Lead Office of Research Infrastructure Strategy and Operations
City: West lafayette
Job Description:
Job SummaryPurdue University's Office of Research is seeking a
Lead, Office of Research Infrastructure Strategy and Operations to help shape the systems and operational frameworks that support some of the university's most significant research facilities and infrastructure initiatives. This senior individual contributor role works at the intersection of strategy, operations, research administration, and organizational improvement, helping translate complex research infrastructure needs into practical solutions that enable discovery and innovation across Purdue's research enterprise.
In this role, you will collaborate with university leaders, faculty, institute directors, facility personnel, and operational partners to improve processes, governance structures, service models, and decision-making frameworks across Purdue's research infrastructure portfolio. You will lead initiatives that bring clarity to complex challenges, drive operational excellence, and support strategic investments in research facilities, interdisciplinary programs, and emerging capabilities.
The ideal candidate is a systems thinker who enjoys solving organizational challenges, building relationships across diverse stakeholder groups, and guiding initiatives from concept through implementation. Success comes through analytical insight, thoughtful influence, strong communication, and a commitment to continuous improvement rather than direct supervisory authority.
If you are motivated by creating structure from complexity and want to play a key role in advancing Purdue's world-class research mission, we invite you to explore this unique opportunity.
Our desired candidate will have demonstrated success In:- Leading complex cross-functional initiatives from problem identification through implementation, measurement, and transition to sustainable operations
- Evaluating workflows, handoffs, service gaps, recurring problems, and unclear ownership to identify root causes and improvement opportunities
- Developing and implementing operating models, governance structures, decision rights, service expectations, intake procedures, and escalation pathways
- Translating ambiguous needs and incomplete information into practical options, recommendations, implementation plans, and measurable outcomes
- Preparing business cases, options analyses, executive summaries, decision memoranda, project plans, performance measures, and leadership presentations
- Using quantitative and qualitative information to establish priorities, evaluate alternatives, support portfolio-level decisions, and build alignment across organizational boundaries
What We're Looking ForEducation and Experience Required- Bachelor's degree in industrial engineering, operations management, business or public administration, organizational leadership, planning, research administration, science, engineering
- Minimum of six (6) years of progressively responsible experience in operations strategy or improvement, process redesign, program or portfolio management, research or technical operations, institutional operations, infrastructure or space planning, service-model design, organizational change, or continuous improvement
Preferred Experience- Master's degree in business administration, engineering management, operations, public administration, organizational leadership, research administration, or a related field
- Experience in higher education, academic medicine, pharmaceutical or biotechnology operations, research institutes, government, or other technically complex organizations
- Experience with research-space governance, laboratory or specialized infrastructure, facility and infrastructure planning, capital or non-capital project development, operational readiness, performance measurement, structured process improvement, or change management
- Relevant credentials such as Lean Six Sigma, PMP, Prosci, or similar operations and program-management certifications
Skills Needed- Direct facility-management experience is not required. Candidates must be able to develop sufficient working knowledge of research facilities, space, infrastructure, and technical operating environments to collaborate effectively with subject-matter experts and institutional leaders
- Strong systems thinking, organizational problem solving, and judgment in ambiguous environments involving competing priorities, unclear ownership, and multiple stakeholder interests
- Strong program, project, and process-management discipline; relationship-building and facilitation skills; and the ability to influence across organizational boundaries
- Strong analytical skills and ability to support portfolio-level decision-making; excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills for technical and executive audiences
- Highly organized, self-directed, responsive, and able to work independently under limited supervision
- Ability to design and improve workflows, operating models, governance structures, service boundaries, escalation pathways, and performance measures; lead complex initiatives through sustainable implementation; manage interdependent initiatives; facilitate difficult conversations; balance portfolio-wide consistency with unique facility needs; and develop meaningful decision-support tools
