Job Description

ABOUT DRI

Desert Research Institute (DRI) is Nevada's nonprofit environmental research institution and a world-renowned leader in advancing scientific knowledge related to the Earth's atmosphere, water resources, ecosystems, and environmental systems. Founded in 1959, DRI applies scientific discovery and innovation to complex environmental challenges affecting Nevada and communities around the world.

With major research campuses in Reno and Las Vegas, DRI comprises more than 600 scientists, engineers, students, and professional staff and supports approximately 175 principal investigators across more than 40 scientific disciplines. As part of the Nevada System of Higher Education, DRI combines the academic values and public-service mission of higher education with the entrepreneurial focus and agility of a research institute. Its researchers work across climate change, water sustainability, environmental health, extreme events, renewable energy, ecosystem resilience, and emerging environmental threats.

THE OPPORTUNITY

DRI seeks an accomplished, entrepreneurial, and externally focused scientific leader to serve as its next Vice President for Research (VPR). Reporting directly to the President and serving as DRI's second-ranking executive, the VPR will be the Institute's chief research officer and principal scientific strategist.

The VPR will help shape scientific priorities, expand research capacity and sponsored activity, strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration, support faculty excellence, and enhance DRI's national and international visibility. The role oversees a research enterprise that includes approximately 175 faculty scientists, three research divisions, more than 40 scientific disciplines, and over $50 million annually in sponsored research activity.

This leader will also serve as a visible scientific ambassador, cultivating relationships with federal, state, and local agencies; policymakers and elected officials; industry; foundations; national laboratories; research universities; scientific organizations; and strategic partners. Working with the President, division leadership, faculty, and administrative leaders, the VPR will align DRI's research priorities with broader institutional objectives and strengthen the people, partnerships, systems, and infrastructure required for continued scientific excellence and growth.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develop and advance a compelling vision and institution-wide strategy for DRI's research enterprise.
• Identify emerging scientific opportunities, areas of competitive advantage, and pathways for sustainable growth.
• Strengthen and expand federally funded, state-funded, industry-sponsored, and philanthropic research initiatives.
• Foster interdisciplinary collaboration across DRI's research divisions and encourage innovative approaches to complex challenges.
• Serve as a chief ambassador for DRI and build relationships with funding agencies, policymakers, elected officials, industry leaders, foundations, national laboratories, universities, nonprofits, and other partners.
• Identify new funding opportunities, strategic alliances, and collaborative initiatives that advance DRI's mission and impact.
• Advance technology transfer, innovation, research commercialization, and public-private partnerships.
• Recruit, retain, mentor, develop, and support outstanding scientists, faculty, researchers, and research leaders.
• Oversee faculty promotion processes, institutional research awards, and strategic investment of discretionary research resources.
• Partner with the President and executive leadership team on institutional strategy, planning, resource allocation, policy, and organizational decision-making.
• Collaborate with leaders across finance, advancement, communications, human resources, facilities, legal affairs, information technology, and research computing.
• Provide executive oversight of research administration, compliance, computing, environmental health and safety, library, and research support functions.
• Ensure effective stewardship of research expenditures, budgets, laboratories, computing capabilities, instrumentation, and research infrastructure.
• Maintain compliance with sponsor requirements, applicable regulations, institutional policies, research integrity standards, and security requirements.

EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS

The successful candidate will be a distinguished scientific and research leader who combines scholarly credibility, strategic vision, executive leadership, and external relationship-building. DRI will value candidates who bring a combination of the following:

• A distinguished record of achievement in a research-intensive university, research institute, national laboratory, government agency, or similarly complex scientific enterprise.
• Progressive executive leadership experience advancing research strategy, organizational growth, scientific talent, and institutional performance.
• Demonstrated success leading large, complex, externally funded research enterprises and supporting investigators competing for federal, state, industry, and philanthropic funding.
• A strong record of securing, managing, or overseeing significant sponsored research programs and portfolios.
• Experience fostering interdisciplinary research and collaboration across disciplines, organizations, and sectors.
• Demonstrated success recruiting, mentoring, developing, and retaining high-performing scientists and research leaders.
• Experience developing and implementing strategic plans that strengthen research competitiveness, impact, and long-term sustainability.
• Proven ability to cultivate relationships with agencies, policymakers, elected officials, industry leaders, scientific organizations, donors, and strategic partners.
• Experience overseeing research administration, compliance, budgeting, infrastructure, technology, or related support functions.
• Understanding of research commercialization, technology transfer, innovation ecosystems, or public-private partnerships is desirable.
• Experience in entrepreneurial or soft-funded research environments is strongly preferred.
• A strong record of scholarly achievement, including peer-reviewed research and recognized contributions within an appropriate field.

LEADERSHIP CHARACTERISTICS

The VPR will bring strategic vision and foresight; an entrepreneurial and innovative mindset; exceptional relationship-building and collaboration skills; commitment to faculty success; strong executive presence; sound judgment and scientific integrity; the ability to navigate complexity and competing priorities; a collaborative, empathetic, transparent, and accountable leadership style; and outstanding communication skills with the ability to make complex scientific ideas compelling to diverse audiences.

EDUCATION AND ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

A Ph.D. or terminal degree from an accredited institution in a relevant scientific discipline is strongly preferred. Consideration may also be given to candidates with exceptional executive leadership experience in science, technology, research, or innovation organizations. Candidates must possess the scholarly credentials, professional stature, and scientific credibility necessary to lead a globally respected research enterprise.

The successful candidate must be a United States citizen and able to obtain and maintain a top security clearance.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

The minimum starting salary is $315,876 and will be competitive and commensurate with education, experience, and alignment with similar public academic research institutions. Benefits include health, dental, vision, life, and long-term disability insurance; a 19.25% tax-deferred mandatory retirement contribution with matching by DRI; annual and sick leave; 12 paid holidays; tuition reduction at Nevada System of Higher Education institutions for employees and eligible dependents; no state income tax or Social Security deduction; and relocation assistance.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

DRI is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment free of discrimination without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, citizenship, age (40 or older), disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. DRI employs only U.S. citizens and persons lawfully authorized to work in the United States. DRI complies with all applicable state laws and takes measures consistent with Title IX to support the safety and well-being of its students, faculty, and staff.

APPLICATIONS AND NOMINATIONS

Applications should include a resume or CV and be submitted to DRI-VPResearch@KornFerry.com. Nominations and confidential inquiries are welcome.

SE#514804517

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