Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), one of the nation's premier research universities with a $600 million research enterprise and an engine of innovation and entrepreneurial activity, seeks an Assistant Vice President, Research Planning and Finance, a new position in the Office of the Vice President of Research (OVPR) reporting to the Vice President for Research and dotted line to the Chief Financial Officer that will play a central role at Carnegie Mellon in financial planning and strategies that will enhance excellence across the university’s research and innovation enterprise.

About Carnegie Mellon

A member of the Association of American universities (AAU), CMU is a global, research intensive private university with more than 1,500 faculty, 17,000 students, more than 117,000 alumni. In 2024, U.S. News World Report ranked CMU #21 among national universities and Times Higher Education at #24 among world universities. CMU is home to top ranked programs in AI, computer science, electrical and computer engineering, software engineering, cybersecurity, business analytics, quantitative analytics, and more. It is also one of a small number of academic institutions in the nation boasting a fully-fledged Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC), the Software Engineering Institute (SEI). CMU’s confluence of scholarly excellence, robust federal and industry interface, and heritage of innovation has consistently placed it among the world’s most dynamic and impactful research institutions. Central to its research impact is CM’s strong track record of technology transfer and industry partnerships: over the last five years, CMU faculty, students, and alumni have launched more than 400 start-ups that together have raised more than $7 billion in follow-on funding.

The University is known for its distinctive culture, which champions interdisciplinary inquiry and collaborative efforts in a technology rich environment. With more than a dozen degree-granting locations, as well as a growing number of research partnerships around the world, CMU is truly a global institution. CMU’s global footprint fosters cooperation across borders, including from its campuses in Silicon Valley, Qatar, and Rwanda. CMU faculty are known for inspiring students to think creatively, interpret with insight, and solve major societal, scientific, and technological challenges. Current and former faculty and alumni include 20 Nobel Laureates, 79 members of the National Academies, 12 Turing Awardees, 10 Academy Award winners, 116 Emmy Award winners, and 44 Tony Award winners. Exceptionally talented students, roughly 47% undergraduate and 53% graduate, are drawn to the University’s commitment to innovative education and training and its outstanding programs across its seven schools and colleges. CMU’s annual budget is over $1.2 billion with total research expenditures of over $610 million (FY2023).

After a storied history dating to the early 1900s, in 1967, the Carnegie Institute of Technology merged with the Mellon Institute, a science research center founded by the Mellon family of Pittsburgh, to become known as Carnegie Mellon University. Today, CMU is a dynamic institution that has exceptional impact in the world. Although it is among the youngest of the nation’s top universities, CMU’s extraordinary success emanates from its deeply held core values and a unique heritage of innovation. It is a place of creativity, pragmatism, and ambition, with a tradition of strategically focusing its efforts and resources in areas where it can lead, then pursuing those areas with startling intensity. CMU is firmly committed to academic freedom, tenure protection, and shared governance, providing a fertile environment for faculty success. The University facilitates collaboration across its seven schools and colleges through organizational mechanisms and incentives, such as numerous joint appointments and a dedication to recognizing contributions outside one’s main field. CMU has long embraced diversity as a core value that is central and indivisible from the pursuit of intellectual and artistic excellence, and for more than two decades it has made increasing diversity in every constituency and building a supportive and nurturing community a strategic priority.

Research at Carnegie Mellon

Carnegie Mellon is known as a hotbed of innovative research, from the founding of the nation's first Robotics Institute in 1979, to the world's first program in engineering and public policy more than 50 years ago. The entrepreneurial mindset of its faculty, staff, and leadership have made the University a pioneer in societally transformative technologies such as the wireless campus, autonomous transportation and smart infrastructure, artificial intelligence, and advanced manufacturing, among others. Research and creative expression span the arts, humanities, social sciences, science, and engineering as well as the fundamental to the applied, from blue-sky curiosity driven research in the academic units, to large-scale applied research and prototyping at the National Robotics Engineering Center (NREC), to support for mission-driven agencies at the SEI.

CMU's strengths span the institution:

CMU researchers have enriched learning science through research conducted at the LearnLab, a cross-disciplinary international laboratory for advancing the practical science of robust student learning. CMU scholars are pinpointing how children learn languages with partners at the University of Chicago and the George Washington University.CMU chemists are working with colleagues at Yale University as part of the landmark National Institutes of Health-funded Somatic Cell Gene Editing Consortium, aimed at accelerating genome editing research and the development of new classes of therapeutics.Experts at the Wilton E. Scott Institute for Energy Innovation, a university-wide research initiative, develop and demonstrate technologies, systems and policies needed to accelerate the transition toward a more sustainable future.CMU is bringing together AI and social sciences researchers from across the country in the AI Institute for Societal Decision Making to develop human-centric AI for societal good that harnesses the power of data and improved understanding of decisions to create better and more trusted choices.CMU’s SEI formed the AI Security Incident Response Team to help ensure the safe and effective development and use of AI by analyzing and responding to threats and surety incidents emerging from advances in AI and machine learning.

CMU's unique strengths in robotics, AI, and advanced materials are a growing and major attraction for industry partners. Coupled with the efforts of CMU's Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship, the University is a leader in introducing research innovations into the global marketplace and a driving force of economic development activity.
 

CMU researchers distinguish themselves with an international reputation for the breadth of their work as well as research support, consistently receiving funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Departments of Defense, Commerce, Energy, Transportation, among others. Of CMU's $610M million in expenditures in FY2023, 70% of funding was derived from the federal government, with the majority being from the NSF and DOD. The University has diversified its funding portfolio over time, with FY2023 being a record year for industry and non-profit funding at $68 million.

The Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR)
 

The OVPR is a large and complex organization with a total staff of approximately eighty-five talented individuals that directly aids the administration and upkeep of CMU' s more than 100 research centers and institutes across campus.
 

The OVPR bridges academic units, interfacing with the Deans and Associate Deans for Research of CMU's colleges and schools on major initiatives and to foster dialogue and collaboration around research efforts both within and across units. Government Relations, which resides in the OVPR, leverages its long-standing presence in Washington, D.C. to bring new funding opportunities to CMU's talented faculty. And University Advancement forms a key partnership with the VPR around long-term industry and foundation engagement, including opportunities for major gifts.
 

The Office oversees the SEI, which has a budget of nearly $150 million annually, and whose director reports to the VPR. Through the OVPR, the considerable capabilities and funding of the SEI are brought into constellation with faculty within colleges and departments across CMU. The Office is keenly attuned to the security implications of controlled and classified research in an environment of international collaborations, and the VPR aids the University in determining the balance between the protection of IP, national security, and economic competitiveness.
 

Finally, the OVPR fosters an entrepreneurial climate that gives faculty and students tremendous freedom and strongly encourages the pursuit of bold ideas that translate into real-world impact. Thanks to the efforts and investments of CMU, the University of Pittsburgh, and other entities, the Pittsburgh Region has renewed and established itself as a technology hub for both startups and large corporations, including Duo Lingo, ANSYS, Bosch, Google, Meta, Apple, NVIDIA, SAP, and the Department of Energy's National Energy Technology Laboratory. Through the Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship and the Center for Business Engagement, the OVPR drives economic prosperity in the region, nationally, and globally.
 

Given the scale and influence of the CMU research enterprise, the University has been building and improving research capabilities of the University, including expanding external relationships with government and industry funding entities, increased collaboration across the research capabilities across the University, and managing the complexities of research at this level. The OVPR seeks an AVP for Research, Planning and Finance to work with the OVPR and the Chief Financial Officer on the research strategy and financial practices.

Scope and Responsibilities
 

The Assistant Vice President for Research, Planning and Finance provides strategic direction and oversight of business and financial operations that support CMU’s research and innovation enterprise. This individual will support the organizations of the Vice President of Research and the Chief Financial Officer and work collaboratively with the Provost’s Office and Colleges to enhance university-wide operating models and financial practices for major research initiatives and infrastructure, federated/franchised research operations, applied research units, technology transfer, and start-ups; and to enable operational excellence and efficiency by improving policies, processes, and practices to reduce duplication and cost throughout the university.

This role focuses on developing and implementing innovative operating models and financial strategies to support and advance university-wide research and innovation initiatives aimed at scaling reputation and impact of the enterprise. Responsibilities include setting financial goals aligned with research priorities, ensuring effective resource allocation, and creating sustainable operating and business models. The ideal candidate will have a deep understanding of the academic research and innovation environment, experience with different business models and financial practices for major research initiatives and infrastructure, federated/franchised research operations, applied research units, technology transfer, and start-ups. This person will play a key role in developing the operational and financial strategy for CMU’s newly established Automated Experimentation Lab, a significant planned expansion of CMU’s High-Performance Research Computing and Data Infrastructure to support cutting-edge AI, digital twin, and physics-based computation, and the expansion of CMU’s applied research unit(s) to enhance and expand large programs and contracts with mission driven agencies and industry. Other key tasks involve building business models, forecasting financial needs, establishing research targets, managing budgets, and continuously refining financial strategies to enhance outcomes and innovation across campus. This will require strong organizational, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills. Reporting to the Vice President for Research and Chief Financial Officer working in close partnership with the Chief Research Operations Officer, Provost and other executive leaders, the AVP will lead with creativity and integrity, providing and implementing data-driven solutions that balance long-term strategy with near-term priorities and needs. 

Specific responsibilities include:

Advising and guiding university leadership on effective, efficient, and transparent  financial practices to support a leading academic research enterprise.Collaborating with academic unit leaders, faculty, and staff to identify and prioritize areas for continuous improvement for maximum positive impact to the research enterprise.Developing and implementing financial models, forecasting, and revenue targets for research initiatives. This includes analyzing financial data, projecting future funding needs, and creating strategies to achieve financial sustainability and growth in research activities. Developing and implementing innovative business models and cost-recovery strategies for major experimental and computational shared user research facilities and an applied research unit engaged in commercial contracting.Aligning financial planning with strategic research goals, ensuring accurate budgeting, and creating sustainable revenue models to support ongoing innovation and commercialization efforts.Delivering data-driven information and research to support decision-making and strategic goals in alignment with applicable finance and contracting laws and regulations. Overseeing the selection, implementation, and management of systems and processes that improve the accuracy and transparency of research financial forecasting, project-level budget development and projections, and non-financial commitments.Supporting the evaluation of strategic research opportunities, including major research program investments, facilities and instruments, service agreements, partnerships, and alliances.Building, recruiting, managing, and mentoring the OVPR finance staff, and overseeing the preparation and implementation of the annual operating budget for the OVPR. Inspiring the group to maintain the highest quality and service. Providing training and coaching as needed.Driving financial strategy and consensus on competitive research proposals for funding programs, while ensuring alignment with institutional financial goals.Serving as a primary contact for the Office of Budget and Financial Planning, Office of the Academic Budget, and as a member of the university Budget Team.Promoting greater understanding of research finance across campus and championing these efforts.Other duties as assigned.

Flexibility, excellence, and passion are vital qualities within Carnegie Mellon University. Inclusion, collaboration and cultural sensitivity are valued competencies at CMU. Therefore, we are in search of a team member who is able to effectively interact with a varied population of internal and external partners at a high level of integrity. We are looking for someone who shares our values and who will support the mission of the university through their work.

Required Qualifications and Skills

BA/BS in business or management, engineering, science, or related field of studyMinimum eight (8) years of relevant professional work experience, with at least five (5) years in senior leadership role in research finance and administrationExperience in developing and implementing financial models, forecasting, budgeting, and setting revenue targets for research initiativesKnowledge of federal finance and contracting, and applicable laws and regulationsExperience with business processes, operations, management, and budget in research administration and financial managementExperience in identifying and refining financial strategies to enhance research outcomes, innovation and commercialization effortsExperience collaborating with senior leadership to generate annual budgets aligned with organizational strategy, providing financial scenarios, and financial reportingExceptional communication skills, interpersonal skills, diplomacy and the ability to interact and build trusted relationships with diverse internal and external stakeholdersHigh administrative and analytical skills, able to see patterns, be a fast thinker, and make decisions with attention to accuracy, detail and local contextSkilled supervisor and coach, able to motivate and inspire through influenceExperience working in a higher education environment and/or a non-profit managing a diverse portfolio of projects funded by a wide range of government and non-government sponsors is preferredSuccessful candidate is required to complete a background check.

NOMINATION AND APPLICATION PROCEDURES

Carnegie Mellon University has retained DHR Global for assistance in this exciting search.

All applications, nominations and inquiries are invited.Applications should include a cover letter/letter of interest, CV or resume.Application materials should be submitted using CMU’s career page by clicking “Apply”Nominations and inquiries can be directed to DHR Global. 

Joining the CMU team opens the door to an array of exceptional benefits available to eligible employees.

Those employees who are benefits eligible have the opportunity to experience the full spectrum of advantages from comprehensive medical, prescription, dental, and vision insurance to an enticing retirement savings program offering a generous employer contribution. You can also unlock your potential with tuition benefits and take well-deserved breaks with ample paid time off and observed holidays. Finally, rest easy knowing you are covered by life and accidental death and disability insurance. 

Other perks include a free Pittsburgh Regional Transit bus pass, our Family Concierge Team to help navigate childcare needs, fitness center access, and so much more!

For a comprehensive overview of the benefits that may be awaiting you, explore our Benefits page.

At Carnegie Mellon, we value the whole package when extending offers of employment. Beyond just credentials, we consider the role and responsibilities, your invaluable work experience, and the knowledge gained through education and training. We acknowledge and appreciate your unique skills and the diverse perspective you bring. Your journey with us is about more than just a job; it’s about finding the perfect fit for your professional growth and personal aspirations.

Are you interested in an exciting opportunity with an exceptional organization?! Apply today!

Location

Pittsburgh, PA

Job Function

University Administration and Management

Position Type

Staff – Regular

Full Time/Part time

Full time

Pay Basis

Salary

More Information: 

Please visit “Why Carnegie Mellon” to learn more about becoming part of an institution inspiring innovations that change the world. 

Click here to view a listing of employee benefits

Carnegie Mellon University is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veteran. 

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