Research Operational Excellence Manager

University of Kentucky; Lexington, Northern (KY, KY); Hybrid; USD 85,000 - 135,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Kentucky is seeking a Research Operational Excellence Manager to lead Lean and continuous-improvement efforts across Research Administration. This role acts as the internal Lean facilitator, partnering with leadership, faculty and staff to improve service delivery, reduce administrative burden, and enhance operational effectiveness in support of the university’s research mission.

Responsibilities include developing governance for process mapping, leading cross-functional

Qualifications

• Experience applying Lean and continuous improvement in an academic or research administration setting.
• Experience leading cross-functional initiatives and influencing stakeholders at multiple levels.
• Ability to develop and communicate performance metrics and dashboards.
• Excellent communication and change-management skills.
• Knowledge of process mapping, analysis, redesign, and implementation techniques.
• 5 years of related experience in improvement roles.
• Ability to drive organizational transformation through coaching and leadership.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a comprehensive Lean and continuous improvement strategy across Research Administration.
• Lead enterprise-wide improvement initiatives that enhance service delivery, reduce inefficiencies, improve cycle times, and strengthen operational effectiveness.
• Facilitate cross-functional process improvement efforts, fostering collaboration and scalable approaches to organizational change.
• Establish methodologies, standards, and governance for process mapping, analysis, redesign, and implementation.
• Lead complex process analyses to identify waste, bottlenecks, redundancies, and opportunities for sustainable improvement.
• Oversee enterprise change management efforts, including stakeholder engagement, communication planning, readiness, adoption, and reinforcement strategies.
• Establish performance measurement frameworks, key performance indicators, executive reporting, and benefit realization methodologies.
• Lead and govern a portfolio of transformation and continuous improvement projects, ensuring alignment with organizational priorities and successful implementation.
• Develop organizational capability in Lean methodologies through coaching, education, communities of practice, and workforce development programs.

Skills

Lean principles

Continuous improvement

Project management

Stakeholder engagement

Change management

Data analytics

Process improvement

Organizational transformation

Job description

Click here for more information about equivalencies:

Required License/Registration/Certification

None

Physical Requirements

Sitting for long periods of time. Repetitive movements common with office work.

Shift

Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m.

Job Summary

Lead Enterprise-Wide Continuous Improvement in Research Administration

The University of Kentucky is seeking a Research Operational Excellence Manager to join the Research Administration enterprise.

This position will lead the development, implementation, and sustainment of Lean principles, continuous improvement initiatives, and operational excellence strategies across Research Administration. The role serves as the organization’s internal Lean facilitator, coach, and change agent, partnering with leadership, faculty, and staff to improve service delivery, reduce administrative burden, enhance operational effectiveness, and support the university’s research mission.

What You’ll Do

• Develop and execute a comprehensive Lean and continuous improvement strategy across Research Administration.
• Lead enterprise-wide improvement initiatives that enhance service delivery, reduce inefficiencies, improve cycle times, and strengthen operational effectiveness.
• Facilitate cross-functional process improvement efforts, fostering collaboration and scalable approaches to organizational change.
• Establish methodologies, standards, and governance for process mapping, analysis, redesign, and implementation.
• Lead complex process analyses to identify waste, bottlenecks, redundancies, and opportunities for sustainable improvement.
• Oversee enterprise change management efforts, including stakeholder engagement, communication planning, readiness, adoption, and reinforcement strategies.
• Establish performance measurement frameworks, key performance indicators, executive reporting, and benefit realization methodologies.
• Lead and govern a portfolio of transformation and continuous improvement projects, ensuring alignment with organizational priorities and successful implementation.
• Develop organizational capability in Lean methodologies through coaching, education, communities of practice, and workforce development programs.

What You’ll Bring

• Expertise in Lean principles, continuous improvement methodologies, and organizational transformation.
• Strong project management, facilitation, and strategic planning skills.
• Experience leading complex cross-functional initiatives and influencing stakeholders at multiple organizational levels.
• Knowledge of process analysis, root cause analysis, process redesign, and process engineering techniques.
• Ability to develop and communicate performance metrics, dashboards, and data-driven recommendations.
• Excellent communication, leadership coaching, conflict resolution, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Strong organizational, prioritization, documentation, and change management capabilities.
• 5 years of related experience

What’s In It for You

• Opportunity to shape and advance operational excellence across a large and complex research administration enterprise.
• Ability to partner directly with research leadership and contribute to strategic institutional priorities.
• Opportunity to build a culture of continuous improvement and develop organizational capability in Lean methodologies.

Why Now?

As research activity, regulatory complexity, and service expectations continue to evolve, Research Administration is focused on improving efficiency, reducing administrative burden, and delivering consistent, high-quality support to faculty and research staff. This role will help establish the frameworks, governance, and continuous improvement culture necessary to support those priorities.

The Research Operational Excellence Manager will play a key role in advancing enterprise transformation initiatives, improving operational performance, and ensuring that process improvements remain sustainable and aligned with the University’s strategic research goals.

Skills / Knowledge / Abilities

• Lean Enterprise
• Toyota Production System
• Operational Excellence
• Process Engineering
• Quality Management
• Project Management
• Organizational Development
• Data Analytics
• Change Management

Does this position have supervisory responsibilities?

Does this position have supervisory responsibilities? No

Deadline to Apply

11/01/2026

Our University Community

We value the well-being of each of our employees and are dedicated to creating a healthy place for everyone to work, learn and live. In the interest of maintaining a safe and healthy environment for our students, employees, patients and visitors, the University of Kentucky is a Tobacco & Drug Free campus.

The University follows both the federal and state Constitutions as well as all applicable federal and state laws on nondiscrimination. The University provides equal opportunities for qualified persons in all aspects of institutional operations and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnic origin, religion, creed, age, physical or mental disability, veteran status, uniformed service, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information or social or economic status.

Any candidate offered a position may be required to pass pre-employment screenings as mandated by University of Kentucky Human Resources. These screenings may include a national background check and/or drug screen.

Posting Specific Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

• * Describe a process improvement initiative that you led or played a significant role in. What was the problem, what actions did you take, and what was the outcome?

  (Open Ended Question)

• * Describe a situation where you identified the root cause of a recurring problem. What approach did you use to analyze the issue, implement corrective actions, and ensure the improvement was sustained over time?

  (Open Ended Question)