Associate Dean for Research, CHHS

Reporting to the Dean of the College of Health and Human Services, the CHHS Associate Dean for Research provides visionary leadership to advance the college’s research enterprise in alignment with UNH’s mission as an R1 Carnegie-designated research university and flagship public institution. The Associate Dean for Research works collaboratively with the Dean, academic leaders, institute and center directors, faculty, and university research leadership to expand the scope, impact, and visibility of CHHS research. The Associate Dean for Research leads initiatives that strengthen the college’s research infrastructure, support faculty success in securing external funding, foster interdisciplinary collaboration, and expand research engagement among undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral scholars. The Associate Dean for Research plays a central role in positioning CHHS as a national leader in health and human services research.

Review of applications will begin on August 1, 2026.

Duties/Responsibilities

Strategic Research Leadership (20%)

• Provide strategic leadership for the development and growth of the CHHS research enterprise in alignment with university and college strategic priorities.

• Identify and cultivate opportunities for large-scale interdisciplinary research initiatives, center grants, and strategic partnerships.

• Advance the college’s national reputation for impactful research and scholarship in health, social services, and community well-being.

• Lead efforts to develop new interdisciplinary collaborations.

• Monitor and support growth in the college’s externally funded research portfolio.

• Foster partnerships with healthcare systems, community organizations, industry, and government agencies.

• Help position the CHHS research doctorate program for national competitiveness and strong research training outcomes.

• Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and entrepreneurial research culture across units.

• Liaise with the Graduate School, support graduate research and the college’s PhD program.

• Represent CHHS on university committees related to research, innovation, and scholarship.

• Serve as a key member of the CHHS leadership team and participate in strategic planning initiatives.

Research Development (30%)

• Mentor faculty and research staff across career stages in building sustainable and impactful research programs.

• Support faculty and staff in identifying funding opportunities, building interdisciplinary research teams, and developing competitive proposals.

• Develop a robust research professional development ecosystem that enhances CHHS faculty and student research capacity and impact, such as grantsmanship development and mentoring opportunities internally and externally.

• Partner with university research development programs to prepare faculty and staff for major funding opportunities (e.g., NIH, NSF, foundation grants).

• Participate in recruitment of research-active faculty and contribute to onboarding strategies that support successful research trajectories.

• Support faculty and staff in securing external funding through strategic grant development assistance and institutional coordination.

• Engage with faculty, students, and staff across the college to advance the research mission and strengthen the scholarly community.

Research Operations Infrastructure, Integrity and Compliance (20%)

• Ensure that CHHS research activities meet the highest standards of research integrity and regulatory compliance.

• Coordinate with Sponsored Programs to ensure compliance with federal, state, and university regulations that govern research.

• Coordinate with UNH Innovation on industry partnerships, intellectual property protection, technology transfer, and commercialization efforts.

• Coordinate with Research Integrity Services regarding human subjects protections, conflicts of interest, and responsible conduct of research.

• Provide college-level oversight for Institutional Review Board (IRB) processes and research compliance activities.

• Support faculty and staff in maintaining required research training and certifications.

• Support the dean in institutional approval process for grant proposals and contracts.

• Oversee the CHHS Research Office, including staffing, operations, and budget.

• Strengthen the infrastructure needed to support high-impact research including grant development services, data support, research facilities, and shared instrumentation.

• Collaborate with university partners to support the development of shared research infrastructure and innovation ecosystems.

Research Communication and Visibility (5%)

• Promote the visibility and impact of CHHS research through strategic communications and dissemination efforts.

• Partner with college and university communications and marketing teams to highlight faculty and staff research accomplishments and innovations.

• Communicate research opportunities, funding announcements, policy updates, and resources to faculty and staff.

• Support research-focused events including conferences, symposia, and faculty and staff recognition initiatives.

• Support the development and implementation of research policies and procedures that ensure efficient and compliant research operations.

Lead sponsored projects efforts (25%)

• Maintain an active, externally funded program of scholarship, serving as Principal Investigator or Co-Investigator on competitive federal, foundation, or state grants aligned with the college’s strategic research priorities.

• Build and convene cross-disciplinary teams of faculty, community partners, and health system collaborators to design competitive multi-investigator proposals and programmatic research initiatives (e.g., center grants, P20/P30 mechanisms, HRSA workforce grants, foundation initiatives) that advance interdisciplinary research, practice innovation, and community impact.

Requirements

Minimum Acceptable Education & Experience:

• Research doctorate in health and human services related field.

• Exemplary record of research/scholarship, teaching, and service compatible with appointment as a full professor with tenure in one of the CHHS departments/programs.

• Strong record of externally-funded research in a health and human services-related field.

• Evidence of successful mentorship of faculty and pre- and post-doc trainees in discovery sciences.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Comprehensive background in academic affairs and HHS research within research university environments, such as direct supervision of academic units and substantial experience managing complex budgets.

• Dedication to collaborative leadership and commitment to shared governance.

• Proven record of securing external support through grants, contracts, and fundraising efforts.

• Knowledge of federal and foundation research sponsors, experience as reviewer of federal grants.

• Demonstrated success in cultivating and sustaining innovative partnerships.

Applicant Instructions

Applicants should be prepared to upload the following documents when applying online within the My Experience: Resume/Cover Letter section of your application:

• Resume/CV

• Cover Letter

Applications that are missing any of the required items may not move forward for consideration.  Additional uploaded documents not requested in the position announcement will not be reviewed.

The University of New Hampshire is an R1 Carnegie classification research institution providing comprehensive, high-quality undergraduate and graduate programs of distinction. UNH is located in Durham on a 188-acre campus, 60 miles north of Boston and 8 miles from the Atlantic coast and is convenient to New Hampshire’s lakes and mountains. There is a student enrollment of 13,000 students, with a full-time faculty of over 600, offering 90 undergraduate and more than 70 graduate programs. The University actively promotes a dynamic learning environment in which qualified individuals of differing perspectives, life experiences, and cultural backgrounds pursue academic goals with mutual respect and shared inquiry.

EEO Statement

The University System of New Hampshire is an Equal Opportunity/Equal Access employer. The University System is committed to creating an environment that values and supports diversity and inclusiveness across our campus communities and encourages applications from qualified individuals who will help us achieve this mission. The University System prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or marital status.

Compensation Pay Range:

The pay range for this position is listed above. Actual offer will be based on skills, qualifications, experience, and internal equity, in addition to relevant business considerations. More information on benefits can be found here: USNH Employee Benefits | Human Resources

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