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Job Title:
Manager, Research Solutions Engineering

Position Overview

The Manager, Research Solutions Engineering provides strategic and operational leadership for a team of solution engineers and relationship managers within the Enterprise for Research, Innovation, and Knowledge (ERIK) Office of Research Information Systems (ORIS). This position identifies, evaluates, and delivers technology solutions addressing challenges across the research enterprise by working at the intersection of ORIS functional teams—web development, application development, reporting, and analytics—and campus partners including center/institute research computing groups, the Office of Technology and Digital Innovation (OTDI), and Digital Security and Trust (DST).

The Manager drives cross-functional collaboration ensuring ERIK units, affiliated research centers, and university researchers receive responsive, expert-level technical guidance. This includes overseeing evaluation, implementation, and support of advanced research systems such as environmental monitoring platforms, secure computing environments, and animal management/inventory/census systems. The position provides critical support to 24/7 operational units and serves as the primary liaison and conduit between ORIS and OTDI central IT services, ensuring alignment of research technology initiatives with university-wide infrastructure, standards, and service offerings.

This role requires a leader who balances broad technical fluency with management acumen to coordinate across diverse functional areas, translating complex research and operational needs into actionable technology strategies. The Manager serves as a key liaison between ORIS, ERIK leadership, research centers/institutes, OTDI, and DST, helping shape policies, procedures, and best practices that advance the university’s research mission.

Job Functions

Research Enterprise Solutions and Cross-Functional Collaboration: Lead identification, assessment, and implementation of technology solutions addressing evolving research enterprise needs. Engage across ORIS functional teams to coordinate solution delivery and ensure strategic alignment. Partner with OTDI to leverage central IT services, infrastructure, and platforms for research applications. Collaborate with center/institute research computing groups and DST to develop integrated approaches to shared challenges. Facilitate requirements gathering and solution design with stakeholders across ERIK and the broader university research community. Evaluate emerging technologies for application to research administration, data management, and operational efficiency.

Team Leadership and Management: Manage solution engineers and relationship managers responsible for operational excellence and keeping ERIK groups informed and well-supported. Set direction, assign priorities, and deploy resources across competing demands from multiple research units and functional areas. Conduct performance management including goal setting, coaching, reviews, and professional development planning. Foster a collaborative, service-oriented team culture emphasizing accountability, knowledge sharing, and continuous improvement. Recruit, develop, and retain technical staff capable of operating across a broad range of technologies and research domains.

Research Systems Evaluation, Implementation, and Support: Oversee lifecycle management of advanced research systems including environmental monitoring platforms, secure research computing environments, laboratory management tools, and animal management/inventory/census systems. Support 24/7 operational research units, ensuring critical systems remain available and performant outside standard business hours. Utilize Splunk and network analysis tools to diagnose, troubleshoot, and expedite resolution of issues affecting the research enterprise. Coordinate with vendors, developers, OTDI infrastructure teams, and campus partners to manage system upgrades, integrations, and incident response. Develop and maintain standard operating procedures for system monitoring, escalation, and incident management.

Information Security and Secure Research Support: Provide guidance and material support for secure research projects conducted within ERIK-affiliated centers and institutes, ensuring alignment with applicable federal, state, and university security requirements. Help craft, review, and guide information security policies and procedures across ERIK in coordination with DST and the Office of Secure Research. Support compliance activities related to Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), export controls, and other regulatory frameworks. Promote security awareness and best practices among ERIK staff, researchers, and supported units through training, documentation, and consultation.

Central IT Liaison and Strategic Planning: Serve as the primary conduit between ORIS and OTDI, representing ERIK research technology needs in university-wide IT planning, governance, and service delivery discussions. Contribute to ORIS and ERIK strategic planning by identifying opportunities to improve research support through technology and process innovation. Develop and track service-level metrics, support analytics, and operational dashboards to measure team performance and inform resource decisions. Represent ORIS in cross-institutional working groups, committees, and governance bodies. Manage project portfolios ensuring initiatives are delivered on time, within scope, and aligned with organizational priorities.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Information Systems, or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Five years of relevant professional experience, including demonstrated technical leadership or management experience.

• Proven ability to manage cross-functional teams and coordinate technology initiatives across multiple stakeholder groups.

• Strong understanding of IT service management principles including incident, change, and service-level management.

• Experience with system monitoring and diagnostic tools such as Splunk or similar platforms.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with ability to engage both technical and non-technical audiences.

• Demonstrated ability to manage competing priorities and deliver results in a complex organizational environment.

• Knowledge of information security principles and familiarity with frameworks such as NIST and university security standards.

Desired Qualifications

• Advanced degree in a related field.

• 8-12 years of relevant professional experience.

• Experience supporting research computing or research administration in a higher education environment.

• Familiarity with secure research environments including CUI handling, export controls (EAR/ITAR), and NIST SP 800-171.

• Experience with environmental monitoring systems, laboratory management platforms, or animal research management systems.

• Working knowledge of cloud platforms (AWS/Azure), data reporting and analytics tools (Tableau/Power BI), and web/application development methodologies.

• Experience with project/portfolio management frameworks and IT governance frameworks such as ITIL.

• Strong network troubleshooting and infrastructure knowledge.

• Experience in higher education, understanding of research operations within an academic setting.

Application Materials

• A resume and cover letter are required to be submitted to be considered for this position.

Salary

The offer for this position will be based on multiple factors including internal equity, unit’s available budget, and the candidate’s qualifications.

Work Hours and Location

This position is a full-time, hybrid role, working at least 2-days per week onsite. The office is located at Mount Hall, with travel around campus as needed, Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Some after-hours availability may be required to support 24/7 research operations.

Additional Information

Ohio State will not sponsor applicants for a work visa for this position.

ORIS Overview

The ERIK (ORIS) provides comprehensive technology services to all units and centers within ERIK, including application development, web development, data reporting and analytics, data integration and management, information security, and solution engineering. ORIS partners with research centers, institutes, OTDI, DST, and campus stakeholders to deliver reliable, innovative, and secure technology solutions advancing the university’s research mission.

Position Mapping

• Function: Information Technology

• Subfunction: Solutions Engineering

• Career Band and Level: Specialized 3

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