Provost jobs in Richmond, VA

The Office of the Provost

The VCU Office of the Provost is dedicated to ensuring a safe, high-quality, and engaged learning experience for all students, ensuring that the institution recruits and retains a talented and diverse faculty and provides the resources necessary to promote and support world-class teaching, scholarship, research, enrollment growth and creative expression; and maintaining a strong commitment to the global engagement of students, faculty, and staff that transforms lives and communities. 

The Opportunity 

The Office of the Provost seeks an experienced, collaborative, strategic and dynamic leader to ensure the viability, integrity, and quality of all graduate programs, and oversee policies and procedures governing graduate education.The VCU Graduate School is committed to creating an environment that promotes diversity, equity and inclusiveness among the university’s graduate programs, graduate faculty and graduate students. Master’s and doctoral degree programs at VCU encompass a broad array of disciplines from the arts to science, technology, engineering and mathematics to the social sciences. Graduate students and faculty from diverse cultural backgrounds with different experiences and perspectives working together are better equipped to solve complex regional, national and global challenges. Excellence in graduate education is clearly enhanced through a community that is inclusive and welcomes all people. The highly rated graduate programs at VCU are strengthened by the unwavering dedication of the graduate faculty and students to the values of diversity, equity and inclusiveness.

VCU’s Graduate School is affiliated with four external councils at the state, regional and national levels.

About the Role 

The Vice Provost and Dean of the Graduate School provides visionary leadership to promote and foster excellence in all aspects of the University’s mission. This includes an unwavering commitment to identifying best practices for graduate education in working with various stakeholders to design programs with market demand that enhance student success and institutional vitality. This individual will promote a positive image and maintain effective relationships by representing the Provost in their absence at various meetings and communicating with University administrators, faculty, staff, and students. This position leads and directs all core functions of the Graduate School, including administrative operations, planning, policy, program development, marketing, and student admissions and student recruitment, as well as works collaboratively with the provost, other deans.

Key Responsibilities

The Vice Provost and Dean of the Graduate School  leads and directs all core functions of the Graduate School, including administrative operations, planning, policy, program development, marketing, and student admissions and student recruitment, as well as works collaboratively with the provost and other deans. The role will support the following: 

• Promotion of graduate education at the university, state, national and international levels

• Advancing the well-being and professional development of graduate students

• Ensuring the integrity of graduate-level degrees and certificates offered at VCU

• Support developing and maintaining collaborative relationships across VCU, with other colleges and universities, and with external organizations and state agencies

• Develops and ensures adherence to the school’s budget and participates in the development of the budget for the University to achieve 

• Identify trends in graduate studies and work with academic units to develop new graduate programs and eliminate programs when necessary

• Promote the achievements of graduate students to stakeholders internal and external to VCU

• Advance innovative interdisciplinary masters and doctoral academic programs. 

• Strengthen inclusive diversity of the graduate student body. 

Qualifications
The search committee seeks candidates with the following preferred experience, abilities, and personal and professional attributes:

Setting Strategy

• An ability to create and articulate an inspiring vision by engaging and gathering input from Graduate School stakeholders.

• An ability to seek, analyze, and utilize data from a variety of sources to support decisions and to align others with the School's overall strategy. 

• Capacity to ideate, lead and implement strategic planning, including the ability to build consensus and work collaboratively.

• Possess a broad understanding of the education landscape, including academic, research, industry, funding, and policy trends to identify unique opportunities and establish meaningful connections external to the Graduate School.

• An entrepreneurial, creative approach to developing innovative ideas that will advance the School and expand its boundaries by focusing on its distinct advantages. 

Executing for Results

• A record of  scholarly accomplishment and success in obtaining extramural funding consistent with the rank of full professor.

• Strong financial acumen and fiscal management with leadership experience  at the department, college, and/or university level including managing budget models.

• Demonstrated fundraising experience or the personality traits and aptitude to suggest the potential to succeed.

• Possess a high degree of integrity and forethought in decision-making; ability to make balanced decisions and embrace the culture of shared governance.

• Ability to drive innovation and lead change.

• Ability to transform graduate education at VCU. Promoting VCU’s graduate programs nationally and internationally, expanding graduate student funding, and developing new funding sources will be key emphasis. 

Leading Teams

• The ability to recruit and retain top talent and celebrate and cultivate diversity within the team; widely viewed as a strong developer of others.

• Unify and motivate Graduate School stakeholders around a shared vision for the School; possess the ability to delegate effectively and manage performance in the pursuit of the established aims and goals. 

• Experience building community and shaping a productive, goal-oriented culture.

• A penchant for developing and leading collaborative and interdisciplinary teams. 

• A natural tendency to lead with transparency and improve communication to improve operations and surface new opportunities.

Building Relationships and Influencing People

• Naturally connects and builds strong relationships with others, demonstrating strong emotional intelligence, and an ability to communicate clearly and persuasively. 

• An ability to serve as the advocate and ambassador to raise the profile of the School and engage the broader community, including policymakers and industry leaders.

• Genuine appetite and aptitude to engage in fundraising, ideally with a strong record and experience in obtaining philanthropic support from individuals, foundations, and corporations.

• A demonstrated commitment to supporting students.

• Ability to foster a diverse, equitable, and inclusive culture that values intellectual curiosity, respect, and trust.

Academic and Personal Qualities

• Doctorate or terminal degree from an accredited university.

• 3-5 years of experience as an associate dean or program/department chair, preferably at the graduate level. 

• Eligibility to be appointed at the rank of full professor.

• Possess the highest standards of personal and academic integrity and ethical and professional conduct.

• A quick learner who is intellectually curious, genuinely interested in working across disciplines and possesses strong knowledge of the programs represented within the Graduate School. 

• A humble, approachable leader who is engaged and responsive to Graduate School stakeholders. 

• A record of successful recruitment and admissions, mentoring-advising, and/or graduation of graduate students.  

• Evidence of successful planning and implementation of initiatives related to graduate student professional development, the program review process, or other graduate education-related activities.  

Application Instructions:

This position will be posted until filled, however for priority consideration please apply by May 12, 2024. Candidates should complete the basic personal and demographic application through the VCU job website. Candidates should provide a resume, cover letter, a diversity statement*, and the names and contact information of three references. References will not be contacted without prior knowledge and approval of candidates. All nominations and applications shall be confidential until finalists are named. Application materials should be submitted to the VCU Jobs portal.

As a preeminent national, urban, public research university and academic health center, Virginia Commonwealth University is committed to organizational diversity, equity and inclusion - an environment where all can thrive in their pursuit of excellence. Applicants are requested to submit a Statement of Contributions to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (typically between 150-300 words) providing their career aspirations and contributions toward promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion. Through this statement, you can share how your lived experiences; and past, present, and future academic and professional activities have or will contribute to VCU’s mission of promoting equity and inclusion.

Note: Examples include working with others to further the goals of equity and inclusion; leading in any capacity that tangibly promotes an environment where diversity is welcomed, fostered, and celebrated; creative activity, research and scholarship that promotes equity and parity; teaching and mentoring students, and/or engaging with faculty and/or staff from traditionally underrepresented groups to create a positive and successful organizational experience. More information can be found at https://faculty.provost.vcu.edu/prospective-faculty/ 

Requests for information and all written nominations and applications should be directed to:

Tanya-Lee Giscombe (tlsgiscombe@vcu.edu)

Virginia Commonwealth University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action university providing access to education and employment without regard to race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, age, sex (including pregnancy), political affiliation, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression or disability. Women, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.