Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) School of Social Work invites applications for Associate Dean for Research. A preeminent national, urban public university and health sciences center, VCU is one of only 28 public universities nationwide designated as top tier in both research activity and community engagement. The University is located in the capital city of Richmond, recently ranked among the top 25 places to live for quality of life in the U.S.

The Associate Dean for Research will manage the School of Social Work’s Office of Research and will collaborate closely with faculty on conceptualization, design, budgetary assistance, and other forms of support for grant proposals and ongoing research activities. Their primary duties will be to support individual faculty members’ research; build research collaborations between the SSW and the university and its local and state partners; and strengthen the School’s research culture and advance its portfolio.

As the Associate Dean for Research holds a primary tenure-track/tenured faculty appointment in the SSW, candidates must have an exceptional record of externally funded research, publications, and teaching. As tenure-track faculty in the SSW teach 4 courses per academic year, the Associate Dean for Research is expected to teach 2 courses per year, with the option to buy-out of one course. To learn more about the VCU School of Social Work, please visit https://socialwork.vcu.edu/.

The Associate Dean for Research position is a 50% faculty and 50% administrative appointment. The incumbent will report to the Dean and will represent the school in stakeholder groups in the university, the community, and the profession. Duties and responsibilities will include:

Academic Administration

• Oversee the School’s Office of Research and collaborate with the school’s senior research administrator on research budgets, external grant development, grants and contracts management, and negotiation of project supports.
• Represent the School at the VCU Office of Research and Innovation and its subsidiaries, e.g., Office of Sponsored Programs and Research Development Advisory Committee (ReDAC) and other entities as assigned by the dean.
• Serve on the Dean’s Executive Team for schoolwide planning and operations, and apprise the dean of funding opportunities and activities, e.g., budget, projects, needs.
• Provide leadership and guidance in monitoring the School’s infrastructure to optimize external funding and research activities.

Research Grants and Contracts

• Work with other VCU entities, e.g., Office of Research and Innovation, other schools and departments, and research centers to identify and develop opportunities for interdisciplinary research activities.
• Maintain an active program of externally funded research.
• Apprise the faculty of opportunities for research fundings and collaborative projects
• Manage the allocation of internal School research funds and student Research Assistant positions
• Consult with PhD program director on Graduate Research Assistant appointments to funded projects

Promote a Vibrant, Collaborative, and Sustainable Culture of Research

• Develop and oversee a research mentoring program for faculty and students
• Coordinate research presentations and workshops with, by and for faculty and PhD students
• Coordinate research office activities with the director of communications re: website, social media, and other communication platforms
• Communicate current and anticipated research policies and activities through regular meetings with faculty
• Administer the research/study leave program for qualified faculty members.