Director of Business Operations, Comparative Medicine Animal Resource Program

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The Director of Business Operations plays a key leadership role in supporting the strategic operations, compliance, and institutional alignment of the College of Medicine's comparative medicine animal research program. This position informs and executes the strategic direction of the program while ensuring ethical and humane animal care, investigator success, and institutional compliance with federal and state regulations.

• Identify opportunities for program growth, including expansion of facilities, services, and research capabilities.
• Lead initiatives to enhance operational efficiency, reduce costs, and improve service delivery across animal care units.
• Address programmatic changes as outlined in the comparative medicine review from January 2025.
• Create a data and technology support program to provide actionable insights into the strategic operations of the program.
• Develop and leverage strategic partnerships with affiliated university programs, outside animal programs, and industry collaborators to standardize and streamline operations.

• Steward and manage the finances of the animal resource program to ensure efficient and effective use of funds, increasing cost recovery and proforma financial modeling.
• Oversee and manage the annual cost recovery efforts including service line definitions, bill rate calculations, leadership approvals, and facility implementation.
• Drive the annual business planning and budget process to support program growth and efficiency.
• Review and manage financial performance details to derive actionable insights to inform strategy.
• In concert with the director of ARP and facilities, develop long-range capital plan to support the program and oversee procurement and inventory management.

• Align program goals and offerings with institutional research priorities and strategic initiatives.
• Collaborate with the director and institutional leadership to develop long‑term strategic plans for the animal research program, aligning with the university's research priorities and compliance standards. Plans should address facility upgrades, staffing needs, and programmatic expansion.
• Contribute to grant applications and funding proposals that support infrastructure and innovation.
• Promote interdisciplinary research by facilitating access to shared animal resources and specialized services.
• Continue and enhance culture of service.
• Represent the program in institutional committees and external collaborations.

• Support the director in developing and implementing policies and procedures aligned with USDA, AAALAC, IACUC and other applicable standards.
• Anticipate and address regulatory changes that may impact the program.
• Work with the director to implement residency program changes from an operational, reporting, and financial perspective.

Bachelor's Degree, 8+ years of relevant experience, including 3+ years of supervisory experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience accepted. Required

Certifications:

None.

• Experience in research administration or animal research programs (preferable in academic or biomedical settings).
• Proven ability to develop and execute strategic plans for complex programs.
• Strong interpersonal and negotiation skills for working with faculty, leadership, and external partners.
• Experience managing large programs with proven track record of enhancing program success and driving operational improvements.
• Expertise in budgeting, cost recovery models, and financial forecasting.
• Ability to implement technology solutions for data analytics and operational insights.

• Prior leadership in a comparative medicine or animal resource program.
• Familiarity with animal care standards (AAALAC, IACUC, USDA, etc.).
• Experience supporting accreditation processes and compliance audits.

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