Description
Positions in this job profile are responsible for providing strategic leadership and ensuring compliance with all applicable federal and state laws and applicable industry regulations for University Research with broad impact across the University. Responsibilities include developing, implementing, and evaluating philosophy, short and long-range goals and objectives. Employees provide the overall guidance and direction to support the development, implementation and enforcement of plans, policies, procedures, systems, programs and performance standards. They establish and direct the execution of strategic plans. The distinguishing characteristic of the Executive 3-Research profile is the strategic leadership of research centers, programs, commercialization, and industry partnerships to promote and develop the University’s comprehensive research agenda and strategic plan. This position provides resource allocation and management with a scope spanning over multiple centers, departments and programs, spanning disciplines across the university.
- Leads, develops, implements, oversees and assesses strategy and plan of operation for multiple centers, departments, and programs in the research division.
- Provides leadership, supervision and direction for assigned staff. Hire and train employees; plan, assign and review work, establish goals for each position and assess performance through completion of written evaluations; act on disciplinary issues, up to and including dismissal; address grievances, developing a framework for corrective actions as necessary.
- Develops and executes university wide research vision, goals and initiatives, including external outreach and partnerships with industry, experts and other institutions and agencies.
- Motivates and engages colleges, academic departments and other support units in research initiatives, including facilitation of university wide efforts in research development, compliance, commercialization and industry partnering.
- Develops, maintains and oversees collaborative relationships with internal and external stakeholders to promote and develop the division mission and strategies including development of research centers, institutes, programs and services. 6. Oversees and ensures compliance of university policy, state and federal laws and regulations, and industry standards.
The Division of Research and Innovation is seeking an Executive Director, Research Computing Office. This is a full-time (1.00 FTE), 12-month, professional faculty position.
The Executive Director provides operational leadership and strategic program management to advance OSU’s research computing services in support of the research and innovation enterprise. This is the primary operational authority for the RCO, responsible for building, launching, and scaling programs at scale, managing the service portfolio, driving sustainable business models, and coordinating across a complex, multi-stakeholder environment. The Executive Director translates institutional research computing priorities into the programs, services, and partnerships that enable faculty and research teams to effectively leverage computing, data, and AI.
Reporting. The role reports to the Vice President for Research and Innovation (VPRI) and operates in close coordination with the Chief Information Officer (CIO), who provides oversight and guidance on IT strategy, infrastructure alignment, and institutional IT governance. This dual engagement reflects the position’s responsibility to bridge research-mission objectives with university-wide technology operations and policy, a critical integration point requiring active accountability to both senior leaders.
A tandem leadership model. The RCO is guided by a four-party leadership team as described below that operates as a unified executive group with clearly differentiated, non-overlapping responsibilities, a tandem model, not a co-equal co-lead structure. Within it, the Executive Director serves as the enterprise integrator, ensuring alignment without introducing ambiguity in decision-making. The Executive Director does not lead technical infrastructure, that is the responsibility of the Chief Technology Officer, but partners closely with technical teams to translate capabilities into services and programs.
Representing Oregon State University in National Research Computing Platforms. The Executive Director is expected to represent OSU in national research computing, AI, cyberinfrastructure, and advance research collaborations while positioning the university as a recognized leader in computational research.
Success Criteria: The Executive Director has a unique opportunity to shape how one of America’s leading public research universities leverages AI, advanced computing, and digital research to accelerate discovery. Success will not be measured simply by infrastructure deployed, but by the number of researchers empowered, discoveries accelerated, students prepared for the future, and partnerships created. The individual selected for this role will help define how Oregon State University competes nationally in the next generation of research and innovation.
Key Responsibilities:
RCO Operations & Service Delivery
- Lead the operational development, coordination, and delivery of RCO services: supervise staff and day-to-day operations; build and maintain the service portfolio and catalog aligned to faculty needs; develop trusted partnerships with faculty in collaboration with the Senior Faculty Advisor to identify emerging research needs, shape future services, and ensure research computing evolves alongside the university’s priorities; manage operational budgets and shape cost-recovery and sustainability models including long-term financial sustainability; grow Research Software Engineering (RSE) capabilities; embed governance, compliance, and security in coordination with the Chief Information Security Officer and the Associate Vice President for Research Integrity; and renew and expand infrastructure through grants and national HPC partnerships.
Partnerships, Program Development & Engagement
- Develop partnerships, programs, and engagement that expand awareness and adoption of research computing: build collaborative relationships with colleges, centers, and administrative units; develop partnerships with industry, government, and peer institutions; support funding opportunities alongside faculty and research development teams; represent RCO in internal and external forums; align messaging and priorities with the VPRI, CIO, and Huang Complex leadership; and promote inclusive participation, including outreach to groups underrepresented in STEM.
Requirements
Required Qualifications:
- Master’s degree in a relevant field — science, engineering, data science, public administration, business, or a related discipline — or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
- 5+ years of professional experience in a research-intensive, technical, or higher-education environment, including support for research programs, data-intensive work, or technology-enabled services.
- 10+ years in a leadership or supervisory role, including responsibility for coordinating staff, programs, or operational activities.
- Demonstrated executive leadership of a complex research computing, digital research, cyberinfrastructure, AI, or technology organization serving a large research enterprise.
- Experience leading organizational transformation across multiple organizational boundaries.
- Experience developing long-term strategic partnerships.
- Demonstrated experience managing programs, services, or projects — coordinating resources, timelines, and deliverables.
- Ability to work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders (faculty, researchers, technical staff, administrators), and influencing executive leaders, faculty governance and external stakeholders.
- Experience supporting research activities, including familiarity with proposal development, research programs, or large-scale initiatives.
- Experience contributing to budget management, financial planning, or cost-recovery / service-based models within established guidelines.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to translate complex concepts for broad audiences and facilitate collaboration.
- Demonstrated commitment to advancing inclusive excellence in the workplace and/or through programmatic efforts.
- Experience working within or alongside governance structures — resource-allocation frameworks, committee-based decision processes, or shared-service governance models in a complex organization.
This position is designated as a critical or security-sensitive position; therefore, the incumbent must successfully complete a criminal history check and be determined to be position qualified as per University Standard: 05-010 et seq. Incumbents are required to self-report convictions and those in youth programs may have additional criminal history checks every 24 months.
Final candidates for this position must complete a sexual misconduct reference check, per University Policy 05-010. An offer of employment will be contingent upon satisfactory results from the sexual misconduct reference check.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Advanced degree (Masters or above) in a relevant field — science, engineering, data science, public administration, business, or a related discipline.
- Experience developing or managing service portfolios, service catalogs, or shared-service models in a complex organization.
- Experience working in or with research-intensive universities, national laboratories, or industry research organizations.
- Experience building or leading multi-organization partnerships, consortia, or networked initiatives across public, academic, or nonprofit sectors.
- Experience developing business models, cost-recovery frameworks, or fee-for-service programs.
- Experience supporting or coordinating large research proposals, center-level funding initiatives, or externally funded projects.
- Experience supporting Research Software Engineering (RSE) or similar research-support models.
- Experience contributing to organizational change, program development, or service scaling, and to economic development, innovation, or technology transfer.
