ASSISTANT VP RESEARCH OPERATIONS AND CHIEF OF STAFF, University Research

Boston University seeks a strategic and operational leader to serve as Assistant Vice President & Chief of Staff in the Office of the Associate Provost and Vice President for Research. The Office of Research provides institutional leadership for the University's research enterprise, overseeing sponsored programs, research compliance, research development, industry engagement, technology development, and 17 university-wide research centers that advance innovation, scholarship, and societal impact.

Reporting to the Vice President & Associate Provost of Research, the Assistant Vice President and Chief of Staff provides leadership for administrative operations, financial planning, and strategic initiatives across the Office of Research. This role works closely with the VP/AP of Research to facilitate decision-making, prioritization, and execution across the research portfolio, ensuring alignment among research administration units, academic leadership, and central administrative partners.

Key Responsibilities:

• Advise the VP/AP of research on strategy, operations, budget, policy, and organizational effectiveness; translate priorities into actionable plans and measurable outcomes.
• Oversee day-to-day operations of the Research office and supervise six direct reports: Director of Finance, Director of Communications, Senior Associate Director of Administration, Associate Director of Events & Space Management, Executive Assistant to the Vice President, and Director of Kilachand Building Operations.
• Serve as a key liaison between the AP/VPRs office and center directors, research areal leadership, deans, department hairs, faculty leaders, and central administration.
• Promote operational efficiency and service quality across research administration units with approximately 600 employees.
• Ensure coordination among key research administration units, including Sponsored Programs, Research Compliance, the Office of Technology Development, Industry Engagement, Research Development, and university-wide research centers.
• Lead special projects and strategic initiatives requiring cross-unit coordination and timely execution.
• Coordinate research center charters and reviews, evaluate proposals for new centers, and support external evaluations and research policy initiatives.
• Prepare executive briefings, memoranda, and meeting materials; represent the VP/AP of Research in meetings and initiatives as delegated.

Required Skills

• Bachelors degree in business, finance, public administration, higher education administration, or a related field required; masters degree preferred.
• Minimum of eight years of progressively responsible experience in operations, administration, finance, or related strategic roles, preferably within higher education, research administration, or similarly complex organizations.

We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, natural or protective hairstyle, religion, sex, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, military service, pregnancy or pregnancy-related condition, or because of marital, parental, or veteran status. We are a VEVRAA Federal Contractor.