VICE-PRESIDENT RESEARCH AND INNOVATION
YORK UNIVERSITY

York University invites nominations, expressions of interest, and applications for the position of Vice-President Research and Innovation (VPRI), with the appointment to be effective as early as January 1, 2020 but no later than July 1, 2020. 

As the third largest university in Canada, York University hosts a strong community of 49,000 undergraduates, 6,000 graduate students, 7,000 faculty and administrative staff, and more than 315,000 alumni. An internationally recognized, research-intensive university, its 11 Faculties and 25 Research Units have a strong history of collaborative, innovative, and interdisciplinary research, and enjoy partnerships with more than 200 leading institutions worldwide. 

Located in Toronto, York University features two major campuses at Keele and Glendon – home to Southern Ontario’s Centre of Excellence for French Language and Bilingual Postsecondary Education. York also has two downtown locations offering professional programs by Osgoode Hall Law School and Schulich School of Business, and two international satellite campuses in Costa Rica and India. 

York is a vibrant intellectual community focused on the highest academic quality, student success, leading edge and research-informed learning and teaching practices, and a supportive community environment that fosters innovation and entrepreneurship within its faculty, students, and community members. York’s newest community innovation hub, YSpace is evidence of this commitment. 

As one of Canada’s leading engaged universities, York prides itself on driving creative cross-sector partnerships with all levels of government, the non-profit and private sectors, and with other academic institutions around the world to amplify the impact of the University’s work and to provide experiential learning opportunities for York’s students. Please visit www.yorku.ca for additional information about the University.

Reporting to the President and Vice Chancellor as part of the senior administration of York University, the Vice-President Research and Innovation is the University’s internal and external advocate for research. Providing leadership and vision in shaping strategic research directions and ensuring effective support of research, the VPRI will support York’s research themes and advance areas of opportunity to further accelerate research growth and success. Excellence and diversity in research are central to York’s mission and are fundamental to the University’s ability to contribute to the economic, scientific, cultural, environmental and social health of society. York University has research grants and awards of $104 million annually and is currently home to 39 Canada Research Chairs and 41 York Research Chairs. York’s exponential research growth and accelerated trajectory in funding is noted by its 347% growth between 2013 and 2017 alone (Research Infosource 2018). The University is now seeking a visionary and collaborative VPRI to build on these successes and lead the next phase of development.

The successful candidate for VPRI will have a proven record of leadership in a complex research and innovation environment, current knowledge of the many changes  and opportunities in the global research context, and the credibility to function successfully at all levels of the University. A proven track record of personal research excellence and of developing and promoting multidisciplinary and transdisciplinary research initiatives, a sophisticated understanding of the relationships among research, innovation, and knowledge mobilization, and of connecting and translating research impacts to the community are all essential. With exceptional organizational and interpersonal  skills, and a record of building collaborative teams and solving problems, the new VPRI will excel in the ability to engage other stakeholders, and will be able to obtain internal and external support for research and innovation while partnering effectively with other educational institutions, government, communities, and industry.

York University is an Affirmative Action (AA) employer and strongly values diversity, including gender and sexual diversity, within its community. The AA program, which applies to Aboriginal (Indigenous) persons, visible minority racialized persons, persons with disabilities, and women, can be found at http://acadjobs.info.yorku.ca/ or by calling the AA office at 416-736-5713. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadian citizens and Permanent Residents, and others legally entitled to work in Canada for York University will be given priority. Please advise us of your citizenship in your letter of introduction or curriculum vitae, or by completing the Work Status Declaration form which can be accessed here: http://acadjobs.info.yorku.ca/affirmative-action/

Applicants wishing to self-identify can do so by downloading, completing, and submitting the forms found at: http://acadjobs.info.yorku.ca/. Please select the "Affirmative Action" tab under which forms pertaining to Citizenship and AA can be found. 

In accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), accommodation will be provided by both Laverne Smith & Associates and York University throughout the recruitment process to applicants with disabilities. 

The search committee will begin to consider potential candidates immediately and will continue until the position is filled. Applications should include a letter of introduction, curriculum vitae, and the names of three references (who will not be contacted without consent of the candidate), and may be forwarded electronically, in confidence, to the University’s search consultant: 

Laverne Smith & Associates Inc.
YorkVPRI@lavernesmith.com