Tufts University

Senior Operations Director - School of Medicine

Tufts University$155K — $232K *
Education, Government & Non-Profit
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree
  • 10+ years of progressively responsible administrative experience
  • Significant experience with space planning and utilization management
  • Proven track record in managing facilities operations/projects, particularly in complex environments
  • Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
  • Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office, especially Excel
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills

Responsibilities

  • Oversee the School's space inventory database for planning and cost analysis
  • Manage assignments for office, laboratory, and research spaces
  • Partner with leadership to analyze space utilization and research productivity
  • Recommend changes for compliance with space usage guidelines
  • Collaborate with research teams to ensure compliance with safety regulations
  • Implement improvements for safety and storage processes
  • Serve as liaison for Facilities teams on projects
  • Lead execution of small- to mid-sized facilities projects
  • Manage building access processes and protocols
  • Independently handle smaller renovations and installations

Benefits

  • Primarily on-site role with flexibility for one remote day
  • Engagement in a collaborative academic environment
  • Opportunity to impact operational efficiency at a prestigious institution
  • Involvement in strategic space management initiatives
  • Support for professional development and growth within a research-oriented setting
Full Job Description
This is a primarily on-site role, with an expectation of four days per week on campus and one remote day.

Please review the Application Instructions in this posting for guidance on required cover letter content.

What You'll Do

Reporting to the Executive Associate Dean, the Senior Operations Director leads facilities operations, space planning, and compliance efforts for Tufts University School of Medicine. In this highly visible role, you will ensure the effective use of physical space in support of the School's research, academic, and administrative priorities while partnering across departments to drive operational excellence.

Key Responsibilities:

Space Planning & Strategy
  • Oversee and maintain the School's space inventory database, a critical tool for institutional planning and cost analysis
  • Manage all office, laboratory, and research space assignments across the School
  • Partner with Basic Science Chairs and senior leadership to track and analyze space utilization and research productivity metrics
  • Recommend and implement changes to ensure alignment with institutional space use guidelines
  • Conduct analyses and provide insights to support strategic decision-making and long-term planning

Compliance & Research Support
  • Collaborate with the Office of the Vice Provost for Research, faculty, and research teams to ensure compliance with chemical and hazardous materials regulations
  • Develop and implement improvements to storage, safety infrastructure, and inventory tracking processes
  • Support a culture of safety and compliance across laboratory and research environments

Facilities Management & Operations
  • Serve as the primary liaison to Planning, Design & Construction and Facilities teams
  • Lead the planning, prioritization, and execution of small- to mid-sized capital and facilities projects
  • Ensure projects are delivered on time, within budget, and in alignment with University standards
  • Oversee building access processes, including development and management of access protocols and special requests

Project Management & Execution
  • Independently manage smaller-scale renovations, reconfigurations, and installations
  • Scope projects, develop implementation plans, and coordinate timelines with internal stakeholders and external vendors
  • Partner with IT, teldata, furniture vendors, and other service providers to support project delivery
  • Act as a central point of contact for facilities-related initiatives across the School

Operational Leadership
  • Partner with leadership on capital planning and budgeting for facilities-related needs
  • Support operational priorities and special projects as requested by the Dean's Office

What We're Looking For

We are seeking a strategic, detail-oriented operations leader with deep experience in facilities management and space planning within complex organizational environments.

Application Instructions:

Please submit a resume and cover letter (2 pages maximum) for consideration. In your cover letter, please address the following:
  • Describe your experience managing space planning and facilities operations in a complex environment (e.g., academic medical center, research institution, or similar).
  • Highlight any experience supporting laboratory or scientific space, including how you have analyzed space utilization, partnered with faculty or leadership, and implemented changes or improvements.

We encourage concise, focused responses that highlight relevant experience and impact.

Basic Requirements:

Knowledge and experience typically acquired by:
  • Bachelor's degree
  • 10+ years of progressively responsible administrative experience
  • Significant experience with space planning and space utilization management in complex environments
  • Demonstrated success managing facilities operations and projects, including laboratory/scientific space experience or equivalent experience in complex environments
  • Strong organizational skills, with exceptional attention to detail and a proactive, solutions-oriented approach
  • Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Excel and database management
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across a wide range of stakeholders, including faculty, researchers, and senior leadership

Preferred Qualifications:
  • Experience in a higher education environment
  • Experience in a medical school, healthcare, or research setting
  • Experience with Archibus or similar space/facilities management systems (IWMS)

Pay Range

Minimum $155,100.00, Midpoint $193,900.00, Maximum $232,600.00

Salary is based on related experience, expertise, and internal equity; generally, new hires can expect pay between the minimum and midpoint of the range.

About Tufts University

Tufts University is a private research university in Massachusetts that offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs in a variety of fields, including arts and sciences, engineering, medicine, and law. The university has several campuses throughout Massachusetts and a campus in France. Tufts was founded in 1852 and is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education. The university is committed to providing a diverse and inclusive learning environment and to conducting research that addresses global challenges.
Learn more about Tufts University
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