Director of Translational Research Operations

Trustees of University of Pennsylvania; Philadelphia (Philadelphia County); Presencial; USD 150 000 - 210 000; Tempo integral

Resumo da oferta

University of Pennsylvania seeks a Director for the Translational Research Unit to bridge scientific research with business goals. You will lead operational workflows, manage budgets, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver clinically actionable outputs.

The role requires strategic leadership, staff management, and the ability to translate complex science into robust operational pipelines that support financial sustainability and high-quality services.

Qualificações

• Bachelor of Science degree required.
• 7–10 years of experience in translational research or related field.

Responsabilidades

• Manage Translational Research Unit staff including hiring and onboarding.
• Develop business and product strategies; align goals with the Director of Immune Health to the Translational Unit.
• Collaborate with Finance to update service rates, oversee billing, and provide quarterly expenditure/revenue reports.
• Serve as primary contact for internal/external investigators using Translational Research Unit services; ensure smooth study planning and onboarding.
• Establish and oversee QA/QC protocols; ensure data are recorded, organized, and stored; create and oversee project trackers.
• Identify improvements to enhance robustness, quality, and efficiency across the sample lifecycle; work with Processing/Platforms leads.
• Lead development of the client-facing website and tracking system for clinical cohorts; collaborate with data infrastructure.
• Work with R&D to develop new services; partner with communications to create marketing materials; draft MOUs for external partners.

Formação académica

Bachelor of Science

Descrição da oferta de emprego

University Overview

The University of Pennsylvania, the largest private employer in Philadelphia, is a world-renowned leader in education, research, and innovation. This historic, Ivy League school consistently ranks among the top 10 universities in the annual U.S. News & World Report survey. Penn has 12 highly-regarded schools that provide opportunities for undergraduate, graduate and continuing education, all influenced by Penn's distinctive interdisciplinary approach to scholarship and learning. As an employer Penn has been ranked nationally on many occasions with the most recent award from Forbes who named Penn one of America's Best Large Employers in 2023.

Penn offers a unique working environment within the city of Philadelphia. The University is situated on a beautiful urban campus, with easy access to a range of educational, cultural, and recreational activities. With its historical significance and landmarks, lively cultural offerings, and wide variety of atmospheres, Philadelphia is the perfect place to call home for work and play.

The University offers a competitive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare and tuition benefits for employees and their families, generous retirement benefits, a wide variety of professional development opportunities, supportive work and family benefits, a wealth of health and wellness programs and resources, and much more.

Posted Job Title

Director of Translational Research Operations

Job Profile Title

Director D, Research

Job Description Summary

The Institute for Immunology and Immune Health (I3H) at the University of Pennsylvania aims to translate immune data into clinically actionable measurements, drive new discoveries, and shift paradigms of clinical care. I3H is seeking a Director for the Translational Research Unit who bridges scientific research with business and commercial goals.

This position serves as a senior leader responsible for developing operational workflows for routine scientific outputs, managing budgets, overseeing projects from conception to completion, and collaborating with cross‑functional teams. The Director will translate complex scientific deliverables into robust operational pipelines to ensure financial sustainability, scientific integrity, and professionalism.

The Director will manage the Translational Research Unit staff, develop and implement strategic objectives aligned with the larger goals of Immune Health, and support financial management and growth of the service center. This includes identifying and proposing improvements to enhance robustness, quality, and efficiency throughout the sample lifecycle; collaborating on service rate development and billing oversight; establishing QA/QC protocols; establishing and ensuring digital chain of custody for samples; and serving as the primary point‑of‑contact for internal and external investigators. The individual should have proven experience in organizational growth, change leadership, and building high‑functioning teams, preferably in a biomedical science environment. The individual should have exceptional communication and relationship‑building skills with the ability to represent the organization effectively at local, national, and global levels.

Job Responsibilities

• Manage a team of operations and scientific professionals, setting and monitoring goals, addressing performance challenges, and overseeing hiring and onboarding for Translational Research Unit staff.
• Develop business and product strategies; work with the Director of Immune Health to align goals and strategy of the Translational Unit with overall goals of Immune Health.
• Collaborate with the Director of Finance to develop updated service rates, oversee billing for services, and provide quarterly reports capturing itemized expenditures and revenue.
• Serve as point‑of‑contact for internal and external investigators interested in using Translational Research Unit services; ensure seamless communication for new study planning and onboarding.
• Establish and oversee QA and QC protocols for each service in the Translational Research Unit, ensuring data is routinely recorded, organized, and stored; create and oversee project trackers.
• Identify and propose improvements to enhance robustness, quality, and efficiency throughout the sample lifecycle, working with the Assistant Directors of Processing and Platforms.
• Lead conceptual development and maintenance of client‑facing website; develop internal‑and‑external‑facing tracking system for clinical cohorts and services in collaboration with the data infrastructure team.
• Work collaboratively with the Director of R&D to develop and implement new services; partner with communications staff to develop marketing materials; draft and negotiate MOUs for external partners.

Qualifications

Bachelor of Science and 7 to 10 yea