Executive Director, Research Computing Office

OSU Oregon State University•Corvallis, OR

4d•$200,000 - $230,000•Onsite

About The Position

Oregon State University's Division of Research and Innovation is seeking an Executive Director for its Research Computing Office (RCO). This is a 0.80 FTE, 12-month professional faculty position providing operational leadership and strategic program management to advance research computing services in support of the university's research and innovation enterprise. The Executive Director is the RCO's primary operational authority, responsible for building and scaling programs, managing the service portfolio, developing sustainable business models, and coordinating across a complex, multi-stakeholder environment. The role translates institutional priorities into programs, services, and partnerships that help faculty and research teams use computing, data, and AI effectively. The position reports to the Vice President for Research and Innovation and works in close coordination with the Chief Information Officer, who provides guidance on IT strategy, infrastructure alignment, and institutional IT governance. The Executive Director is the enterprise integrator within a four-party leadership team, aligning the RCO's work without creating ambiguity in decision-making. The role does not lead technical infrastructure, which is the Chief Technology Officer's responsibility, but partners with technical teams to translate capabilities into services and programs. The Executive Director also represents OSU in national research computing, AI, and cyberinfrastructure communities and advances research collaborations that position the university as a leader in computational research. The position is based in Corvallis, Oregon, with occasional travel to Bend, Newport, Portland, and other locations. The salary range is $200,000–$230,000, with the starting salary commensurate with skills, education, and experience. The anticipated start date is December 1, 2026. The position is part-time at 0.80 FTE. Candidates must submit a resume or CV and a cover letter. The role is designated critical or security-sensitive and requires satisfactory background and sexual misconduct reference checks.

Requirements

Master's degree in a relevant field, such as science, engineering, data science, public administration, or business, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
At least 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.
At least 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, including coordinating resources, timelines, and deliverables.
Ability to collaborate with diverse stakeholders, including faculty, researchers, technical staff, and administrators, and influence 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, such as resource-allocation frameworks, committee-based decision processes, or shared-service governance models in a complex organization.
Must successfully complete a criminal history check and be determined position qualified; final candidates must also complete a sexual misconduct reference check, with employment contingent on satisfactory results.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree (master's or above) in a relevant field, such as science, engineering, data science, public administration, or business.
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 or similar research-support models.
Experience contributing to organizational change, program development, or service scaling, and to economic development, innovation, or technology transfer.

Responsibilities

Lead the operational development, coordination, and delivery of Research Computing Office services.
Supervise staff and manage day-to-day operations.
Build and maintain a service portfolio and catalog aligned with faculty needs.
Develop partnerships with faculty, in collaboration with the Senior Faculty Advisor, to identify research needs, shape future services, and align research computing with university priorities.
Manage operational budgets and develop cost-recovery and long-term financial sustainability models.
Grow Research Software Engineering capabilities.
Embed governance, compliance, and security in coordination with the Chief Information Security Officer and the Associate Vice President for Research Integrity.
Renew and expand infrastructure through grants and national high-performance computing partnerships.
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 the Research Computing Office in internal and external forums and represent OSU in national research computing, AI, and cyberinfrastructure settings.
Align messaging and priorities with the Vice President for Research and Innovation, Chief Information Officer, and Huang Complex leadership.
Promote inclusive participation, including outreach to groups underrepresented in STEM.
Coordinate with technical teams to translate infrastructure capabilities into services and programs.
Advance research collaborations and position OSU as a leader in computational research.