Associate Director, Cleanroom

Yale Cancer Center; New Haven (CT); On-site; USD 92,000 - 146,750; Full time

Job summary

Yale University Cleanroom is seeking an Associate Cleanroom Director to lead daily operations across multiple facilities, supervise technical staff, and ensure safety and regulatory compliance.

You will guide process development, equipment deployment, and facility transitions including planned expansion, while collaborating with faculty, vendors, and administration to advance research capabilities.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. or equivalent in physical sciences or engineering with 5+ years in academic cleanroom.
• Master’s degree and five years of related experience.
• Experience supervising technical staff and coordinating facilities.

Responsibilities

• Oversee training and mentorship for users.
• Lead complex research projects in the core.
• Manage equipment projects and facility upgrades.
• Develop and implement new technologies.
• Analyze data and provide insights.
• Procure and maintain core equipment.
• Support budget planning and cost recovery.
• Engage with faculty, researchers, vendors.
• Mentor junior staff.
• Collaborate with senior leadership.
• Support strategic plans and budgets.
• Oversee vendor partnerships.
• Develop outreach and tours.

Skills

Semiconductor fabrication

Staff mentorship

Lab operations safety

Project management

Technical communication

Education

Master's Degree in related discipline

Ph.D. or equivalent

Job description

Position Focus

Yale University Cleanroom is an advanced research core facility supporting a rapidly expanding portfolio of interdisciplinary research in areas including quantum devices, photonics, integrated optics, organic and flexible electronics, microfluidics, MEMS, advanced materials, and emerging nanotechnologies for faculty and students across the university. The core maintains a comprehensive and continually evolving suite of state-of-the-art micro- and nanofabrication instrumentation enabling cutting-edge research and innovation across the University. Reporting to the University Cleanroom Director, the Associate Cleanroom Director serves as a senior operational and technical leader supporting Yale's cleanroom enterprise, including activities within both the Becton Cleanroom on central campus and the West Campus Cleanroom. The Associate Director is responsible for supporting the operation and continued development of these shared research cores, including daily operations, technical staff supervision, laboratory safety and regulatory compliance, user training and certification, process development, and the maintenance, acquisition, installation, and commissioning of advanced instrumentation and facility infrastructure. Looking ahead, the Cleanroom is poised for a major leap forward with the planned transition of the Becton Cleanroom into an expanded, approximately 12,000-square-foot facility in Yale's new Physical Sciences and Engineering Building (PSEB) in late 2029. This exciting development is expected to significantly enhance research capacity, foster new interdisciplinary collaborations, and further elevate Yale's advanced fabrication capabilities. The Associate Director will play a key role in supporting operational planning, equipment deployment, user readiness, and facility transition activities associated with this expansion.

The Associate Director works closely with faculty, researchers, students, facilities personnel, Environmental Health and Safety staff, university administration, vendors, contractors, and external partners to ensure the facilities operate safely, efficiently, and sustainably while delivering exceptional technical capabilities and research support. The role is critical to supporting high-impact interdisciplinary research and maintaining a high level of operational and technical excellence. The Associate Director provides advanced technical leadership, mentorship, and hands-on expertise in micro- and nanofabrication processes including photolithography, physical and chemical vapor deposition, wet chemical processing, reactive ion etching, metrology, and back-end processing/packaging. The position requires deep technical knowledge to support process integration, equipment evaluation and selection, installation and qualification of new tools, troubleshooting of complex fabrication challenges, and continuous improvement of facility capabilities and user support. Equally important are strong administrative and organizational skills, including project coordination, team collaboration and guidance while supporting initiatives that advance facility growth and modernization. This role will also provide budget tracking and operational support, cost-recovery/recharge support, and vendor/contractor coordination.

Required Skills and Abilities

• 1. Demonstrated expertise in semiconductor and micro/nanofabrication processes including photolithography, thin film deposition, chemical processing, dry etching, vacuum systems, metrology, and related cleanroom operations.
• 2. Proven ability to supervise and mentor technical staff, manage operations across multiple cleanroom facilities, coordinate contractors and vendors, and foster a collaborative, service-oriented research environment.
• 3. Strong knowledge of laboratory operations, cleanroom infrastructure, environmental health and safety requirements, hazardous materials handling, and regulatory compliance in a research environment.
• 4. Ability to manage complex technical projects including equipment acquisition, installation, facility upgrades, budgeting, cost estimation, process implementation, and long-term infrastructure planning.
• 5. Excellent interpersonal and technical communication skills with the ability to train and mentor users, collaborate with faculty and researchers, troubleshoot technical challenges, and support interdisciplinary research initiatives.

Preferred Education, Experience and Skills

Ph.D. or equivalent physical sciences or engineering with 5+ years working in an academic cleanroom setting.

Principal Responsibilities

• 1. User Training: Refine training methodologies and train and mentor users of the research core, providing guidance and expertise.
• 2. Experiment Support: Collaborate closely with researchers and lead complex projects requiring customized solutions within the research core.
• 3. Facility/Instrument Support: Lead and manage research projects within the research core.
• 4. Technique Development: Contribute to the development of research strategies within the research core and evaluate and implement cutting-edge technologies and methodologies.
• 5. Data Analysis/Interpretation: Analyze and interpret complex scientific data, providing critical insights and recommendations.
• 6. Equipment Procurement: Assist in the evaluation, acquisition, and maintenance of research core equipment.
• 7. Professional Development: Stay updated with emerging research trends and technologies. Participate and present in professional development activities and scientific conferences, representing the research core at conferences and events.
• 8. Scientific Participation: Collaborate with users on manuscript preparation and grant proposals, as applicable.
• 9, Staff Training and Mentoring: Mentor and support junior staff members in their professional growth.
• 10. Leadership: Collaborate with senior core leadership on research core-related initiatives.
• 11. Finance and Admin: Support the Core Director with development and implementation of strategic plans and budgets for the research core.
• 12. Vendor Relations: Oversees strategic vendor partnerships, manages negotiations, and evaluates vendor performance for the research core.
• 13. Education and Outreach: Develop education and outreach activities within the core, including tours, events, etc.

Required Education and Experience

Master's Degree in a related discipline and five years of related experience or an equivalent combination of skills, education, and experience.

Job Posting Date

07/24/2026

Job Category

Professional

Bargaining Unit

NON

Compensation Grade

Administration & Operations

Compensation Grade Profile

Manager; Program Leader (26)

Salary Range

$92,000.00 - $146,750.00

Time Type

Full time

Duration Type

Staff

Work Model

On-site

Background Check Requirements

All candidates for employment will be subject to pre-employment background screening for this position, which may include motor vehicle, DOT certification, drug testing and credit checks basedon the position description and job requirements. All offers are contingent upon the successful completion of the background check. For additional information on the background check requirements and process visit "Learn about background checks" under the Applicant Support Resources section of Careers on the It's Your Yale website.

Health Requirements

Certain positions have associated health requirements based on specific job responsibilities. These may include vaccinations, tests, or examinations, as required by law, regulation, or university policy.

Posting Disclaimer

Salary offers are determined by a candidate’s qualifications, experience, skills, and education in relation to the position requirements, along with the role’s grade profile and current internal and external market conditions.

The intent of this job description is to provide a representative summary of the essential functions that will be required of the position and should not be construed as a declaration of specific duties and responsibilities of the position. Employees will be assigned specific job-related duties throughtheir hiring department.

The University is committed to basing judgments concerning the admission, education, and employment of individuals upon their qualifications and abilities and seeks to attract to its faculty, staff, and student body qualified persons from a broad range of backgrounds and perspectives. In accordance with this policy and as delineated by federal and Connecticut law, Yale does not discriminate in admissions, educational programs, or employment against any individual on account of that individual’s sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, age, disability, status as a special disabled veteran, veteran of the Vietnam era or other covered veteran.

Inquiries concerning Yale's Policy Against Discrimination and Harassment may be referred to the Office of Institutional Equity and Accessibility (OIEA).

Note

Yale University is a tobacco-free campus.