Fast Facts

Carnegie Mellon University is seeking an Associate Vice President for Research Computing and Data to lead and transform the university's research computing ecosystem, enhancing innovation and collaboration within its research enterprise.

Responsibilities: Oversee the development and management of a cutting-edge research computing ecosystem, foster collaboration across various domains, and lead large-scale initiatives within the university.

Skills: Expertise in high-performance computing, team leadership, budget management, data security compliance, and partnership building across organizational boundaries.

Qualifications: Master's degree required, PhD preferred; minimum of 10 years of experience in research computing and proven leadership success.

Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA

Compensation: Not provided by employer. Typical compensation ranges for this position are between $150,000 - $250,000.

Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), a global leader in research and innovation, invites candidates to apply for the newly created role of Associate Vice President for Research Computing and Data (AVP RCD). This role, which will serve in a leadership capacity in both the Office of the Vice President for Research and the Office of the Vice President and Chief Information Officer, offers a unique opportunity to elevate and transform CMU’s research computing ecosystem so that it supports groundbreaking research, enhances collaboration, and enables leading-edge innovation across the university’s research enterprise. After careful study led by university leaders, CMU has committed to significant investment in research computing resources, forming the Office of Research Computing and Data to design, develop, and oversee this initiative.

The AVP for Research Computing and Data will spearhead university-wide efforts to create, advance, and sustain a robust, cutting-edge research computing ecosystem, providing strategic vision and direction to shape and execute this effort. Reporting jointly to the Vice President for Research and the Vice President and Chief Information Officer, the AVP RCD will foster collaboration across research, academic, administrative, and IT domains. This role is vital to enabling CMU's faculty and students to remain at the pinnacle of innovation, discovery, and translation, fostering a community of excellence that empowers research, learning, talent development, and societal engagement.

This leadership position requires proven management and strategic leadership skills with exemplary communication skills to lead research computing development and coordination across the university’s colleges and programs. The AVP RCD will be an entrepreneurial domain expert with a combination of vision, organizational savvy, skill in generating resources and leading change, and the emotional intelligence to build partnerships and create alignment across organizational boundaries.

The successful candidate will bring a majority of the following qualities to the role:

• A comprehensive grasp of current standards and emerging paradigms in high-performance computing to guide the university’s investment of capital and operating funds in leadership-class computing
• Proven ability to recruit and lead a team in developing and implementing large-scale, cross-functional initiatives in complex, decentralized environments
• The ability to develop the business model for sustainable leadership-class computing and manage a complex budget comprising multiple funding sources and time horizons and comprising capital and operating budgets (grants, partnerships)
• Experience building sustainable partnerships across organizational boundaries, including with external partners
• Broad knowledge of deployment and management of high-performance computing (HPC) systems, including CPU, GPU, storage, file systems, networking, visualization, job schedulers, and scientific applications
• Experience leading the implementation and execution of research computing capabilities and day-to-day HPC systems operations
• Demonstrated understanding of data security, compliance, and export-control standards and regulations and ability to address information security frameworks to ensure compliant research involving controlled/restricted data
• Demonstrated ability to engage with academic researchers across a wide range of disciplines and comfort levels, from midrange to super users
• Record of contributing to successful funding proposals and business development initiatives

The successful candidate must have a master’s degree, with a PhD preferred, and 10 or more years of experience in research computing, with demonstrated success in leadership roles.

For a full list of priorities, responsibilities, and qualities of the AVP RCD, please view the full position description here .

Carnegie Mellon University has retained Opus Partners to support this recruitment. Craig Smith , Senior Partner, Ann K. Adams , Associate Partner, and  Thomas Lapierre , Senior Associate, are leading the search. Confidential inquiries and nominations should be submitted by email to Thomas Lapierre at [email protected] . The search process will unfold with the greatest possible attention to candidate confidentiality. Required application materials include a resume and cover letter.

Carnegie Mellon University does not discriminate in admission, employment, or administration of its programs or activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy or related condition, family status, marital status, parental status, religion, ancestry, veteran status, or genetic information. Furthermore, Carnegie Mellon University does not discriminate and is required not to discriminate in violation of federal, state, or local laws or executive orders.