Posting Date:
07/01/2019
Responsibilities:
The College of Science (COS) Dean’s Office is seeking to hire a Director of Space Planning and Operations, reporting to the Associate Dean of Administration and Finance, to serve as the key leader responsible for the effective and strategic use of space resources and oversee COS facilities operations. The Director of Space Planning and Operations is a key member of the COS Dean’s office and is responsible for devising creative solutions to continue supporting growth for the College as it pertains to space while operating in a manner that supports continual safety improvement.
The Director of Space Planning and Operations will:
• Partner as a trusted advisor to the Dean, Chairs, and Associate Deans building key relationships with stakeholders to have maximum impact
• Lead and manage initiatives related to improving existing space as well as designing new space solutions which balance long term plans for space utilization against short term space needs to optimize outcomes for COS
• Serve as primary liaison to constituents at all levels within COS, university, and external groups on matters of space and operations
• Develop and maintain strategic plans for space utilization balancing long and short term demands for COS
• Responsible for the effective operation of research and teaching laboratories in multiple departments in the College of Science
• Direct staff member who oversees coordination of research activities for COS with the other divisions, departments, and offices of the University that interact with the research labs, including Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S) and the Facilities Division, among others
• Enables effective research endeavors by assisting in the creation and maintenance of an environment where the research and teaching labs can operate efficiently for COS
• Oversees special projects and proposes methodologies for optimally managing the space allocation process supported by the Dean
• Provide facilities oversight for all efforts from lab and building renovations to Facilities services
• Works with the Associate Dean of Administration and Finance annually to review space use by department, group, and PI as part of hybrid budget review for COS
• Oversees staff who works towards establishing a culture of safety in the laboratories in accordance with the Northeastern University Laboratory Safety Management Plan and relevant policies and regulations by collaborating with principal investigators, department safety officers, and lab personnel
• Supervises staff who manages day-to-day college level protocols around furniture and fixed asset management, emergency protocols, and training for COS
Qualifications:
The College is seeking an individual with 5-7 years’ of experience in space planning and research laboratory operations, preferably in higher education, and experience interacting with faculty. Experience supervising staff, planning strategically and making effective decisions under pressure is strongly preferred. The successful candidate will have: strong communication skills and be artful in space negotiations, experience delegating up, down, and across, and organization to manage a large workload and prioritize. The candidate will enjoy working in a friendly and fast paced environment and being a team player. S/he will consistently focus on the big picture and the overall benefit of College of Science as well as the broader Northeastern University community.
Master’s degree in a science (e.g., biology, chemistry, physics, or a related area) or an equivalent combination of education and work experience is necessary. Minimum of two (2) years of research experience in a clinical/environmental laboratory, university or research organization is required.
