Director - Core Research Laboratories

Director - Core Research Laboratories

The Director of the University of Kansas Medical Center Core Research Laboratories provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for all core research laboratory facilities at the University of Kansas Medical Center (KUMC). This role serves as the primary institutional liaison for KUMC core laboratories, leading strategic operations, shaping service pricing strategies, and ensuring high-quality, sustainable research services that advance the One KU research mission. Reporting to the Associate Vice Chancellor for Research, the Director collaborates closely with core laboratory leadership, research administration, finance, facilities, and One KU partners to ensure optimal return on institutional investments, exceptional service delivery, and equitable access for researchers across the university. The Director provides strategic oversight and direction to core lab management, ensuring best-in-class operational practices, financial sustainability, and alignment with KU's research goals and financial policies. This role oversees teams, projects, and processes supporting the overall operation, coordination, and long-term development of KUMC core research laboratory facilities.

Key Roles and Responsibilities:

30% Strategic Oversight and Core Lab Coordination

• Serve as the primary point of contact and strategic liaison between KUMC Core Lab Directors, One KU leadership, and KU Offices of Research.
• Provide direct supervision and leadership to KUMC Core Lab Directors.
• Co-develop and implement aligned operational standards, service levels, and procedures across One KU core laboratories, informed by leading CRO and peer-institution best practices while remaining consistent with KU policies and academic mission.
• Facilitate collaboration among KUMC Core Lab Managers and researchers to ensure high service quality, efficient access, and consistent user experience.
• Advance the One KU research mission through coordinated core laboratory strategy and operations.

30% Infrastructure Planning and Elevating One KU Research

• Serve as the primary KUMC subject-matter expert on core research laboratories to advise One KU leadership on long-range strategic planning for core services and facilities.
• Guide facility and service enhancements that elevate KU's visibility and competitiveness as a leading research institution nationally and globally.
• Collaborate with campus partners to plan and execute core laboratory upgrades, renovations, and capital projects.
• Assess infrastructure needs and develop long-term strategies for space utilization, equipment investment, and service optimization.
• Guide service and infrastructure enhancements that position KU core laboratories as competitive, reliable partners for interdisciplinary, translational, and externally funded research.
• Support emergency preparedness, continuity planning, and risk mitigation for KUMC core laboratory facilities.

30% Financial Optimization and Sustainability

• Partner with Research Finance to evaluate core laboratory financial performance, including revenue trends, cost drivers, utilization, and long?term sustainability, using standardized metrics and reporting.
• Contribute to the development and application of transparent policies, metrics, and reporting related to rate setting, subsidies, and financial performance.
• Assess market opportunities for external academic and industry users and develop strategies to responsibly expand core lab services.
• Coordinate with Core Lab Managers, Facilities, and KU Operations leadership to address financial challenges and evolving ROI considerations.
• Co-lead standardization and differentiation decisions across One KU core laboratories in partnership with the KU Lawrence Core Director.
• As appropriate, encourage and/or lead strategic collaborations with industry partners.

10% Institutional Leadership and Special Initiatives

• Participate in Office of Research strategic initiatives and cross-functional projects.
• Assist with budget planning, resource allocation, and institutional decision-making related to core research infrastructure.
• Prepare, or direct the preparation of, reports and analyses for research leadership, ensuring timely and accurate information.
• Create and maintain efficient onboarding and sunsetting processes for core laboratories.
• Maintain a comprehensive inventory of the KUMC Core Labs research equipment and co-house this inventory with the KU Lawrence Core Labs research equipment inventory.
• Support acquisition, monitoring, utilization, maintenance, transfer, and disposal of research equipment in coordination with campus partners.
• Develop organizational staffing plans and ensure that employees with the appropriate experience and skills are hired, onboarded, trained, supervised, have individual goals and development plans; Conducts annual performance evaluations and where necessary implement appropriate employee discipline.
• Ensure area employees conduct activities in a professional and ethical manner, and in accordance with KUMC Policies and applicable local, state and federal laws and regulations.
• Ensure all work performed by employees in the area is done in a safe and secure manner.
• Direct coordination of area work with other areas of KUMC to ensure integration and support of KUMC goals and objectives.
• Maintain personal level of subject matter expertise necessary to ensure the area activities are carried out on a best practices basis.
• Participate in and/or lead appropriate committees, task force, or other similar activities assuring optimal resource utilization.
• Ensure that necessary electronic data collection, storage and retrieval systems are implemented and used by area personnel in an appropriate fashion.
• Ensure that the area maintains any certifications desired by KUMC to further promote quality education and research.
• Ensure the confidentiality of medical center, employee, and patient information. Handle sensitive data with discretion and in accordance with KUMC policies and legal requirements.
• Maintain the highest standards of integrity, respect, professional conduct, and ethical standards.

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. It is only a summary of the typical functions of the job, not an exhaustive list of all possible job responsibilities, tasks, duties, and assignments. Furthermore, job duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in life science, engineering, or related field.

This position requires a formal degree in the cited discipline area(s) to ensure that candidates have the foundational knowledge and skill set required to perform the duties of the position. The level of degree is based on accreditation requirements, institutional standards of academic and professional excellence, alignment with peer institution benchmarks, and contributes to the credibility and effectiveness of the role within the university community.

Work Experience:

• 5 years of leadership experience in core laboratory operations with direct supervisory responsibility.
• 3 years as manager of employees.
• Experience with federal and state regulations related to research infrastructure and cost recovery.
• Experience in environmental health and safety practices in research settings.
• Experience in a research or academic environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in life science, engineering, or related field.
• Experience overseeing multiple core laboratories or shared research facilities.
• Experience in research rate-setting guidelines, cost recovery models, and sponsored-project administration standards.
• Experience with capital planning, space management, and major equipment investments.
• Demonstrated experience collaborating across multiple teams, campuses, or organizational units.

Skills

• Leadership
• Communication
• Collaboration

Required Documents

• Resume
• Cover Letter

If selected as a final candidate for this position, you may be required to complete the Association of American of Universities Representations and Warranties document and sign a release of records that will allow the University of Kansas Medical Center to conduct a further background check with former employers. A copy of the Representations and Warranties document can be found here.

Comprehensive Benefits Package:

Coverage begins on day one for health, dental, and vision insurance and includes health expense accounts with generous employer contributions if the employee participates in a qualifying health plan. Employer-paid life insurance, long-term disability insurance, and various additional voluntary insurance plans are available. Paid time off, including vacation and sick, begins accruing upon hire, plus ten paid holidays. One paid discretionary day is available after six months of employment, and paid time off for bereavement, jury duty, military service, and parental leave is available after 12 months of employment. A retirement program with a generous employer contribution and additional voluntary retirement programs (457 or 403b) are available.

Employee Type: Regular

Time Type: Full time

Rate Type: Salary

Compensation Statement: The pay range listed for this position is determined by our compensation program using market data and salary benchmarking. A combination of factors is