Job Description
Department:
President's Office Contract type: Full-time Job location: Yerevan,Armenia Application deadline: 05/30/2026 Description The American University of Armenia seeks qualified candidates for thefull-time position of a Vice President for Research (VPR). The VPR i s a newly created executive position within the University'ssenior leadership team for advancing research, scholarship, and creative activity. The VPR will provide strategic vision for theUniversity's research programs, fostering excellence and impact associated with its mission to build a robust, sustainable researchenterprise that complements the University's strong tradition of teaching excellence. Reporting to the President, the VPR will lead researchdevelopment, administration, innovation, and partnerships and will work closely across the University with the Provost, other members of theExecutive Team, academic leadership, and the student body. The VPR will set and confirm commitment to policies and regulations regardingresearch, and take appropriate actions to ensure the University's commitment to compliance with research standards. In particular, the VPRwill work in close cooperation with the Provost and Vice President for Enrollment and Student Services (VPESS), ensuring a smooth andseamless coordination of their shared academic responsibilities. KeyResponsibilities Research Strategy and Growth Develop andimplement a comprehensive research strategy to increase scholarly output, external funding, and institutional impact. Identify andcultivate priority research areas aligned with institutional strengths, strategic priorities, and regional opportunities. Promoteinterdisciplinary collaboration and the development of research centers and institutes. Foster new research initiatives. Faculty Research Development Support faculty in building active researchagendas while maintaining excellence in teaching. Establish mentoring, seed funding, and professional development programs toenhance research productivity. Partner with academic leadership on hiring strategies that strengthen research capacity. Research Infrastructure and Support Build and oversee effective research supportsystems, including grant development, compliance, and post-award administration. Strengthen infrastructure such as laboratories,libraries, and digital resources necessary for high-quality research. Develop policies and processes that enable efficient andethical research activity. Communicate the need for, and importance of, training and education to the research community. Communicate state of the research enterprise. Oversee technology transfer, including the development of new policies and thetraining of the University community on the development and preservation of their and the University's intellectual property, including butnot limited to the promotion of entrepreneurship among the faculty and students. ExternalFunding and Partnerships Expand opportunities for external funding from governmental agencies, foundations, industry,and international organizations. Build strategic partnerships with local, regional, and global institutions to supportcollaborative research. Represent the University to external stakeholders and elevate its research profile. Act as theUniversity representative on national committees. Integration with TeachingMission Ensure that research growth enhances the University's commitment to high-quality teaching. Promotethe integration of research into the student experience, including undergraduate research opportunities. Support a balancedacademic culture that values both teaching and scholarship. Compliance andEthics Oversee research administration by ensuring the maintenance of policies and procedures and fiscalresponsibilities of pre- and post- award activities. Foster and enable a compliant University human research participantsprotection program (IRBs). Oversee research compliance, including human subjects, animal care (if applicable), and researchintegrity. Ensure adherence to U.S. accreditation expectations and local regulatory frameworks. Promote a culture ofethical conduct and responsible research practices. Ensure secure and ethical data use, data confidentiality, and compliant datamanagement, sharing, ownership, and retention practices. Foster an environment that disseminates research knowledge consistentwith applicable laws, regulations, and policies. Leadership and Administration Oversee University research operations. Oversee University research centers, including those in colleges, institutes andinterdisciplinary facilities. Promote and support a culture of innovation, entrepreneurship, and technology transfer, includingoversight of the operations of the Entrepreneurship and Product Innovation Center. Supervise research offices and staff, includingsponsored programs, compliance, and technology transfer. Collaborate closely with the Provost, deans, and other senior leaders toalign research goals with institutional strategy. Develop and manage budgets related to research development andinfrastructure. Delegate regulatory responsibility to appropriate University units. Role Characteristics Leadership Style:
The position is viewed as acollaborative and people-centered leadership role characterized by approachability, fairness, and diplomacy, that encourages open dialogueand builds trust through respectful communication, values diverse perspectives, and fosters a positive, inclusive environment. The selectedcandidate will effectively motivate and guide teams toward shared goals while maintaining high standards of integrity andaccountability. Collaboration:
A core component of the role is facilitatingcommunication and collaboration between research centers, academic leaders, faculty, and administration to achieve institutional objectives,creating a supportive team culture where individuals feel valued, heard, and empowered to contribute. Reporting:
The VPR works under the direction of the President and is a high-ranking official within the university'sexecutive leadership structure. Qualifications:
Strong academicand leadership credentials An earned doctorate degree Distinguished record of scholarship and external fundingappropriate for appointment at the rank of full professor Evidence of successful teaching, administrative and managerialabilities A strong track record of research as evidenced by scholarly publications Demonstrated leadership experience inresearch administration; Senior faculty and academic management experience in U.S. or Western educational institutions Financial management skills Excellent communication, collaboration, and change-management skills Knowledge of grantapplication and administration Previous experience in conducting academic duties in an international setting, and knowledge ofArmenia is desirable but not required Additional Information Requirements:
This position requires the successful candidate to reside in Armenia. It will requireinteraction with the Armenian government, the U.S. Embassy, and various funding agencies; it will also require coordination for jointprograms with other local and international universities. Compensation:
AUA offerscompetitive compensation and benefits packages. Submission:
Review of applications willbegin on May 30, and will continue thereafter until the position is filled. To apply for this position, please send a letter of interest, aCV, a statement of academic and managerial philosophy, and a list of five references (PDF format is preferred) to VPresearchsearch@aua.am . AUA is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to an active non-discrimination program within theinstitution.
