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Senior Associate Dean for Research

Position Summary

The College of Communication Arts and Sciences (ComArtSci) at Michigan State University invites applications for the position of Senior Associate Dean for Research. The College is a pioneer in its own right. Established in 1955, during Michigan State's Centennial year, ComArtSci was the first such college in the country. Today, with over 3,500 students and more than 58,000 alumni, it is among the largest and most respected. With internationally ranked programs and internationally renowned faculty members, MSU's ComArtSci prepares students for careers across a broad spectrum of the arts and sciences of communication. Employees of ComArtSci reflect diverse areas of expertise and employment types within the University, which include 15 continuing system academic specialists; 79 fixed term faculty and academic specialists; 78 tenure system faculty; and more than 100 professional, technical, and administrative support staff.

ComArtSci's undergraduate, master's and doctoral students are enrolled in 21 programs within the college's five units. ComArtSci prepares students for careers in areas such as communications, public relations, journalism, game design, and communication disorders. Students and faculty work together to create feature-length films, produce award-winning news features, and are leaders in communication research. ComArtSci has the strength, skill, and talent to serve the common good nationally and globally.

The primary function of the Senior Associate Dean for Research is to provide leadership, management, vision, strategic planning, and oversight of and to the research operations, including the human, financial, and space resources related to those functions of ComArtSci. We seek candidates who are eager to act strategically in support of raising the college's already strong profile in research productivity. ComArtSci had nearly $7.5M in grant expenditures in FY23, which represented a 75% increase over FY21. This position is 60% administrative and 40% research meaning there will be ample time and support for maintaining the candidate's active research program. In addition to a generous start-up package, outstanding candidates may be considered for one of the College or University's Endowed Professorships.  

The Senior Associate Dean position reports directly to and serves as a primary advisor to the Dean.  The role entails overseeing the Dean's office support staff who are germane to research and grant operations as well as chairing College-level committees whose primary function is to serve the research needs of the College.  However, the Senior Associate Dean would also have a tenure home in one of the five departments in the College.

Roles and Responsibilities to include:

* *Support the development of the ComArtSci research faculty;

Work with the University Office of Sponsored Programs Administration, and the office of the VP for Research, and other leaders across campus, on behalf of the College faculty and academic staff;

Review and approve faculty and staff grant and contract proposals;

Serve as a resource and facilitator for college faculty and staff who are considering writing grants, have operational questions concerning funded grants, or who are encountering problems or difficulties with grant related activities;

Provide grant reporting to the Dean annually or as needed;

In collaboration with the College Research Committee, develop and enact strategies and programs to enhance the research climate and opportunities in the college for faculty, staff, and students;

Review and evaluate the College's research related personnel needs in collaboration with the Dean's office;

Review additional pay requests for Research Operations Personnel;

Develop and oversee professi