Research Search and Recruitment Firm Services

The vendor required to provide vice president of research (“VPR”), search and recruitment firm services including, but not limited to:
•    Consult with the search committee, key university constituency groups and other stakeholders as needed to gain an understanding of the history, structure, culture, research operations, and needs of the corporation and the university. 
•    Support the search committee in the development of selection criteria. 
•    Conduct focus groups to aid in establishing the desired qualities and selection criteria for the next VPR. 
•    Identify key issues and challenges facing university in filling the position. 
•    Evaluate the competitive strengths and weaknesses of the national market for the position. 
•    Provide market intelligence regarding recent and current competing searches, candidate availability, salary and other compensation necessary to attract the best qualified candidates. 
•    Develop and execute a comprehensive recruitment strategy to identify a qualified candidate pool for the position. 
•    Prepare communications and collateral materials including position description, search profile, announcements, and supporting materials that will be used in marketing the search. 
•    Provide university and corporation with the current market trends and general salary expectations for a vice president of such a research organization considering similar non-profit research entities for universities of comparable size and complexity. 
•    Qualify, evaluate, and screen applicants to develop a list of leading candidates to present to the search committee. 
•    Obtain references and verifications of professional qualifications and certifications for the applicants. 
•    Assist the search committee with the evaluation of the candidates and providing summative evaluations of perceived strengths and weaknesses of top qualified candidates. 
•    Assist the search committee in determining which top candidates to recommend in-depth consideration and interviews. 
•    Support and assist the search committee during all candidate interviews, including arranging candidate interviews, designing recommended interview questions, preparing the search committee for interviews, executing the interview process, and assisting in the assessment process. 
•    Provide a summary overview of each committee meeting to leadership as needed. 
•    Manage all search-related administrative services, schedules, timetables, and logistics for the recruitment and selection process. 
•    Develop a “landing page” or “dashboard” to host candidates’ completed questionnaires and resumes that is password protected and accessible only to designated persons.
•    Assist university in developing and negotiating an offer of employment and transition plan for the position. 
•    Provide professional notification to all candidates of decisions made, including candidate notification for those who have been eliminated from consideration. 
•    Guarantee the placement for a period of eighteen (18) months, beginning on the start date of the appointment. 
•    If a placed candidate is terminated by the institution during the first eighteen (18) months of employment, the firm will conduct a new search to replace the candidate with no additional fee to university, charging only actual expenses incurred. 
•    The placed candidate will be considered “off-limits” for future recruitment by firm during the placed candidate’s initial contract term at university. 
•    Maintain confidentiality of communications with candidates, the search committee, and any other university representatives or personnel. 
•    Provide these services in accordance with industry’s best practices and in a fair, impartial, and structured manner to ensure that university receives the best candidates for the position. 
•    Provide a plan for mitigating a failed search. 
•    Provide other customary and necessary services the university may require in connection with the search. 
•    Firm shall maintain all documents relating to the search efforts according to the university retention schedule and shall make those documents readily available to university upon its request.