Penn State Job Catalog

Additional levels that exist for this job profile can be seen below.

Research Operations Managers oversee the strategic and tactical administration of large scope operations (i.e., Research Institutes); oversee operation wide projects including establishing and communicating the strategic mission and initiating and monitoring specific initiatives; represent the operation within the University on committees and other strategic planning activities; develop and implement policies and procedures, and recommend changes to improve performance specific to the unit’s/college’s mission.

• Provides leadership for a research unit, center, facility, or institute; oversee the unit’s operational functions, which may include research activities, facilities, IT, communication, compliance, and resource allocation in alignment with the direction of the unit/college’s leadership; direct the administrative infrastructure of the research unit to ensure the delivery of quality outcomes
• Collaborate with HR on the operation’s staffing, employee development, and performance management; provide leadership and mentoring to assigned employees
• Lead the implementation of strategic planning efforts including the collection, evaluation, and reporting of performance data, operational improvements, and operating procedures; ensure that research operations align with the unit’s strategic objectives for growth; accelerate innovation and commercialization opportunities
• Develop budgets, prepare financial analysis, and develop and implement financial strategies integral to strategic planning; work closely with the unit/college’s Financial Officer; provide oversight and consultation in the areas of award administration, budget development, investments, salary allocation, and grant initiatives
• Oversee purchasing for the operation; recommend and/or write requests for proposals (RFPs), review recommendations and participate in selection process
• Manage relationships with faculty, partnering departments and colleges, and external stakeholders to advance the mission of the research unit and grow the research program; collaborate with the University research community to develop new projects; pursue opportunities to secure funding, identify new sponsors, and promote the research activities of the center through presentations, workshops, and industry engagement
• Ensure health and safety standards and regulatory compliance for assigned area
• Collaborate with senior management on benchmarking program effectiveness, developing appropriate metrics, and identifying continuous process improvements

Level:

– Senior Manager

Base Description:

– Manages direct reports where primary duty is the management of a working unit.

Level Summary:

– Demonstrates advanced skills in critical functions related to unit's success. Demonstrates advanced knowledge of emerging technologies and processes. Monitors completed work of others to ensure effectiveness and adherence to requirements. Sets clear expectations and holds team accountable. Establishes a shared team/unit vision. Demonstrates ability to evaluate and enhance team/unit practices that promote a strong commitment to inclusionary practices. Coaches others using appropriate strategies. Demonstrates diplomacy. Demonstrates ability to serve as liaison between senior-level management and staff. Resolves complex, controversial, or unprecedented issues and problems.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

– Oversees large team or teams of individual contributors and/or supervisors/managers
– Leads a department or functional area

Fiscal Responsibilities:

– Monitors and tracks large budgets
– Plans, forecasts, and/or develops budgets
– May approve budgets for specific area
– Typically has final signature authority for specific area

Problem Solving:

– Encounters highly varied and complex problems that impacts the team and possibly the unit
– Develops creative and/or novel approaches to resolve problems that are difficult in nature
– Independently resolves complex and/or unprecedented issues and problems

Independence of Action:

– Work results are not clearly defined
– Generally sets own goals and determines how to accomplish results with few or no guidelines to follow
– Monitors completed work of others to ensure soundness of approach, effectiveness of meeting requirements, the feasibility of recommendations and adherences to requirements
– Delegates more advanced tasks to others

Communication and Collaboration:

– Communicates with both internal and external audiences
– Collaborates closely with team members and various areas across the University
– Fosters collaboration between units and engages others' coordinated efforts to reach desired outcomes with broad scope

• Comp Grade – 14
• Minimum – $97,100.00
• MidPoint – $121,400.00
• Maximum – $145,700.00