Fast Facts

The University of Iowa is seeking a Senior Director of Research Services who will lead a vital unit within Information Technology Services, focusing on high-performance computing and research support. This leadership role involves developing strategic partnerships and overseeing a significant budget to enhance research infrastructure.

Responsibilities: Lead the Research Services unit, manage a $2.8 million budget, cultivate partnerships with ITS and research units, support grant applications, and mentor a high-performing team.

Skills: Strong leadership ability, technical expertise in computing and research infrastructure, relationship-building skills, and experience in budget management.

Qualifications: Preferred qualifications include experience in academic research environments, knowledge of high-performance computing, and leadership experience.

Location: Iowa City, Iowa, USA with hybrid work options available.

Compensation: Not provided by employer. Typical compensation ranges for this position are between $120,000 - $180,000.

The University of Iowa seeks applications and nominations for the position of senior director of research services. The senior director will spearhead a mission-critical unit within Information Technology Services (ITS) and champion the computing needs of the University of Iowa’s vibrant research community.

Research Services (RS) offers services for research and analysis in high-performance computing (HPC) environments and interactive analysis environments. RS also provides user consultations and assistance navigating research compliance, Institutional Review Board (IRB), and other researcher-facing processes. RS provides grant support outlining institutional computational and storage resources, and helps facilitate use of ACCESS resources. RS provides storage services specified for high availability, HPC, sharing and collaboration, and University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics for research data storage and computation. Workshops taught by RS staff help researchers discover and use the services.

The senior director will work hand-in-hand with ITS and OneIT leadership to craft and execute the vision for campus cyber infrastructure, ensuring that HPC, specialized applications, and storage services not only meet, but anticipate the evolving demands of scholars, scientists, and creative innovators. By providing strategic oversight of RS, this role will ensure the University of Iowa remains at the forefront of discovery. In this role, the ability to cultivate strategic relationships is as important as technical expertise. The senior director will serve as the key liaison to ITS leadership, research-intensive units, and national organizations, building partnerships that drive collaborative initiatives and secure funding for future growth. This role will mentor a high- performing team, set organizational goals, and manage budgets to maximize the impact of every dollar spent on research infrastructure. The senior director will oversee a budget of approximately $2.8 million. This position is eligible for hybrid work within Iowa, with the expectation that the senior director will be onsite at least 1-2 times per week.

Leadership opportunities, preferred and desired qualifications, and additional information about the position and University of Iowa can be found in the position profile: https://www.agbsearch.com/searches/senior-director-of-research-services-university-of-iowa

AGB Search is pleased to assist the University of Iowa with this leadership search. To apply for the senior director of research services position, candidates are requested to submit the following: a resume; a letter of interest that addresses how the candidate’s experiences and qualifications connect with the required/preferred characteristics and priorities as expressed in this position profile; and contact information for five references (to be contacted with candidate’s permission at a later date), with an indication of your relation to each reference.

For best consideration, applications should be submitted by Oct. 31, 2025 to the AGB search portal . The search will remain open until an appointment is made. Nominations and expressions of interest in the position are encouraged. Please direct them to [email protected] or the AGB Search consultants listed below:

Margaret Plympton, Ed.D. Principal [email protected] / 484.554.4542

Kimberly Templeton, JD Principal [email protected] / 540.761.9494

Anne Hoffman Executive Search Associate [email protected] / 805.490.9161

Successful candidates will be required to self-disclose any conviction history and will be subject to a criminal background check and credential/education verification.

The University of Iowa is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment free from discrimination on the basis of race, creed, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, pregnancy (including childbirth and related conditions), disability, genetic information, status as a U.S. veteran, service in the U.S. military, sexual orientation, or associational preferences. Persons with disabilities who need assistance or accommodations with the application or interview process may contact University Human Resources/Faculty and Staff Disability Services, (319) 335-2660 or [email protected].