Executive Director, Research Computing Office

Department:

Special Instructions to Applicants:

The closing date has been extended in order to expand the original applicant pool.

When applying you will be required to attach the following electronic documents:

1) A resume/CV; and

2) A cover letter indicating how your qualifications and experience have prepared you for this position.

Starting salary will be commensurate with skills, education, and experience.

For additional information please contact: Kellen Sturgis at [email protected]

Job Summary:

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 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.

Qualifications:

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.

Working Conditions/Schedule:

Salary Range:

Anticipated Start Date:

Anticipated End Date:

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability, protected veteran, and other protected status.

OSU will conduct a review of the National Sex Offender Public website prior to hire.

OSU is a fair chance employer committed to inclusive hiring. We encourage applications from candidates who bring a wide range of lived experience including involvement with the justice system. If this position has “critical or security-sensitive” responsibilities and/or driving duties and you are selected as a finalist, your initial job offer will be contingent upon the results of a job-related pre-employment check (such as a background check, motor vehicle history check, sexual misconduct reference check, etc.). Background check results do not automatically disqualify a candidate. Take a look at our Background Checks website including the for candidates section for more details. If you have questions or concerns about the pre-employment check, please contact OSU’s Employee and Labor Relations team at [email protected].