MBiC Operations Manager

Job Details

Job : 372164

Location: Austin

Job Family: Administration-General

Full/Part Time: Full-Time

Regular/Temporary: Regular

Job Code: 9341M1

Employee Class: Acad Prof and Admin

The Minnesota Bioimaging Center (MBiC) Operations Manager at The Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota, is a business and operations leader responsible for the day to day management, strategic planning, and growth of a complex shared research resource. Reporting to the Technology & Research Services Director and with direction from the MBiC Director, this role focuses on organizational leadership, business operations, and financial sustainability of MBiC services.

This position is ideal for a collaborative, service oriented leader with experience in higher education or research center environments who excels at building teams, strengthening client relationships, communicating value, and aligning operations with the Hormel Institute s research and education mission. The Operations Manager partners with scientific and technical experts to ensure MBiC delivers high quality, efficient services while advancing research excellence and collaborative science.

The MBiC Operations Manager directly supervises approximately 2-4 professional staff who lead components of MBiC operations, including microscopy services, training, and outreach. The employer retains the right to change or assign other duties to this position.

Focus of Job Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and evaluate strategic and annual work plans, business goals, and resource priorities in collaboration with the MBiC Director and in alignment with The Hormel Institute s long term research and education vision.
• Monitor daily operations of MBiC using the iLabs system, including workflow management, service scheduling, client onboarding, billing, and reporting.
• Supervise MBiC staff and team leads, providing leadership, performance management, coaching, and professional development.
• Lead preparation, monitoring, and forecasting of the MBiC budget, including service fees, cost recovery, and financial performance in collaboration with finance partners.
• Coordinate equipment maintenance planning, service contracts, space utilization, and facility improvement projects.
• Develop, implement, and maintain policies, standard operating procedures, and internal management tools that support efficient and consistent operations.
• Track operational metrics and continuously improve service quality, efficiency, and user satisfaction.

• Serve as a primary liaison between educational partners, technical staff, and institutional partners to ensure clear communication and a high quality client experience.
• Develop a management system for training badge programs, including organizing documentation and notification of users when refresher training is required.
• Collaborate and partner with the Community Outreach and Education department on educational and training workshops.
• Develop and implement communication strategies to clearly convey MBiC capabilities, value, and service offerings.
• Collaborate with the MBiC Director and Shared Resources leadership to identify growth opportunities, partnerships, and funding strategies that expand MBiC services.
• Partner with Communications to develop promotional materials and manage MBiC related web content.
• Apply service and relationship management best practices to support a service oriented, responsive research environment.

• Ensure compliance with institutional, state, and federal regulations related to safety, data security, and laboratory operations.
• Monitor quality control practices and support research rigor, reproducibility, and responsible conduct of research.
• Maintain documentation for policies, procedures, safety protocols, and regulatory reviews.

Work Profile
Profile 1, Office/Lab-Based - is expected to work primarily on-site in the office/lab. Only occasionally and inconsistently working remotely. Your office/lab will be located at The Hormel Institute in Austin, Minnesota. Management retains the right to modify flexible work arrangement agreements on a temporary or permanent basis for any reason at any time.

Required Qualifications

• BA/BS with at least six years of experience.
• Demonstrated experience providing leadership, guidance, and supervision to professional and or support staff
• Strong organizational, interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills
• Experience managing business operations, budgets, service delivery, or fee for service programs
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with a broad range of internal and external stakeholders
• Experience working in higher education, research centers, or similarly complex service oriented environments

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in shared research resources, core facilities, scientific service organizations, or…