Vice President for Research and Innovation and Dean of Graduate Studies
About The Position
San José State University (SJSU) seeks an accomplished, visionary leader to serve as Vice President for Research and Innovation (VPRI) and Dean of Graduate Studies. This cabinet-level executive role provides strategic leadership for the university’s research enterprise, graduate education, and industry partnerships, advancing SJSU’s R2 research profile and strengthening its impact in Silicon Valley and beyond. The VPRI reports dually to the President (as Vice President for Research and Innovation) and the Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs (as Dean of Graduate Studies).
Requirements
- Executive strategic leadership experience and expertise in higher education administration.
- Extensive knowledge of research administration, compliance, and intellectual property management
- Knowledge and expertise with post-baccalaureate education, graduate student support models, and academic policy
- Open-minded and creative problem-solver. Ability to encourage interdisciplinary approaches and “out-of-the-box” thinking in research and education
- Strong communication, strategic planning, and analytical skills
- Ability to build productive, long-term relationships with internal and external stakeholders
- Experience developing relationships with University Advancement to support fundraising, partnerships and industry engagement
- Demonstrated capacity to develop industry engagement, innovation, team leadership, and operational excellence
- Ability to develop and scale academic-industry collaborations, commercialization pathways, and joint research ventures
- Integrity, ethical leadership, and strong commitment to student opportunity and academic excellence
- An earned doctorate or terminal degree and a record of scholarly or professional achievement that may warrant a tenured appointment.
- Experience in research administration and external funding development
- Demonstrated leadership in graduate education, including program development and student success initiatives
- Strong track record of developing partnerships with industry and public agencies
Nice To Haves
- An earned doctorate or terminal degree and a record of scholarly or professional achievement that may warrant a tenured appointment
- Prior experience as a Vice President, Dean, or senior leader overseeing research or graduate studies
- Leadership experience in complex academic or industry organizations
- Familiarity with collective bargaining environments and accreditation processes
Responsibilities
- Provide visionary leadership for SJSU’s research enterprise and graduate education strategy
- Expand extramural funding from federal agencies, industry partners, and private foundations
- Oversee research infrastructure, compliance, and ethical standards
- Serve as executive oversight for the SJSU Research Foundation (CSU auxiliary)
- Lead public-private partnerships and academic-industry collaborations
- Advance graduate enrollment, retention, and student success initiatives
- Supervise and develop senior leaders and professional staff across research and graduate studies
- Represent SJSU in CSU system wide initiatives and with external stakeholders
Benefits
- San José State University offers employees a comprehensive benefits package typically worth 30-35% of your base salary.
- For more information on programs available, please see the Employee Benefits Summary .
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Executive
Education Level
Ph.D. or professional degree
