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Purpose of the Role

The Dean of Research and Innovation provides strategic academic leadership and governance for the University’s research, innovation, and knowledge-transfer agenda.
The role leads the development and oversight of research strategy, policies, quality standards, and impact; ensures alignment with national research priorities and Oman Vision 2040; and maintains compliance with institutional regulations, ethical standards, and accreditation requirements, including OAAAQA.

Key Responsibilities

Research Strategy & Leadership

• Lead the development, review, and oversight of the University’s research and innovation strategy.
• Ensure alignment of research priorities with national agendas, Oman Vision 2040, and institutional strategic objectives.
• Promote interdisciplinary research and a sustainable research culture across colleges and centres.

Research Governance & Policy

• Oversee implementation of approved research policies, regulations, and ethical standards.
• Contribute to and support research governance committees as assigned.
• Ensure integrity, transparency, and consistency in research decision-making and approvals within governance frameworks.

Research Quality & Compliance

• Ensure research activities comply with institutional quality standards and regulatory requirements.
• Oversee ethical review frameworks and research compliance mechanisms.
• Support internal and external research audits, reviews, and accreditation requirements.

Research Development & External Engagement

• Provide academic leadership and institutional representation in engagement with national and international research bodies, funding agencies, and strategic partners.
• Promote competitive research funding and collaborative partnerships.
• Review consolidated reports on research development and funding outcomes.

Innovation, Commercialisation & Impact

• Promote innovation, knowledge transfer, intellectual property development, and industry collaboration.
• Support initiatives that enhance the societal, economic, and academic impact of research outputs.
• Encourage responsible commercialisation and impact pathways consistent with institutional policy.

Research Performance Monitoring

• Oversee monitoring of research performance indicators, outputs, and impact metrics.
• Review consolidated performance reports submitted by research centres and units.
• Report research performance, risks, and achievements to Academic Affairs leadership.

Leadership & Capacity Building

• Provide academic leadership and mentorship to research leaders and staff.
• Support institutional initiatives to strengthen research capacity, supervision quality, and innovation capability among academic staff and postgraduate researchers.
• Encourage best practices in postgraduate research supervision and research development.

Authority & Decision-Making (Delegated)

• Acts under delegated authority from the Deputy Vice-Chancellor – Academic Affairs.
• Has authority to approve research initiatives, policies, and frameworks within approved academic governance structures.
• Recommends major research strategies, partnerships, and initiatives for formal approval.
• Does not approve financial commitments, manage funds, or administer expenditures.
• Escalates research risks, ethical issues, and compliance gaps promptly.
• Financial authority strictly as defined in the Delegation of Authorities Matrix and approved Financial Policies.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Quality, volume, and impact of research outputs and publications.
• Success in securing competitive research funding and strategic partnerships (outcomes, not administration).
• Compliance with research governance, ethics, and quality standards.
• Research capacity development and postgraduate supervision quality.
• Contribution of research and innovation to institutional strategy and national priorities.
• Oversight of research funding strategy, budgets, proposal assessment, grant distribution, and grant management.
• Governing consultancy activities and integrating research into teaching and learning ensuring research informs curriculum development.
• Overseeing student involvement in research and entrepreneurship projects and Management of intellectual property.
• Explicit responsibility for developing research performance indicators and targets and oversight and management of MoHERI Scholarship Indicators.
• Oversight of the implementation of R&I Operational Plan.

Key Competencies

• Strategic research leadership and innovation management.
• Strong understanding of research governance, ethics, and compliance.
• Proven research track record and impact orientation.
• Ability to lead interdisciplinary initiatives and external engagement at a strategic level.
• High governance, judgment, and institutional awareness.

Qualifications

• PhD in a relevant academic discipline with a minimum academic rank of Associate Professor (Full Professor preferred).
• Strong academic standing in teaching, research, and service.
• Leadership training is desirable.

Experience

• Minimum of 15 years of academic experience in higher education.
• Including at least 7 years in an academic leadership role at a recognised university or college.
• Proven experience in academic planning, research development, and faculty management.