Associate Director, Histopathology Sciences

JAX; Bar Harbor (ME); On-site; USD 114,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

JAX seeks an Associate Director for Histopathology Sciences to lead a multi-user, multi-core facility including Histology, Electron Microscopy, and Necropsy services across five campuses. You will oversee budgets, staffing, and service development while ensuring compliance and high-quality outputs.

The role requires advanced scientific knowledge, strong leadership, and excellent communication skills to work with scientists and other stakeholders in a dynamic environment.

Qualifications

• Requires Master’s Degree in a scientific field with 5+ years of research experience and 3+ years of management, or a Bachelor’s with MBA plus 5+ years of research and 3+ years of management.
• Proven leadership and staff development capabilities; strong verbal and written communication.
• Experience with budgets, forecasting, and grant writing.

Responsibilities

• Oversee core operations and manage schedules, manpower, space, and equipment to meet commitments per SOPs.
• Manage staff performance, provide training, recruit as needed, and ensure quality control.
• Coordinate administrative duties including budgets, billing, and reporting; participate in grant activities.
• Maintain user relations, communicate findings, support protocol design and data interpretation; liaise with multiple stakeholders.

Skills

Leadership

Budgeting

Forecasting

Grant writing

Communication

Interpersonal skills

Project coordination

Education

Master’s degree in a scientific field

MBA

Bachelor’s degree in a scientific field

Tools

LIMS systems

Microsoft Excel

Budgeting software

Job description

**Associate Director, Histopathology Sciences**The Histopathology Sciences (HPS) Associate Director manages a multi-user, multi-core facility that includes, but is not limited to, Clinical Chemistry, Electron Microscopy, Histology and Research Necropsy Services. This includes oversight of ~$3.0MM combined operating, R&D and capital budgets. The HPS Associate Director oversees several direct reports in all component areas, including individual core managers and supervisors and/or senior technologists. Clinical Chemistry, Histology, Electron Microscopy and Research Necropsy Service directly support multiple programs at all five JAX campuses, including research, production and diagnostic/pathology functions. Fulfilling these responsibilities requires extensive knowledge of multiple phenotyping technologies, including microscopy, sample handling/processing and the command of basic research principles as well as good leadership, management and communication skills. Oversight of this group includes staff management and guiding service development and process improvement as well as forecasting and budgeting. Added administrative responsibilities may include metric development and monitoring as well as grant applications and related reporting.**KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:*** **Managing Operations** - Overseeing operational management of cores including: + Develop/establish major schedules, project management assignments and the allocation of manpower, space and equipment to ensure departmental commitments are met in compliance with institutional standards of operation and safety. Oversee instrument and facility operations and maintenance. Facilitate troubleshooting in a timely manner. Ensure services are delivered within reasonable and established turn-around times. + Manage direct reporting staff and activity; ensure best practices are followed by core supervisors and their direct reports. Assess employee performance including written reviews, assuring technical growth and competence through goal setting and facilitated training. Recruit and train new personnel as needed. + Establish and ensure service QC . Monitor adherence to department and institutional policy; assure SOPs and best practices are identified, incorporated and followed as part of service routine.* **Administrative Duties**- Responsible for administrative aspects of service operations including: + Responsibility for the cores’ operating and capital budgets, space, technology and service expansion planning. + Develop operating and capital budgets, operate facility within budget, overseeing subsequent management for all reporting areas; provide forecasting; participate in costing. + Oversee or directly deliver activity tracking and billing activities - assuring that all required records are maintained and all billing is completed in an accurate and timely manner. + Participate in grant writing as required; responsible for grant reporting when applicable. + Serve on institutional committees as needed. + Participate in departmental planning and development.* **User Relations and Communications**- This position reports to the Executive Director of Scientific Services with input from Faculty and other major users (i.e. Pathology, Preclinical Services). Regular communication with these parties is indispensable as they provide guidance, direction and evaluation. In addition, the HPS Associate Director will: + Host Scientific Services Interest Group meetings or meet with users as needed and/or required. + Troubleshoot specific user needs. + Survey user(s) to assess satisfaction and changing needs. + Effectively communicate with scientists in protocol development & data interpretation. + Consult with users on experiment design and materials & methods optimization. + Other duties as assigned. The HPS Associate Director interacts with an extensive array of internal and external contacts; this individual may provide tours, training and other types of information to visitors such as students, visting faculty and other groups as needed.* **Service Delivery and Core Expertise**- As the subject matter expert in one or more cores, the HPS Associate Director delivers state-of-the-art services and other deliverables as needed or based on availability. The Associate Director will: + Maintain current understanding of routine and specialized practices in their field of expertise; evaluate new technology, advances and equipment. + Be involved in designing and carrying out experimental protocols for users, operating, maintaining and keeping the facility operating at an efficient and high level of productivity. Collaborate and/or assist an array of researchers with their projects; assist faculty, research support staff and students by assisting and training them as needed. + The Associate Director maintains professional certifications and/or membership in professional organizations, attends professional external meetings and applies information from those meetings to the facility operations as warranted.**KEY METRICS**Management – Cores are operated efficiently in compliance with all SOPs and safety protocols. Cores have appropriate staff, resources and equipment to deliver top quality services to users. Core personnel are tasked appropriately and provided with training and opportunity to grow in their positions.* Administration – All budgets are prepared and submitted on time; the cores are operated within budget. Accurate records are maintained and billing is carried out regularly. Reports, grants and other documents (i.e. job descriptions, performance reviews, SOPs) are prepared and submitted on time. Plans for development, expansion, succession, etc. are in place and updated.* User Relations and Communications – Users receive regular communications from the HPS Associate Director and can request new services, participate in HPS development and/or provide feedback regarding HPS services.* Service Delivery and Core Expertise - As time permits, service to users for specific projects or service development, such as introducing new technology or methodology, is provided.**MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS*** Requires technical proficiency achieved through a Master’s Degree in a scientific field (i.e. biology, chemistry, biotechnology) and minimum of 5 years of research experience in the same technical area, including 3 years management/supervisory experience OR a Bachelor’s Degree in a scientific field (i.e. biology, chemistry, biotechnology), demonstrating technical expertise within that field in addition to a Master’s Degree in Business Administration plus a minimum of 5 years of research experience in the same technical area, including 3 years management/supervisory experience.* The HPS Associate Director must have a professional approach with exceptional verbal and written communication skills. The Associate Director must thrive in a constantly changing environment and enjoy working with a diverse client base; this position requires excellent interpersonal skills to work with a variety of individuals, including technical and non-technical personnel, faculty and other service users. Must provide a flexible interface in a customer needs-driven role.* Must be experienced in budget development, planning, forecasting and grant writing. Excellent math and written skills are required. Advanced facility with computer applications/tools is essential; familiarity with LIMS applications and implementation is preferred.* Must have had prior personnel management experience including tasking, evaluation, skill building, and training and general performance management. Should be able to critically evaluate technical work products of others and identify and address process improvement opportunities. Must be an effective team builder.* Self-motivated, independent, patient and disciplined with a desire to facilitate access to core services is necessary.**Pay Range:** $113,718 - $190,388 per year, dependent upon experience.