Senior Operations Director

Overview

Tufts University School of Medicine (TUSM) is a nationally recognized academic institution committed to excellence in medical education, research, clinical care, and public service. The School fosters a collaborative, student-centered environment grounded in equity, innovation, and lifelong learning.

The Office of the Dean provides strategic and operational leadership for the School, overseeing academic departments, research and teaching enterprises, student services, and campus facilities. The Office is responsible for financial and strategic planning, resource allocation, faculty recruitment, and partnerships with clinical affiliates, supporting the effective management of a complex and dynamic academic medical environment.

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