Cancer Center - Supervisor Research Operations

Houston Methodist; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Houston Methodist is seeking a Supervisor of Research Operations to guide the administration of the Houston Methodist Academic Institute department, including planning, budgeting, and grant management to advance strategic goals.

The role oversees staff, supports funding opportunities, ensures compliance, and partners with leadership and faculty to drive efficient operations and high-quality research support.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a Health Science, Business or related field.
• Two years of healthcare professional/administrative/laboratory or research experience, with progressive responsibility.

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily department operations, schedules, and activities; ensure quality and staff development.
• Assist with planning, budgeting, staffing, and policies to maintain safe, compliant operations.
• Support grant funding opportunities and manage grant submissions, tracking, and reporting.
• Communicate with leadership and faculty; support performance improvement and reporting.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Critical thinking

English proficiency

Team collaboration

Problem solving

Adaptability

Risk assessment

Project management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Health Science or Business

Job description

At Houston Methodist, the Supervisor of Research Operations position is responsible for impacting the management, planning, development, budget, and other administrative activities of a Houston Methodist Academic Institute (HMAI) department. This position assists with planning, managing and monitoring operations to support the activities of the department. The supervisor may be responsible for facilitation of grant funding opportunities to secure extramural funding that drives progress toward long-term strategic goals. They will support and oversee the submission, approval, tracking, and reporting of grant applications. The supervisor will support, prepare and analyze research financial activity and communicate with leadership and faculty.

The supervisor position responsibilities include overseeing the daily work activities of the work unit/department staff, ensuring quality, productivity, functional excellence, and efficiency. This position trains and supervises staff while maintaining adequate staffing levels and budget compliance. The supervisor position contributes to staffing decisions such as hiring, coaching, and counseling employees on work-related performance. This position assists in the development and implementation of policies and procedures to ensure a safe and effective work environment. This position also implements training, monitoring and operations initiatives that secure compliance with ethical and legal business practices and accreditation/regulatory/ government regulations. Other duties of the supervisor include participating in performance improvement activities and providing support for department management to achieve operational goals. This position may also perform staff duties and responsibilities as needed.

FLSA STATUS

Exempt

QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION

• Bachelor's degree in a Health Science, Business or related field

EXPERIENCE

• Two years of experience within a healthcare professional/administrative/laboratory or research setting of which one year must be in a role with progressive responsibility

SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Demonstrates the skills and competencies necessary to safely perform the assigned job, determined through on-going skills, competency assessments, and performance evaluations
• Sufficient proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing the English language necessary to perform the essential functions of this job, especially with regard to activities impacting patient or employee safety or security
• Ability to effectively communicate through a variety of channels with physicians, sponsors, and co-workers in a manner consistent with a customer service focus and application of positive language principles; engages the recipient(s) and helps them understand and retain the message
• Demonstrates the ability to interact with others in a way that gives them confidence in one’s intentions and those of the organization
• Demonstrates leadership qualities and critical thinking through self-direction initiative, effective interpersonal skills, and oral/written communication skills
• Ability to identify and understand issues, problems and opportunities; and recommend solutions
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment
• Demonstrates flexibility and adaptability in the workplace
• Evaluates project risk, critical path, and scope change to for all projects

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

PEOPLE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Participates in management responsibilities of selection, scheduling, supervision, retention, and evaluation of employees in the department. Provides development and mentoring of staff. Ensures that all department staff are properly trained and comply with all policies and procedures. Assists with meeting or exceeding threshold goal for department turnover.
• Consults with department leadership on coaching/corrective counseling and staff performance to achieve desired outcomes. Conducts new hire feedback sessions and provides recognition/commendations, as appropriate.
• Creates and maintains an environment of collaboration by role modeling teamwork within the department. Effectively interacts within and between departments ensuring seamless flow of information/communication. Role models clear and professional communication to facilitate problem resolution to achieve mutual understanding. Teaches others to critically think by verbally expressing rationale for decisions and follows up consistently.

SERVICE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Oversees daily department operations, schedule and activities. Sets priorities and functional standards, giving direction to staff as necessary to ensure the best possible delivery of service and high customer/patient satisfaction.
• Organizes the workflow, proactively problem solves, anticipates needs, and manages multiple ongoing priorities. Provides reports to management of needs, issues to be addressed, and all-important information necessary to ensure department success. Serves and actively participates on various committees as directed.
• Serves as the principal contact for other subject‑matter experts to achieve project milestones and deliverables.

QUALITY/SAFETY ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Ensures a safe and effective working environment; assists in monitoring and/or revising the department safety plan and/or any specific accreditation/regulatory agency required safety guidelines.
• Uses and optimizes information systems to enhance operations; participates in performance improvement and data management/analysis functions as directed.
• Employs a proactive approach in the optimization of positive outcomes by monitoring and improving the department workflow, supporting peer-to-peer accountability, and identifying solutions via collaboration. Role models situational awareness, using teachable moments to improve safety. Participates in investigations as a result of the root cause analysis process as assigned by manager.
• Monitors self and ensures employee compliance with policies, procedures, and System HR Standards of Practice and performs associated actions upon non-compliance (i.e., focal point review requirements, disaster plan, in-services, influenza immunization, wage and hour, standard hours, timely termination submission, timely timecard approval, etc.).

FINANCE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Assists in the management of essential and non-essential department expenditures to achieve financial target through optimization of productivity, supply/resource efficiency, minimizing incidental overtime and overtime percentage, and other areas according to department specifications.
• Manages staffing needs including scheduling, time off requests and time keeping. Utilizes resources with cost effectiveness and value creation in mind. Self-motivated to independently manage time effectively and prioritize daily tasks, assisting coworkers as needed.

GROWTH/INNOVATION ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Implements change, demonstrating the ability to motivate employees and follow through to ensure change in behavior has actually occurred. Supports Houston Methodist and department goals and vision. Identifies industry trends and implements innovative solutions for practice or workflow changes to improve department operations.
• Develops skills of team members and continually assists with improving competencies, performance and outcomes. Fosters a positive and constructive teaching environment by engaging staff/team members in learning opportunities that are valuable and in alignment with business objectives. Conducts conversations with staff on their development and My Development Plan (MDP).
• Seeks opportunities to identify self-developmental needs and takes appropriate action. Ensures own career discussions occur with appropriate management. Completes and updates MDP on an on-going basis.

SUPPLEMENTAL REQUIREMENTS

WORK ATTIRE

• Uniform: No
• Scrubs: No
• Business professional: Yes
• Other (department approved): No

ON-CALL*

*Note that employees may be required to be on-call during emergencies (i.e. Disaster, Severe Weather Events, etc) regardless of selection below.

• On Call* No

TRAVEL**

**Travel specifications may vary by department**

• May require travel within the Houston Metropolitan area Yes
• May require travel outside Houston Metropolitan area No

QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION

• Bachelor's degree in a Health Science, Business or related field

EXPERIENCE

• Two years of experience within a healthcare professional/administrative/laboratory or research setting of which one year must be in a role with progressive responsibility