Job Details
This position has been deemed critical by the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability Dean’s Office and is exempt from the hiring pause.
This position is based on Stanford’s main campus with consideration given to the option for a hybrid work schedule (partially onsite 3 or more days a week), subject to operational need. Interested candidates must include a resume and cover letter to be considered for this position.
Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa.
About Us
The Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability strives to create a future when humans and nature thrive in concert and in perpetuity. The school is made up of a three-part structure to drive global impact: Our academic departments and programs educate students and create new knowledge across areas of research that are crucial for advancing the long-term prosperity of the planet and people; Institutes bridge scholarship at Stanford and beyond, bringing multiple viewpoints to bear on urgent challenges; The Sustainability Accelerator drives new policy and technology solutions through a worldwide network of partners who work with our teams to develop solutions at a global scale. The school is dedicated to creating and supporting a community with the richness of experience and background needed to create solutions that benefit all people, particularly those most affected by environmental damage and climate change.
For more information on the school, click here.
We are seeking a full-time Director of Shared Research Laboratory Operations to facilitate and oversee various laboratory and research operations while providing leadership and coordination for a range of technical and analytical facilities that serve both the school and university community. If you are a highly motivated self-starter, who has advanced technical credentials with the ability to collaborate effectively across organizations and provide administrative leadership to technical staff, this position may be the right fit for you.
Your Responsibilities will include:
- Partner with the Shared Research Laboratories faculty co-chairs to manage and coordinate the operations of the shared analytical facilities across the school.
- For each shared analytical facility, collaborate with the supervising PI and lab manager on the administrative, financial, and technical capability of the lab.
- In partnership with supervising PIs, supervise lab managers, including coordinating and participating in annual performance reviews and approving leave. May independently or in collaboration with HR, guide faculty supervisors in the interpretation and implementation of human resources policies and procedures.
- Develop staffing plans for new labs, and manage staffing needs across shared labs, making sure there is adequate coverage.
- Provide oversight of budget development for shared labs in partnership with lab managers; develop budget plan and associated documentation to school leadership (COO and Senior Associate Dean for Research), and the finance team.
- Lead recruiting activities for shared lab staff; oversee onboarding of new lab managers.
- Work with the Shared Laboratories faculty co-chairs, the Shared Laboratories Advisory Committee, and the supervising PIs, to identify ageing instrumentation and new capabilities and develop plans to prioritize funding these improvements.
- Analyze and resolve issues and provide alternative solutions as necessary. Lead process improvement for shared labs operations.
- Work with faculty leadership when assessing incoming faculty’s lab needs.
- In partnership with campus Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S), ensure shared labs follow Stanford, state and federal EH&S requirements. Serve as the University Safety Partner for SDSS shared laboratories.
- Facilitate future vision meetings with supervising PI(s) and lab managers.
- Coordinate proposal development and prioritization (through competitive analysis) for future funding; coordinate school C-ShaRP submission with Senior Associate Dean of Research.
- Develop and manage shared lab main budgets; work with individual lab managers on budgeting and rate-setting.
In addition to the minimum qualifications listed below, our preferred qualifications include:
- A PhD in a scientific or engineering field and experience working in analytical laboratories, including wet and dry labs with procedures for analysis of aqueous, gaseous and solid samples.
- Strong relationship-building abilities with a history of effectively leading diverse teams, facilitating collaboration among faculty and staff, and addressing personnel issues with diplomacy and tact at a research university.
- Experience with/or having instructed undergraduate and graduate students or post-doctoral researchers in a broad spectrum of laboratory-based research methodologies.
- Experience managing either scientific research, computational, or engineering facilities.
- Demonstrated knowledge of laboratory operations, budget management, financial forecasting, compliance with EH&S regulations and strategic resource allocation within a research or academic setting.
- Excellent planning and organizational skills
- Working knowledge of accounting, budget planning and financial forecasting.
- Working knowledge of grants and contract administration
- Strong knowledge of industry safety standards and/or regulatory requirements.
- Ability to multi-task and manage deadlines.
- Subject matter expertise in shared labs and/or research lab operations.
- Ability to influence and establish effective working relationships in a diverse scientific environment.
Working Conditions:
May require extended hours, evenings and weekends.
The expected pay range for this position is $160,000 to $205,000 per annum.
Responsibilities
Core Duties:
- Provide strategic planning for own work group; participate with senior managers in higher level strategic planning. Communicate operational objectives and assignments and delegate to staff.
- Manage the daily operations of a assigned area(s) which include recruiting, hiring, training, developing, evaluating and setting priorities of staff; coordinate business, technical, and educational activities for direct reports.
- Oversee interdepartmental activities, projects and efforts by applying advanced technical and professional knowledge. Serve as the initial managerial escalation point for problems from clients and other staff.
- Manage project budgets, schedules, and resources. Oversee preparation of periodic financial and technical reports and operating plans.
- Interface with clients to determine project requirements. Establish service level agreements with clients.
- Monitor scientific, engineering and/or technology trends and evaluate emerging technologies to recommend for adoption and implementation.
- Communicate and implement policies, procedures, best practices, recommendations and guidelines in compliance with established University administrative policies and procedures.
Minimum Education and Experience
Bachelor’s degree and five years of relevant experience, or combination of education and relevant experience. Advanced degree may be required.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
- Experience leading or overseeing the work of technical staff.
- Understanding of relevant scientific, engineering, or technical disciplines.
- Ability to problem solve.
- Ability to synthesize and articulate technical and scientific methodologies, specifications, and information.
- Experience leading scientific, engineering, or technical research projects or programs.
- Knowledge of emerging technologies, trends, methodologies, and resource management principles.
- Ability to work and communicate effectively with others.
- Strong customer relationship and consensus building skills.
- Ability to influence and establish effective working relationships in a diverse environment.
- Ability to resolve issues quickly and make decisions that meet university objectives in a collaborative culture.