[labnetwork] Operations Director job at SNF

[Roger T. Howe]

Hello labnetwork list members:

I'd like to call your attention to the search for an Operations Director 
for the SNF -- see the job description below (#41024 on 
jobs.stanford.edu). The SNF is going through a major overhaul in the 
next couple of years, which is one of several reasons why John Shott 
(cc'ed) and I think that this new position will have a very positive 
impact on the lab.

Thanks,
Roger Howe
Faculty Director, SNF

--------------

The Stanford Nanofabrication Facility (SNF) at Stanford University is 
seeking an Operations Director. The Operations Director will have 
day-to-day responsibility for leading all operational aspects of the 
SNF, including management of 22 professional and administrative staff, 
an annual budget of $5 million, research administration, 
facilities/space, property administration and health and safety.

Overview of the SNF:

More than a lab, the SNF is a vibrant community serving academic, 
industrial and government researchers from around the globe. The SNF is 
supported by the National Science Foundation through the National 
Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network. More information is available 
via: http://snf.stanford.edu.

The SNF attracts nanotechnology researchers with its specialized 
equipment and capabilities, its experienced and highly knowledgeable 
staff and expert assistance in both training safe and effective use of 
the tools and developing custom processes. Every month, an average of 
240 distinct researchers in both academia and industry use the SNF to 
conduct their research.

2011 will mark the beginning of a $6.5 million renovation project to 
keep the SNF’s capabilities at the forefront of its field.

Overview of the Position:

The Operations Director reports directly to the SNF Faculty Director and 
is expected to work with significant autonomy. The Operations Director 
is the primary liaison between the SNF and other administrative offices 
within the University, including but not limited to the School of 
Engineering Dean’s Office Administration & Finance, the Office of 
Sponsored Research and Environmental Health & Safety.

Primary responsibilities include the following:

• Creating a motivated work environment that organizes and allocates 
staff in order to achieve the SNF’s goals

• Managing proper staffing levels

• Performing feasibility studies and cost and revenue analyses and 
developing financial projections to ensure long-term stability of the SNF

• Ensuring that fabrication tools meet the research needs of the 
labmember community

• Monitoring, managing and balancing the budget

• Operating the SNF according to policies set forth by the University 
and applicable sponsors

• Coordinating the facility’s operations with other shared 
nanotechnology labs at Stanford

• Overseeing operational, facility and regulatory issues related to the 
handling, use and disposal of various hazardous materials

Qualifications:

The successful candidate is expected to have the following 
qualifications and will preferably have worked in an academic and/or 
research laboratory.

• A minimum of seven years experience designing, implementing, 
maintaining and measuring effective and efficient financial and 
administrative operations at a senior level.

• Conceptual and analytical skills, including the ability to identify 
problems and implement effective solutions

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills

• Sufficient technical knowledge to both ensure effective communication 
with the Faculty Director and technical staff and to make a variety of 
decisions that affect operations of the SNF

• Experience allocating staff resources to improve existing equipment 
operations and provide reliable performance for the research community

• Proven skills in personnel management, supervision and policy 
implementation

• Familiarity with managing facilities/space and property management 
according to institutional and sponsor policies

• Experience monitoring compliance with health and safety policies and 
procedures

• Strong computer skills, including experience working in an environment 
with varied and complex administrative computing systems (such as Oracle 
Financials in the Stanford environment), as well as substantial 
expertise in Microsoft Office