institutional positioning.

Institutional Coordination & Centers and Institutes

• Advance cross‑university coordination of strategic research initiatives involving ORI divisions, colleges, centers, and institutes.
• Support the Associate Vice Chancellor for Research Initiatives in coordinating and overseeing activities for Centers and Institutes administered by ORI.
• Contribute to enterprise‑level planning and strategic alignment for ORI –affiliated Centers and Institutes.
• Represent the Research Strategy & Programs portfolio in institutional planning, working groups, and ORI –wide strategic initiatives.

Stakeholder Engagement & Strategic Communication

• Build relationships with faculty, research leaders, and external partners to identify and advance strategic research opportunities.
• Communicate federal priorities, institutional research strengths, and emerging opportunities to internal and external stakeholders.
• Develop and contribute to briefings, presentations, and other materials supporting research strategy, federal engagement, and institutional priorities.
• Represent the unit in meetings and discussions with internal and external stakeholders as delegated by the Associate Vice Chancellor for Research Initiatives.

In this role, you will help shape NC State’s research strategy and strengthen the university’s position for future research opportunities. If you are a strategic research leader who can connect emerging federal priorities with institutional research strengths, build effective partnerships across a complex research environment, and advance high‑impact opportunities, we welcome you to apply.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in a relevant field and significant experience in research execution, administration, strategic research development, federal research engagement, or related areas.
• Demonstrated experience leading research strategy, program development, or large‑scale research initiatives in a university, federal, or research‑intensive environment.
• Demonstrated ability to lead strategic planning and research development activities.
• Knowledge and understanding of federal research priorities, sponsor expectations, and emerging research domains.
• Previous experience supervising professional staff and managing unit‑level operations.
• Ability to effectively communicate complex research strategies and priorities, collaborate across organizational levels, and build productive stakeholder relationships.

Preferred Qualifications

• Doctoral degree in a relevant field.
• Demonstrated experience leading research strategy, program development, or large‑scale research initiatives in a university, federal, or research‑intensive environment.
• Experience supporting or leading large‑scale federal proposals or multi‑agency initiatives as a staff or faculty member.
• Familiarity with advanced technology research domains (e.g., advanced manufacturing, advanced materials, quantum, AI, defense and security).