Director, Research Operations & Core Facilities

The University Of Chicago; Chicago, Northern (IL, KY); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Chicago seeks a strategic leader to direct Research Operations for the OSRF and its 20+ core facilities. You will coordinate with faculty, core directors, and stakeholders to optimize facility management and research support while aligning with Cancer Center priorities.

Responsibilities include overseeing budgets, IT infrastructure, and external partnerships, plus driving planning, reporting, and performance analysis for continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field is required.
• 7+ years of experience in a related discipline.
• Experience in a large academic medical center or research-intensive university.

Responsibilities

• Serve as central operational lead for OSRF core facilities and projects.
• Monitor rates, turnaround times, revenue, costs, and faculty satisfaction.
• Lead facility development, master planning, and automation initiatives.
• Oversee IT/IS infrastructure and vendor collaborations for core facilities.
• Develop reports and dashboards on performance metrics for leadership.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Multi-project management

Clear communication

Mentoring & coaching

Education

Bachelor's degree in scientific field

Advanced degree in scientific field

Bachelor’s degree in research administration or engineering

Tools

IT infrastructure

Software implementations

Technical systems

Job description

The University of Chicago seeks a strategic leader to direct Research Operations for the OSRF and its 20+ core facilities. You will coordinate with faculty, core directors, and stakeholders to optimize facility management and research support while aligning with Cancer Center priorities.

Responsibilities include overseeing budgets, IT infrastructure, and external partnerships, plus driving planning, reporting, and performance analysis for continuous improvement.