Position Announcement: OK State EPSCoR Director

Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education has issued a call for applications for the position of Oklahoma State EPSCoR Director. Submissions received by July 23, 2021, will receive priority consideration, but applications will be accepted until the position is filled.
 

OKLAHOMA STATE EPSCoR DIRECTOR
Job Description
 
Background:
Oklahoma entered the National Science Foundation (NSF) EPSCoR Program in 1985. Since that date, EPSCoR or equivalent programs have been established by other federal agencies including the National Institutes of Health, The National Aeronautics & Space Administration, and the Departments of Defense, Energy, and Agriculture. By statute (70 O.S. 2001, §3230.1 et seq.), the state legislature established the Oklahoma EPSCoR Advisory Committee as an advisory committee to the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education and charged this Committee with selecting the EPSCoR State Director.
 
The position of Oklahoma EPSCoR State Director has direct oversight of all EPSCoR and equivalent programs within Oklahoma. This includes coordination with sitting directors of specific programs, which currently includes the directors of NSF EPSCoR, NIH IDeA/INBRE, and NASA EPSCoR. This role also includes direct administration of EPSCoR programs at other federal agencies (such as DOE and DOD), each of which could potentially evolve to the point of requiring a program-specific director. Should that come to pass, the EPSCoR State Director will assist the Oklahoma EPSCoR Advisory Committee in identifying and on-boarding the program-specific director, then continue oversight and coordination at the higher level.
 
The position reports to the Chancellor of the Oklahoma state system of higher education who, by the above-referenced statute serves as Chair of the EPSCoR Advisory
Committee. A grant award of $25,000 will be provided to the State Director’s institution in support of the duties and activities required to fulfill the position of the Oklahoma EPSCoR State Director.
 
Duties:
  • Work with administration, faculty, and students of Oklahoma’s higher education system, including both public and private universities and colleges, to implement the prime directive of all EPSCoR programs: to enhance Oklahoma’s national competitiveness for research funding.
  • Establish EPSCoR research topics with equitable input and representation by all participating stakeholders for enhanced delivery of outcomes beneficial to the state.
  • Manage statewide competitions to select projects to be submitted to federal EPSCoR or equivalent programs when this task is delegated to the State EPSCoR Advisory Committee in federal solicitations.
  • Report on EPSCoR activities to the Oklahoma EPSCoR Advisory Committee.
  • Represent Oklahoma EPSCoR to the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, including the processing of requests for state matching funds.
  • Represent Oklahoma as the designated voting member of the national EPSCoR/IDeA Coalition, and serve on the EPSCoR/IDeA Coalition or Foundation Board of Directors, if elected.
  • Work with other EPSCoR and non-EPSCoR states in the region to establish coalitions in response to major federal opportunities requiring regional partnerships.
  • Support diversity and inclusion goals to increase participation of underrepresented communities (women and minorities) in EPSCoR activities.
  • Coordinate the efforts and priorities of the EPSCoR and equivalent programs with the State of Oklahoma’s science and technology strategic plan or its equivalent (currently termed the “2021 to 2026 Science and Innovation Strategic Plan”).
  • Work in partnership with Oklahoma’s congressional delegation to develop support for authorizations and appropriations for EPSCoR and EPSCoR-equivalent programs.
  • Work in partnership with the state legislature and other state and private entities to foster research and development in Oklahoma (e.g., OCAST, i2E, & state and local chambers of commerce).
  • Perform other duties as assigned by the Oklahoma Chancellor for Higher Education, Chair of the State EPSCoR Advisory Committee.

Preferred Education & Experience:

  • An earned doctorate in a science or engineering discipline relevant to EPSCoR.
  • A tenured faculty position at a private or public Oklahoma university or college.
  • Administrative experience including the management or co-management of large, multi-disciplinary, multi-institutional research programs.
  • Leadership skills and other personal attributes consistent with carrying out the duties of this position.
Submission of Applications or Nominations:

Please submit resume and cover letter to:

Amanda Winge
Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education
655 Research Parkway, Suite 200
Oklahoma City, OK 73104
Phone: 405-225-9237
 
Closing date for submitting applications: Submissions by July 23, 2021 will receive priority consideration, but applications will be accepted until the position is filled.
 
The appointment to this position will be made by the Oklahoma State EPSCoR Advisory Committee, with ratification by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, and will be effective on September 1, 2021.
 
Print/PDF Version