Vice-president, Research and Innovation

Position Information

**Position Title**
- Vice-President, Research and Innovation

**Posting Number**
- F728P

**Type of position**
- Limited Term

**Department/Unit**
- President's Office

**Location**
- Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

**About the opportunity**
- Located on Canada’s welcoming East Coast, with campuses in the vibrant oceanside city of Halifax and an Agricultural Campus in the town of Truro, Dalhousie welcomes 21,000 students from across the country and more than 115 countries around the world. Dalhousie is Nova Scotia’s leading research-intensive university, with 13 faculties that expand understanding through teaching excellence and a drive for discovery resulting in more than $210 million in external research funding each year. Dalhousie’s blend of groundbreaking research with outstanding teaching and makes for a unique and collaborative environment that empowers all our students, professors, researchers, and staff to achieve excellence and make a positive impact for our province, our country, and our world.

**The Role**
- Reporting to the President, the Vice-President, Research and Innovation (VPRI) leads and promotes research and innovation excellence within a multi-disciplinary environment. As Dalhousie’s leading research advocate, the VPRI supports all forms of scholarly endeavours, helping researchers to secure support and investments from national granting councils, private industry, NGOs, and other funding partners. The VPRI manages the Office of the VPRI, the Office of Research Services, as well as Dal Partners and Dal Innovates, fostering a culture of service, collaboration, and engagement across all disciplines.

**Key Responsibilities of the**VPRI**
- Articulate and deliver a bold, inclusive vision for research and innovation that resonates across disciplines and communities.
- Streamline and improve research administration processes, optimizing services and fostering a culture of excellence, support, and responsiveness.
- Build strong relationships with deans, associate deans, and researchers to identify strengths, enhance interdisciplinary collaboration, and energize cross-disciplinary engagement.
- Advance industry-sponsored and applied research, commercialization pathways, intellectual property strategies, and partnerships that translate research into societal and economic impact.
- Collaborate with the provost to develop strategies for recruiting and retaining the next generation of researchers, faculty, and graduate students.
- Represent Dalhousie in provincial, national, and international research policy discussions, promoting knowledge mobilization and public engagement.
- Foster meaningful, reciprocal research and innovation partnerships with Indigenous communities, grounded in respect, co-creation, and Indigenous ways of knowing.

**Required**:

- An exceptional research and publication record.
- Demonstrated experience in academic administration, including strategic planning.
- Demonstrated experience recruiting, mentoring, and supporting a large and diverse team and fostering an inclusive and supportive work environment.
- A demonstrated track record of driving change and fostering innovation.
- Proven success in securing large-scale research funding and building strategic partnerships.
- Deep understanding of the Canadian and international research landscape with experience interacting with national, provincial and international granting agencies.
- Demonstrated commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility and experience integrating EDIA principles into all aspects of research leadership, including funding strategies, mentorship and representation.
- A strong communicator and listener who is relationship focused and collaborative.
- A consensus-builder who exercises diplomacy and political acumen.

**Assets**:

- Demonstrated experience championing Indigenous-led research, collaborating with Indigenous communities, Elders, and Knowledge Keepers to develop research priorities and protocols.
- Demonstrated experience with innovation activities, industry partnerships, commercialization, and entrepreneurship.
- International presence and connections.
- Success as part of a large research enterprise/program.
- A personal record of interdisciplinary research.
- Demonstrated experience in government relations, with the ability to create strong local and regional connections.

**Competencies**:

- Like all senior leaders at Dalhousie, the VPRI will be expected to demonstrate the **core** and **leadership** competencies that make up the Dalhousie Competencies. Of particular interest to the committee will be the following competencies:

- Respect & Inclusion
- Thinking and Acting Strategically
- Relationship Building
- Communication
- Change and Innovation

**How to Apply**:
Posting Detail Information

**Open Date**
- 10/10/2025

**Close Date**
- 11/03/2025

**Open Until Filled**
- Yes

**Quick Link for Direct Access to Posting