Director, Center for the Study of HBCUs

Virginia Union University•Richmond, VA

13h•Onsite

About The Position

The Center for the Study of HBCUs at Virginia Union University seeks a dynamic and visionary Director of Research to lead and coordinate its research agenda. The Director will play a critical role in advancing the mission of the Center by organizing and managing scholarly activities, fostering collaborative research, and producing impactful publications. The successful candidate will be responsible for developing a comprehensive research strategy, curating academic conferences and symposiums, overseeing the production of edited volumes and manuscripts, and issuing calls for papers for presentation and publication. Situated within one of the nation’s historic HBCUs, the position carries both scholarly and institutional significance: the Director will help shape the national discourse on the history, contemporary impact, and future trajectory of Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

Requirements

Ph.D. or terminal degree in a relevant field (e.g., African American Studies, Education, History, Public Policy, or Higher Education Administration).
Minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in academic research, scholarly publication, and program coordination.
Demonstrated knowledge of and commitment to Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
Proven track record of scholarly publication and editorial experience.
Strong organizational and project management skills, with the ability to manage concurrent initiatives and deadlines.
Excellent written and oral communication abilities.
Command of qualitative, quantitative, and archival research methods and the ability to evaluate the rigor of others’ work.
Editorial judgment sufficient to shepherd manuscripts from proposal through peer review to publication.
Capacity to work collaboratively across faculty, staff, students, external scholars, and community partners.
Discretion and sound judgment in handling confidential research, personnel, and pre-publication material.
Proficiency with reference management, survey, and data analysis software, and with standard productivity and collaboration platforms.

Nice To Haves

Experience with academic event planning and management is highly desirable.
Experience securing and managing research grants or sponsored programs.
Familiarity with digital scholarship tools and academic publishing platforms.
Ability to mentor and support emerging scholars, including graduate and undergraduate students.
Prior service at an HBCU or a minority-serving institution.
Experience convening national convenings, consortia, or multi-institution research collaborations.

Responsibilities

Design and implement the Center’s annual and long-term research agenda in alignment with its mission, the University’s strategic goals, and emerging national priorities in HBCU scholarship.
Identify and cultivate research opportunities that promote deeper understanding of the history, impact, and future of HBCUs.
Support interdisciplinary research initiatives and collaborations within and beyond the institution.
Establish research standards, protocols, and review processes that ensure methodological rigor and compliance with institutional review requirements.
Coordinate and manage academic events, including conferences, symposia, colloquia, and roundtables.
Develop themes, secure keynote speakers, and manage logistics and scholarly content for each event.
Promote active engagement of faculty, students, and external scholars in research-related programming.
Develop event budgets and program timelines, and coordinate with University offices on facilities, communications, and hospitality.
Serve as lead editor and coordinator for Center publications, including edited volumes, white papers, and peer-reviewed manuscripts.
Oversee the development and production of scholarly publications from inception through peer review and publication.
Issue and manage calls for papers, coordinate editorial boards, and support contributing authors throughout the process.
Maintain publication schedules and manage relationships with university presses, journals, and academic publishing partners.
Build networks with scholars, institutions, and organizations committed to the study and advancement of HBCUs.
Represent the Center at national and international academic conferences, panels, and meetings.
Collaborate with other institutional research centers, faculty, and graduate students to advance scholarly output.
Support the Executive Director in cultivating relationships with funders, consortia, and peer HBCU research centers.
Maintain a research archive and repository of HBCU-related scholarship produced by or in partnership with the Center.
Ensure proper documentation, dissemination, and preservation of research findings and resources.
Coordinate with University libraries, archives, and information technology to maintain data integrity, access controls, and long-term digital preservation.
Supervise assigned research staff, graduate research assistants, and undergraduate research fellows, including hiring recommendations, work assignment, professional development, and performance evaluation.
Monitor research program budgets and expenditures in coordination with the Executive Director and the Office of Finance.
Prepare periodic reports on research activity, publication output, and program outcomes for the Executive Director and University leadership.
Perform other duties as assigned in support of the mission of the Center and the University.