Director, Center Operations

The Director, Center Operations serves as principal aide to the Center Director and a senior leader of the Center’s research enterprise, providing strategic and operational leadership for the Center’s administrative, financial, research, and operational functions. This role is responsible for translating organizational strategy into efficient operational plans, with a strong emphasis on financial analysis, portfolio management, resource allocation, and operational performance informed by knowledge of health services research methodologies and workflows. The Director holds delegated decision-making authority, in alignment with institutional leadership, for the Center’s financial, personnel, contracting, and operational matters.

The Director oversees Center administration, project and team development, budgeting support, and operational compliance while serving as a key liaison with institutional leadership, academic partners, and external stakeholders. The position engages in and oversees business development, workforce planning, communications, and continuous process improvement to advance the Center’s research and operational objectives for a research enterprise of academically appointed faculty investigators, professional research project staff, and an extended network of internal and external research affiliates and collaborators.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Financial & Portfolio Management

• Lead operational and financial analysis of Center activities, programs, and research portfolios, applying knowledge of research methodologies and study workflows, to support strategic decision-making.
• Partner with faculty investigators and staff to align operational systems, resources, and workflows with the scientific goals and productivity of the Center’s research portfolio.
• Monitor financial performance, staffing allocations, and operational metrics across Center initiatives, and direct staff and resource allocation to address funding gaps and shifting priorities.
• Provide oversight of, and approve expenditures on, Center grant and non-grant accounts, faculty start-up funds, and professional development funds, in accordance with institutional policy.
• Lead development, forecasting, and monitoring of annual budgets, grant portfolios, and resource utilization, and manage financial risk for the Center.
• Prepare and analyze financial, operational, and portfolio reports for Center leadership and stakeholders.
• Identify operational efficiencies and recommend strategies to improve financial sustainability and portfolio performance.
• Monitor grant planning, administration, and reporting in collaboration with finance and research administration teams.

Operations & Strategic Planning

• Translate strategic priorities into operational plans, processes, and measurable outcomes.
• Develop, implement, and continuously improve operational policies, procedures, and workflows.

• Lead administrative and research functions to ensure efficient Center operations and exercise independent judgment on routine operational decisions.

• Lead, with the Center Director, organizational planning efforts through research, environmental scanning, and operational analysis.
• Ensure compliance with institutional, regulatory, and research-related requirements, including IRB and human-subjects requirements, and interpret funder and institutional requirements to determine Center-level action.

Leadership & Team Management

• Serve as principal aide to the Center Director, exercising judgment and delegated decision-making authority in alignment with institutional leadership.

• Supervise, coach, and develop administrative and research staff , and partner with Center research faculty on operational and professional-development matters.

• Oversee and guide training and professional development opportunities for health services research professionals, including research faculty, staff, trainees, and affiliates.

• Lead recruitment, onboarding, and workforce planning activities for the Center in collaboration with Human Resources, and make hiring, performance management, and corrective action decisions in alignment with institutional policy.
• Foster a collaborative, high-performing, and service-oriented operational culture, including leading Center governance meetings, events and speaker programming, and community-building initiatives.
• Partner with organizational leadership to address operational challenges and implement effective solutions.
• Resolve and/or mediate faculty and staff conflicts, escalating to the Center Director or Human Resources as appropriate.

Stakeholder Relations & Business Development

• Serve as the Center’s chief operational liaison to Regenstrief Central Administration and institutional leadership, academic departments, and other stakeholders.

• Negotiate and execute faculty and vendor agreements, MOUs, and appointments on the Center’s behalf, within delegated authority.

• Lead, with Center Director, communications, presentations, and materials supporting Center initiatives and growth opportunities, and identify and pursue new partnership and funding opportunities.
• Represent the Center Director and the Center at meetings, committees, and events.

Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Requires bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Healthcare Administration, Finance, Public Administration, or a related field. Equivalent experience may be considered in place of degree. Master’s degree preferred.
• Minimum of five (5) years of progressive leadership experience in operations, administration, finance, or program management, including direct people-management and budget responsibility.
• Experience in an academic or research institution strongly preferred; healthcare or nonprofit experience considered.
• Experience with financial analysis, budget management, and portfolio oversight strongly preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong financial, operational, and analytical skills with the ability to interpret complex data and develop actionable recommendations.
• Knowledge of health services or biomedical research, research methodologies, and research workflows, sufficient to partner credibly with faculty investigators and to design operations that support study conduct and scientific productivity.
• Knowledge of operational management, strategic planning, budgeting, and continuous improvement practices.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and relationship management skills.
• Ability to develop collaborative relationships with diverse internal and external stakeholders.
• Strong problem-solving, organizational, and project management capabilities.
• Proficiency in preparing reports, operational analyses, and executive-level presentations.

Work Environment & Physical Requirements

• Work is primarily performed in an office setting, including the Regenstrief Institute office and incumbent home office.
• Position may require occasional travel to meetings and events.
• Requires prolonged periods of computer and desk work.
• May require the ability to lift and move materials up to 20 pounds.
• Flexibility to work additional hours as needed to support operational demands.