Core Facilities Director

The Division of Research and Innovation (DRI) supports research and innovation across Oregon State University (OSU), developing partnerships and maximizing our impact to advance Prosperity Widely Shared:  The Oregon State Plan (PWS). OSU’s research activity is grounded in our colleges, schools, and departments as well as the many Centers and Institutes (C&I’s) and Core Facilities. Our research partnerships extend beyond OSU to other universities—both in the U.S. and internationally—as well as to government and industry. This work across sectors enables OSU faculty to pursue larger funding pools and provides our students with valuable experiences.  

The Core Facilities Director reports to the Associate Vice President for Administration, Finance & Operations and serves as the central point of contact for Core Facilities to provide research infrastructure planning and strategic support on behalf of the DRI.  This position provides DRI support across campus to maximize scientific output and operational efficiencies within OSU research infrastructure and Core Facilities.  This position provides leadership and guidance on the enhancement of strategic, administrative, operational, and other activities of OSU’s Core Facilities and broader research infrastructure as appropriate.

• Leads strategic planning for DRI’s research infrastructure with regards to Core Facility and shared facilities, and broad-use instrumentation capabilities, focused on maximizing usage capacity, forecasting equipment acquisition, maintenance, and technology refresh needs.  
• Oversees utilization rates, and user support of centralized Core Facilities, ensuring optimal customer satisfaction, adherence to relevant funding agency provisions, and compliance with all relevant regulations, guidelines, policies, and standards.
• Collaborates with Core Facility managers and research support service leads in a variety of OSU research facilities to ensure policies, procedures, utilization rates and user support experiences are standardized. 
• Works closely with the Core Facilities Advisory committees and develops metrics for the development, evaluation, assessment, continuation, and sunsetting of centralized research Core Facilities when needed.  Ensures each Core Facility has a faculty advisory group to provide input into the decision-making process for campus cores.
• Collaborates with Core Facility management and Associate Deans for Research to establish and operationalize research infrastructure, aligning with the institution’s research mission.  Fosters productive and sustainable research activities while facilitating external agreements with external users.
• Works closely with Core Facilities managers to: Identify, acquire, and install new capital research equipment, as well as maintain effective vendor relations for equipment services; Negotiate service contracts, assess additional infrastructure and space requirements, and troubleshoot/repair equipment not covered by service agreements, and; Identify and decommission outdated equipment and technology.
• Manages and leads the implementation and operations of Research Equipment Lab Management System (RELMS).   
• Manages Core Facilities communications, including website and user feedback.  May, in coordination with facilities manager/directors, conduct tours, demonstrations, and instructional workshops.  Promotes activities on and off campus and serves as a representative for DRI and campus Core Facilities program.
• Ensures the appropriateness and implementation of effective business practices to all Core Facilities staff.
• Collaborates with Core Facilities Managers to standardize training, develop new trainings, and work with EH&S, Field Safety liaisons, and Risk management to identify emerging training needs.
• Supports PIs in the preparation and writing of grant and budget proposals (i.e NSF-MRI, DURIP, etc.) related to core facility development and Core Facility shared capital equipment. Develops written and oral reports for various units and supporting agencies. 
• Collaborates on identifying relevant grant opportunities for core operating support, infrastructure expansion/sustainment, and the acquisition of scientific instruments.

• Work with facility directors/managers to create long range financial planning and long-term equipment renewal plans for the Core Facilities and shared facilities for DRI.  
• Responsible for RELMS annual budget and long-range plan for RELMS system enhancements. 
• Provide recommendations on funding start up instrument packages, equipment matches, and other possible equipment decisions that come to the DRI for approval.
• Works with Core Facilities to determine annual budget subsidy needed from DRI.  Drafts, develops and maintains MOU’s with Colleges on funding of Core Facilities.  
• Works closely with core facilities Directors, DRI financial staff, and appropriate campus administrative units to set fees and develop competitive external and recharge rates.
• Determines efficient and effective provision of current services, establishment of new services, and investments in Core Facilities.
• Coordinate the submission of an annual report summarizing the activities and progress of the Core Facilities Program.

• Develop a Core Facility strategic plan incorporating sustainability and business models for current core services. 
• Establish clear priorities for future instrumentation, reserves, and services, outlining a framework for Core Facilities policies. 
• Provide guidance and useful tools for core facility short-term goals and objectives, long-range strategic plans, policies, and operating procedures while allowing leaders across OSU to monitor and evaluate programmatic and operational effectiveness, and to facilitate changes required for improvement.

• Provides leadership and oversight for the Core facilities daily operations.  
• Directly supervises the DRI Buyer and DRI student employees supporting Core Facilities as needed.
• Completes strategic, long-range planning to direct the Core Facilities towards the research goals in alignment with the most recent university strategic plan.