Director of Operations and Outreach, CLP

Department: CLP - Chemistry of Life Proc
Salary/Grade: EXS/10

For full consideration, please submit both a resume and cover letter with your application.

Job Summary:

The Director of Operations and Outreach (DOO) leads the strategic business management and tactical operation of the Chemistry of Life Process Institute. The DOO innovates, implements and continually enhances the Institute's programs and plans to ensure excellence at all levels. Proactively interfacing with Institute senior management, executive committee and advisory board, the DOO manages current initiatives and long-term planning in support of the Institute's education, research and outreach mission. The DOO fosters the collaborative spirit of the institute with alliances both internal and external to the University.

This position will support the Faculty Director, as described above. The mission of The Chemistry of Life Processes is three-fold: 1) To lead the world in a proteomics revolution that will catalyze a new wave of innovation in protein chemistry and biology, 2) To converge powerful proteomics and chemical biology platforms with clinical insights to precisely define high value protein targets that will accelerate drug discovery and translation for cancer and neurodegenerative diseases and 3) To train the next generation of scientific leaders at the interface of chemistry and biology. Staff within the Institute support this mission and are an integral part of the Institute's success.

Specific responsibilities include: multidisciplinary research institute development, strategic and operations planning, staff hiring and cross-functional team development, oversight of research administration, budget and financial operations, research and interdisciplinary program development and implementation, fund raising collaboration, public-private sector partnership development (with the university's central offices, including global alliances), executive and board-level engagement, communications and marketing team management; creative/proactive ideas and strategy input and support.

Specific Responsibilities:

Management of Operations

• Develops the vision, mission and operating principles of institute.
• Creates and maintains the infrastructure operating plan and process to enable efficient operations and compliance with University and funding agency policy.
• Orchestrates and coordinates activities of many people in various departments to provide seamless support for the Institute's operations and research programs.
• Determines the staff organization structure and supervises the recruitment, hiring, training and performance management of any new administrative staff. Continually stays abreast of external regulations.
• Manages capital and operating budget planning, purchasing and payroll expenditures, and regular reconciliation and reporting to ensure sound financial/fiscal management.
• Manages administrative aspects of space planning and other resource deployment.
• Coordinates with other budgeting units within the University.

Internal and External Relations

• Works with the Director and leadership team to support the Institute's growth, development, and expand internal and external relationships
• Interacts with faculty and administration at NU, funding agencies, and university collaborators to ensure smooth execution of the center's/institute's initiatives.
• Serves as liaison to Northwestern's upper administration and central offices throughout the university; engages partners at other universities as needed.
• Initiates and nurtures regular, productive communication with faculty directors, executive committee, advisory board and sponsors.
• Assists the Director in the preparation of information reports, analyses, financial statements and programmatic presentations as required sponsor, federal government, Director, Advisory Committee, and participating Universities
• Proactively engages other NU centers, institutes, departments, and school partners.

Strategic Planning

• Manages & implements strategic operation plans.
• Reviews plans, meets with leadership & key faculty & staff, & recommends changes & improvements to administrative operations to better meet organizational needs & objectives.
• Oversees existing programs; develops and implements new programs; coordinates extensive outreach activities
• Fulfills reporting requirements of various NU offices
• Facilitates translational opportunities and develops relationships involving industry partners in coordination with COI and INVO

Research Development, Proposal and Award Management

• Provides high level research administration and oversees an extensive and complex sponsored research portfolio.
• Oversees submission process and facilitates a large volume of proposal submissions in collaboration with multiple external partners, departments, OSR, and other units.
• Meets with faculty during planning stages to develop logistical plan for submission of proposal.
• Liaises with OSR at early stages and throughout proposal preparation.
• Manages ongoing administrative relationships with funding agencies and many external sponsored research partners.
• Oversees compliance and manages a large, diverse portfolio of awards.
• Ensures reporting requirements of sponsors are fulfilled.

Supervisory:

• May supervise staff &/or provide work direction to others.

Miscellaneous

Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's in business, accounting or a related field with 5 or more years' experience in administrative or supervisory capacity with exposure to a combination of budgets, finance, grant administration, facilities, staff supervision, &/or human resources.
• 5+ year's management experience with progressively larger responsibilities.
• Interest in the business of higher education and research.
• Knowledge of Word, Excel and PowerPoint or similar packages; familiarity with web development.

Minimum Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities.)

• Proven communication, interpersonal and analytic skills.
• Adept at project management. Ability to work under pressure, prioritize and meet deadlines.
• Demonstrated competency in organization management and financial stewardship.
• Proactive, energetic, innovative.
• Ability to work independently and yet is an accomplished team player.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree in Business Administration or a PhD in a relevant science, technology, or engineering discipline.
• Knowledgeable on proteomics or related field as applies to Center mission
• Previous management experience in a university environment.
• Experience in grant functions including proposal development, award management close-out.

Preferred Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities)

• Working knowledge of Northwestern University systems such as NUFinancials, Cognos, InfoEd, financial forecasting, basic intellectual property principles, granting agency policies and processes.

Target hiring range for this position will be between $100,000-$115,000 per year. Offered salary will be determined by the applicant's education, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data

Benefits:

At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful and competitive benefits. The available benefits package for this position will include health, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance; paid vacation and holidays; paid medical/sick and parental leave; tuition benefits for the employee and dependents; pre-tax and flex spending accounts for commuting and dependent care; generous retirement savings options; and wellness programs. For a comprehensive overview of available benefits, including eligibility details, visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/index.html to learn more.

Work-Life and Wellness:
Northwestern offers comprehensive programs and services to help you and your family navigate life's challenges and opportunities, and adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles.
We support flexible work arrangements where possible and programs to help you locate and pay for quality, affordable childcare and senior/adult care. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/work-life/index.html to learn more.

Professional Growth & Development:
Northwestern supports employee career development in all circumstances whether your workspace is on campus or at home. If you're interested in developing your professional potential or continuing your formal education, we offer a variety of tools and resources. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/learning/index.html to learn more.

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected characteristics, including disability and veteran status. View Northwestern's non-discrimination statement. Job applicants who wish to request an accommodation in the application or hiring process should contact the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance. View additional information on the accommodations process.

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