Job Description

Chief Research Officer and Executive Vice President

Oregon Health and Science University

Portland, Oregon

Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) seeks a distinguished scientist and strategic leader to serve as the Chief Research Officer and Executive Vice President (CRO), responsible for enterprise research strategy, research portfolio performance, and stewardship of institutional research investments. OHSU is Oregon’s only public academic health center, comprised of schools of medicine, nursing, pharmacy, dentistry, and public health, and operating a system of hospitals and clinics across Oregon and Southwest Washington. OHSU’s vision is to elevate Oregon as the heart of health innovation – in FY25, it generated $9.4 billion in economic output for the state and shepherded four startups and 54 option/license agreements. The next CRO will serve as the principal advisor to the President on OHSU’s research priorities and strategies, talent investments, and supporting the growth and success of its already world-class research.

OHSU is a leader in biomedical research, with approximately $500 million in total award dollars in FY25, including over $300 million from the NIH, $65 million from industry partners, over $60 million from non-NIH federal agencies, and almost $50 million from private foundations and nonprofits. Research spans fundamental, translational, and clinical research; prevention and treatment of disease; community-based research; public health; and life sciences education, with strengths in neuroscience, cancer biology, rare diseases, genetics and gene therapy, and primary care research. Research is conducted across OHSU's various schools and in eight centers and institutes outside OHSU’s schools.

The CRO sits as the head of research across the campus, providing strategic direction, leadership over administrative functions, and financial oversight for a complex, matrixed organization. The CRO will partner with OHSU leadership to foster high-impact research, developing a strategic plan that considers the full depth and breadth of research at OHSU. This work includes serving as the external voice for OHSU’s research, representing OHSU with public and private funding agencies, government entities, and industry partners. The CRO is also responsible for research administration functions, leading their team to ensure efficiency and compliance. The CRO oversees research finances for the campus, including indirect costs, research support through intergovernmental transfers, and direct oversight of center and institute finances. The CRO collaborates closely with research leadership within the schools, providing guidance and assistance for coordinated research growth, recruitment of research leaders and faculty, and evaluation of major personnel decisions, and resource planning and alignment, among other key responsibilities. 

OHSU has retained Isaacson, Miller to assist with this important recruitment. Screening of complete applications will begin immediately and continue until the completion of the search process. Inquiries, nominations, referrals, and CVs with cover letters should be sent via: 

All are welcome.

OHSU welcomes people of all ages, ethnicities, genders, national origins, religions and sexual orientations. We are striving to build an anti-racist, multicultural institution and encourage people with diverse backgrounds to apply.

To request reasonable accommodation, contact  askhr@ohsu.edu

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