Research Operational Excellence Manager

for more information about equivalencies:

Required License/Registration/Certification

None

Physical Requirements

Sitting for long periods of time. Repetitive movements common with office work.

Shift

Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m.

- 5:00 p.m.

Job Summary

The University of Kentucky is seeking a Research Operational Excellence Manager to join the Research Administration enterprise.

This position will lead the development, implementation, and sustainment of Lean principles, continuous improvement initiatives, and operational excellence strategies across Research Administration. The role serves as the organization’s internal Lean facilitator, coach, and change agent, partnering with leadership, faculty, and staff to improve service delivery, reduce administrative burden, enhance operational effectiveness, and support the university’s research mission.

• Develop and execute a comprehensive Lean and continuous improvement strategy across Research Administration.
• Lead enterprise-wide improvement initiatives that enhance service delivery, reduce inefficiencies, improve cycle times, and strengthen operational effectiveness.
• Facilitate cross-functional process improvement efforts, fostering collaboration and scalable approaches to organizational change.
• Establish methodologies, standards, and governance for process mapping, analysis, redesign, and implementation.
• Lead complex process analyses to identify waste, bottlenecks, redundancies, and opportunities for sustainable improvement.
• Oversee enterprise change management efforts, including stakeholder engagement, communication planning, readiness, adoption, and reinforcement strategies.
• Establish performance measurement frameworks, key performance indicators, executive reporting, and benefit realization methodologies.
• Lead and govern a portfolio of transformation and continuous improvement projects, ensuring alignment with organizational priorities and successful implementation.
• Develop organizational capability in Lean methodologies through coaching, education, communities of practice, and workforce development programs.

• Expertise in Lean principles, continuous improvement methodologies, and organizational transformation.
• Strong project management, facilitation, and strategic planning skills.
• Experience leading complex cross-functional initiatives and influencing stakeholders at multiple organizational levels.
• Knowledge of process analysis, root cause analysis, process redesign, and process engineering techniques.
• Ability to develop and communicate performance metrics, dashboards, and data-driven recommendations.
• Excellent communication, leadership coaching, conflict resolution, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Strong organizational, prioritization, documentation, and change management capabilities.
• 5 years of related experience

• Opportunity to shape and advance operational excellence across a large and complex research administration enterprise.
• Ability to partner directly with research leadership and contribute to strategic institutional priorities.
• Opportunity to build a culture of continuous improvement and develop organizational capability in Lean methodologies.

As research activity, regulatory complexity, and service expectations continue to evolve, Research Administration is focused on improving efficiency, reducing administrative burden, and delivering consistent, high-quality support to faculty and research staff. This role will help establish the frameworks, governance, and continuous improvement culture necessary to support those priorities.

The Research Operational Excellence Manager will play a key role in advancing enterprise…