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Position Overview

The Senior Associate Vice President for Research Operations (SAVP) is a senior executive leader within the Enterprise for Research, Innovation and Knowledge (ERIK) and serves as a strategic partner to the Vice President for Research. This position provides leadership, oversight, and direction for Ohio State’s research operations infrastructure, ensuring excellence in research administration, regulatory compliance, research integrity, and operational effectiveness across the university’s research enterprise.

The SAVP leads critical research support and compliance functions, including Sponsored Programs, Responsible Research Practices, University Laboratory Animal Resources, the Animal Care and Use Program, the Biosafety Program, and ERIK’s Instructional Design team. Serving as the university’s designated Institutional Official, the SAVP ensures compliance with federal, state, and institutional regulations governing research activities and oversees institutional research assurances, regulatory relationships, and university-wide compliance programs.

Working collaboratively with university leadership, the Wexner Medical Center, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Office of Legal Affairs, Office of Academic Affairs, and other campus stakeholders, the SAVP advances operational excellence and develops best-in-class research administration practices that support faculty, staff, and student researchers. The position plays a central role in implementing ERIK’s strategic plan, driving growth in externally sponsored research, reducing administrative burden, and enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of research support services.

The SAVP is accountable for substantially enhancing day-to-day operations across the research operations portfolio, with a focus on improving service quality, strengthening process discipline, increasing consistency across units, reducing unnecessary administrative burden, and ensuring that operational practices are aligned with institutional strategy. This position is expected to translate ERIK and university-level research strategies into actionable operating plans, measurable priorities, implementation roadmaps, and consistent management practices across the functions within the SAVP portfolio.

The SAVP serves as a visible ambassador for Ohio State’s research enterprise, representing the university at the state and national levels through professional organizations, boards, councils, and external partnerships. The successful candidate will bring extensive experience in research administration and compliance, a collaborative and consensus-building leadership style, exceptional communication and relationship management skills, and a demonstrated ability to lead complex organizations and engage diverse stakeholders within a large research-intensive university environment. An earned doctorate, terminal degree, or equivalent combination of leadership experience and expertise is require

Position Details

The Senior Associate Vice President for Research Operations (SAVP) is a member of the core leadership team of the Enterprise for Research, Innovation and Knowledge (ERIK) and reports directly to the Vice President of Research (VPR). This position plays a key role in ensuring Ohio State is a leading university in research and creative expression. This individual must possess the personal, intellectual, and leadership qualities to implement strategy, oversee administration, and enable the growth of Ohio State’s research operations.

The SAVP will direct the operations of multiple teams, including Sponsored Programs, Responsible Research Practices, University Lab Animals Resources, Animal Care and Use Program and Biosafety Program. This focus allows the position to address some of the most complex and consequential challenges facing the institution in research.

The SAVP will be responsible for converting research enterprise strategies into clear operational priorities, integrated work plans, resource decisions, process improvements, and measurable outcomes. This includes establishing operating rhythms, clarifying ownership across teams, identifying and resolving process bottlenecks, improving cross-functional coordination, and ensuring that the day-to-day work of the research operations portfolio directly advances ERIK’s strategic priorities.

At the direction of the vice president for research, the SAVP will serve as the university’s research Institutional Official, ensuring oversight and compliance with all regulatory, ethical, and administrative obligations tied to that role. This individual will manage institutional duties including authorization of research assurances, coordination with federal agencies, and stewardship of university-wide research compliance programs.

The SAVP will oversee the PI status process at Ohio State and be expected to work with college associate deans for research (ADRs) to create best-in-class operations to facilitate leading research operation programs at Ohio State. The SAVP will have close working relationships with the Wexner Medical Center, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Office of Legal Affairs, Office of Academic Affairs, and college deans and ADRs. The SAVP will collaborate with other senior leaders within the Enterprise for Research, Innovation and Knowledge (ERIK) and across the university to collectively empower strong linkages for research operations.  

The SAVP will lead ERIK’s Instructional Design team, guiding high‑quality learning solutions and ensuring instructional training excellence aligned with ERIK and university goals. The SAVP will be engaged in the implementation of the ERIK strategic plan that leads to operational excellence, significant growth in external research funding, and optimizes services to create highly efficient research and creative expression support that reduces administrative burdens to faculty, staff, and students.

The SAVP will establish, monitor, and report on a rigorous set of key performance indicators to demonstrate operational performance, service effectiveness, compliance reliability, process improvement, stakeholder responsiveness, and accountability. The role will be accountable for using these measures to drive transparency, continuous improvement, timely escalation, and disciplined follow-through with ERIK leadership, university partners, and other key stakeholders.

The SAVP will represent Research Operations across Ohio and at the national level by serving on boards, councils, and professional associations to advance institutional priorities and influence the research enterprise.

Key Accountabilities

The SAVP will be accountable for:

• Translating ERIK and university research strategies into actionable operational plans, implementation milestones, and measurable outcomes.
• Substantially improving day-to-day operations across the SAVP portfolio through process redesign, service optimization, cross-functional coordination, and continuous improvement.
• Establishing and managing a rigorous KPI framework that demonstrates performance, progress, risk management, and accountability.
• Using operational data and stakeholder input to identify barriers, prioritize improvements, and drive timely resolution of issues.
• Communicating performance, progress, risks, and improvement plans to ERIK leadership, university partners, and other internal and external stakeholders.
• Building operating practices that support growth in externally sponsored research, reduce administrative burden, and improve the experience of faculty, staff, and student researchers.

Required Qualifications

It is expected that the SAVP will have exemplary communication skills as well as strong service orientation and interpersonal skills to complement administrative and financial management expertise. The SAVP will have significant knowledge and direct experience in multiple regulatory areas impacting researchers at Ohio State. The SAVP must have a consensus-building leadership style, demonstrated commitment to team building and organization development. 

The SAVP must show demonstrated ability to lead/engage/inspire a large, complex research community; must possess experience interacting with a broad range of public and private constituencies; must demonstrate ability to bring a national/international perspective on major research issues; and possess extensive experience in a higher education institution.

Possession of an earned doctorate, other appropriate terminal degree or possession of equivalent experience is required. 

Desired Qualifications

Strong research background, prior leadership role and experience within a large, leading research university.

Application Materials

A CV and cover letter are required to be submitted at the time of application to be considered for this position.

Additional Information:

Salary

The salary for this position is commensurate with experience.

Additional Information       

Work hours may often exceed forty hours per week and may require non-traditional work hours, including evenings and weekends depending on work projects and volume. 

Candidates seeking an academic appointment will be evaluated based on their qualifications, professional experience, and scholarly record, consistent with the criteria outlined in the governance documents of the applicable department or academic unit. Eligibility for an academic appointment will be determined through this review process.

Starting Day One: Comprehensive Benefits

Ohio State benefits give you options to take care of what matters most to you — and opportunities to make adjustments as your life and needs change, including:

• Medical, dental and vision coverage, with Ohio State paying a significant portion of the cost.
• Paid time off, including sick and vacation time and 11 holidays.
• State retirement plan or an alternative retirement plan, both with generous employer contributions.

Enterprise for Research, Innovation and Knowledge

Join the Enterprise for Research, Innovation and Knowledge (ERIK) at The Ohio State University and become a part of a dynamic, forward-thinking team dedicated to pushing the boundaries of discovery and innovation. ERIK positions Ohio State to expand curiosity-driven research and creative expression, further develop our research community of faculty, staff, and students, and grow the innovation ecosystem to address big challenges and improve communities locally and globally. We are seeking passionate individuals who are committed to making a meaningful impact through collaboration, innovation, and excellence. To learn more about our mission and work, please visit https://erik.osu.edu/.

The University

Ohio State is a top-20 public university, and its Ohio State Wexner Medical Center is one of America’s leading academic health centers. Eligible Ohio State employees receive comprehensive benefits packages, including medical, dental and vision insurance, tuition assistance for employees and their dependents, and state or alternative retirement options with competitive employer contributions.

Grounded in Ohio State University’s Shared Values, our university community welcomes differences, encourages open-minded exploration and courageous thinking, and upholds freedom of expression.

Ohio State is a dynamic community where opportunity thrives, and individuals transform themselves and their world. Positions are available in countless fields and specialties. Become a Buckeye and contribute to an incredible legacy that serves to guide our future and shape a better tomorrow.

Located in Ohio’s capital city, Ohio State’s Columbus campus is near the center of a rapidly growing and vibrant metropolitan area with a population of over 1.5 million. The area offers a wide range of affordable housing, many cultural and recreational opportunities, excellent schools, and a strong economy based on government as well as service, transportation, and technology industries. Additional information about the Columbus area is available here. Beyond its Columbus campus, Ohio State has four regional campuses including Ohio State Lima, Ohio State Mansfield, Ohio State Marion, and Ohio State Newark, in addition to the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) Wooster Campus, which houses Ohio State ATI.

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The Ohio State University believes in diversity in people and ideas. What Ohio State does matters. And how we do it matters. When we are at our best, we make a real difference to people. Our size, breadth, geography, history and standard of excellence position us to drive the future of higher education. We believe that the university should be a place where people can work and learn together in a safe environment, free of violence, harassment, discrimination, exploitation, or intimidation. As such, finalists for any faculty position that carries tenure must sign an authorization and disclosure form, which will allow current or prior employer(s) to share information to the University regarding any findings of employment-related misconduct or disciplinary proceedings against a candidate and/or any pending investigations related to alleged misconduct. Such information shall include findings and pending investigations with respect to sexual harassment, violence, or harassment; research misconduct; financial fraud or misconduct; foreign influence violations, grant misuse or misconduct; and/or any other type of finding or pending investigation relating to a candidate’s employer’s policies and rules governing faculty conduct that may reasonably be expected to affect a candidate’s appointment. If the University becomes aware of any past finding of misconduct or pending investigations that were not disclosed, Ohio State will treat that as a serious omission and reserves the right to rescind an offer or terminate employment.

Final candidates are subject to successful completion of a background check.  A drug screen or physical may be required during the post offer process.

Thank you for your interest in positions at The Ohio State University and Wexner Medical Center. Once you have applied, the most updated information on the status of your application can be found by visiting the Candidate Home section of this site. Please view your submitted applications by logging in and reviewing your status. For answers to additional questions please review the frequently asked questions.

The university is an equal opportunity employer, including veterans and disability.