Senior Director, Research Operations & Academic Space Strategy

The Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy; Medford (MA); On-site; USD 144,000 - 216,000; Full time

Job summary

The Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University seeks a Senior Director of Research Operations and Academic Space Management to lead strategic planning, space governance, and facilities operations across AS&E. You will collaborate with faculty, school leaders, and campus partners to optimize research space, labs, and classrooms in support of program growth and teaching excellence.

The role requires a Ph.D.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in biology, chemistry, engineering, or related field.
• 5+ years in research operations, lab management, or space planning.
• Experience supervising staff and coordinating across units.
• Experience in higher education or research-intensive environments.
• Proficiency with MS Office and space management tools.

Responsibilities

• Lead ASM team and manage space planning and governance.
• Oversee budgets, administration, and service delivery for research spaces.
• Partner with Campus Planning, Facilities, UIT, and safety teams on projects.
• Analyze space utilization, occupancy, and reporting to support decision making.
• Advise leadership on strategy, compliance, safety, and institutional priorities.

Skills

Leadership

Project management

Facilities management

Research operations

Communication

MS Office

Data analysis

Education

Ph.D. in Biology, Chemistry, Engineering, or related field

Tools

Archibus

Job description

The Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University seeks a Senior Director of Research Operations and Academic Space Management to lead strategic planning, space governance, and facilities operations across AS&E. You will collaborate with faculty, school leaders, and campus partners to optimize research space, labs, and classrooms in support of program growth and teaching excellence.

The role requires a Ph.D.