Executive Director, Research Computing Office

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

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 OSUs 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 positions 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 Americas 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 universitys 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.

Required Qualifications:

• Masters 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.

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 OSUs Employee and Labor Relations team at .