About the Role

Job Description: Vice-President: Research & Innovation

Purpose of the Role:

The post of Vice-President: Research & Innovation is an exciting senior leadership opportunity at University of Galway. Reporting to the President, the Vice-President: Research & Innovation will be a member of the University Management Team (UMT) with responsibility for advancing the research and innovation mission and strategy of the university.

The Vice-President: Research & Innovation will lead, support, inspire and represent a research community that is globally oriented and ambitious.

They will lead our research community to further enhance our impact and reputation in an increasingly competitive research landscape. By engaging with our partners locally, nationally and worldwide and by further enhancing a facilitative research infrastructure, our Vice-President: Research & Innovation will support and encourage ambition in research to drive growth in both established and emerging research areas. Their leadership will be evidenced by measurable achievements in research income, outputs, impact and reputation.

The Vice-President: Research & Innovation will maximise support for our research mission through the effective management, motivation and organisation of functions within the Office of the VPRI and its four core units – the Research Office, the Innovation Office, the Graduate Studies Office and the Clinical Research Development Office.

We are looking for candidates who are passionate about driving world-class research and innovation in an international and interdisciplinary context. In collaboration with members of the university community, research funding agencies and civic and industry partners, they will offer a relevant and ambitious vision for the advancement of research and innovation, and have a strong understanding of how to implement this agenda. They will have the leadership and skills to work with others to ensure the effectiveness of services, systems, processes and structures that enable a high-performing research and innovation ecosystem.

The Vice-President: Research & Innovation will have significant experience as a leader operating at a strategic level, be capable of successfully engaging and inspiring staff, and have a strong track record of leading major programmes of change and development to successful completion. They will also be a leading academic in their discipline and will be committed to promoting respect for and excellence in research, innovation and knowledge exchange.

The Vice-President: Research & Innovation will engage our university’s researchers through inspirational leadership and advocate for them worldwide. They will be expected to represent the University in a wide range of settings, and it is therefore important that candidates have strong interpersonal and communication skills, and enjoy engaging with funders, partners and the wider international community of research leaders.

University of Galway is a research-intensive university, and this pivotal role provides an opportunity for the right person to play a central role in the implementation of the University’s new strategic plan by shaping and supporting the research that defines us as such. In order to deliver on our high-level aspiration to be a leading research and teaching institution of global repute, we seek an outstanding individual for whom this will be a career-defining position.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership and strategy

Providing leadership in the achievement of the University’s mission to be a research-intensive university with a global reputation for our distinctive impact.
Leading the development and implementation of the research and innovation strategy and the relevant policies and processes of the University.
Developing an ambitious research and innovation agenda that sets us apart by focussing on our distinctive strengths, our global collaborations and partnerships, and our integration within a unique city and region.
Enabling excellent research
Developing and overseeing the support structures required to enable and empower the University’s dynamic research and innovation community to be ambitious and reach its full potential.
Working in collaboration with University Management Team colleagues and key function leads to ensure that our core services, systems, processes and structures support the end-to-end research process from pre-award all the way through to project completion and reporting, including through the co-creation of technology-enabled solutions where needed.
Creating a respectful and supportive environment that encourages and rewards excellent research, entrepreneurship and innovation, interdisciplinary research, and external engagement.
Embedding and promoting a positive research culture – ensuring that all our researchers are supported to achieve research excellence with integrity.
Leading our cyclical Institutional Review of Research Performance and working with Schools to capitalise on the learnings to further develop their research quality and impact.
Developing and supporting the University’s clinical research infrastructure and, through the Clinical Research & Development Office, pursuing clinical research opportunities and managing and mitigating the risks arising in that regard.

Embedding research and innovation across our university mission

Promoting, leading and supporting research activity in all academic areas of the University, including the research strategies of Colleges, Schools and Research Institutes and Centres.
Developing strategies and supports that foster innovation and entrepreneurship across our university community and that ensure the optimal dissemination and commercialisation of the University’s research activity.
Developing opportunities for our communities to engage impactfully with research and innovation such as research-led teaching, student research projects, entrepreneurial training, collaborative projects with community, public engagement, engaged research, public and patient involvement, start-up supports, and impact case studies.

Sustaining our research ecosystem

Generating and facilitating the generation of funding sources to sustain and develop the University’s investment in research and innovation activity.
Developing our research talent pipeline, promoting interdisciplinary research and supporting research grant applications, to sustain growth in our research impact.
Leading strategically important growth in doctoral researchers, working with the Dean of Graduate Studies, Colleges and the International Office.
Promoting diversity and inclusion within our research community, and delivering programmes that promote researcher welfare and professional development to support sustainable and rewarding research careers.
Monitoring and supporting the general activity and governance of the Research Institutes, Research Centres and Research Units of the University.
Overseeing and enabling the process of research ethics review to ensure the level of capacity and impartiality required on an ongoing basis.
Participating in our Academic promotions process to drive rigour and quality.

Building relationships beyond our campus

Acting as an ambassador for our research community nationally and internationally, advocating for funding, philanthropy and resources to support greater impact.
Leading the development of partnerships and collaborations with regional, national and international research organisations towards the achievement of greater effectiveness, complementarities and economies of scale in knowledge generation and dissemination.
Engaging with external funders, government and alumni in a strategic and networked approach, and developing collaborative relationships with key stakeholders in higher education and industry, to ensure our university is fully competitive in seeking programme and infrastructure funding and engaged in setting the national research agenda.

Building effective internal relationships

In carrying out these responsibilities, the Vice-President will:

Work closely with UMT members, including College Executive Deans, as well as Research Institute Directors, College management, Vice-Deans for Research and Innovation, Heads of Schools and Professional Service Units of the University to ensure alignment and delivery of strategic goals.
Manage, motivate, and be supported by, committed and experienced professionals within the Office of the Vice-President for Research and Innovation and its four core units.
Chair a number of research-related working groups and committees, most notably the University’s Research and Innovation Committee.

Note: The list of duties specified above is not intended to be exclusive or restrictive; duties may be added or withdrawn but any such alteration will take place after consultation with the appointee.

Selection Criteria

Applications will be judged solely against the criteria set out below. Applicants should ensure that their application clearly demonstrates that their skills and experience meet these criteria.

Essential Criteria

A PhD (or equivalent qualification) in a relevant field.
A distinguished academic, who is performing at the level of Established Professor, with a strong research profile and a strong research, publication and funding record consistent with international research leadership in their discipline, and at an institutional level in an inter-disciplinary context. See Competency Framework for Established Professor below.
Significant experience of engagement with external bodies including research funding agencies, professional associations, government, and/or public policy stakeholders at national and international level.
A track record of securing and/or facilitating major research funding together with evidence of developing new and significant research initiatives, including at an institutional level.
Demonstrable dynamic and inspirational leadership qualities at organisational, national and international levels.
Significant experience in leading and managing others, creating a highly engaged work environment, and in developing staff.
Demonstrable planning, organising and decision-making skills.
Demonstrable communication skills and experience of developing, enabling and supporting a collegial and collaborative approach across the university community, including in the development and implementation of strategy.
Demonstrable commitment to and achievement in enhancing the University community, and in supporting the achievement of international recognition.
Evidence of leadership in, and demonstrated commitment to, gender equality and the wider issues of equality, diversity and inclusion.
An ability to think strategically to evaluate a complex changing landscape and to make clear decisions.
Demonstrable commitment to the core values of the university – Excellence, Respect, Openness, Sustainability and Belonging.
A track record of high-level personal and institutional relationship building.
Strong financial and people management skills.
A strong understanding of governance, management and the regulatory environment in higher education or public sector institutions.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Desirable criteria

Experience of collaboration and mentoring, with a particular focus on professional development for all staff, in particular postdoctoral and early career academics.
A record of the nurturing of partnership within and between civic and community groups.
Evidence of an international research network and record of leading international initiatives, including leading academic organisations, editing journals and/or organising international conferences.
A demonstrable commitment to the healthy relationship between research and research-led teaching as the defining attribute of our university.

The successful applicant will be required to participate in a relevant senior leadership programme to further develop their leadership development capabilities.

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