Chief Operating Officer, New Iberia Research Center

at  University of Louisiana Lafayette

Position Title: Chief Operating Officer, New Iberia Research Center
Department: 9010|NIRC Administration
Responsibilities:
The Chief Operating Officer (COO) at the New Iberia Research Center (NIRC) is a key leadership role reporting directly to the Director. The COO is responsible for overseeing the support services and operational components of the NIRC, ensuring the smooth and efficient running of facility operations across the campus. The focus of the role includes developing a research portfolio utilizing Biosafety Level 3 agents and integrating with various departments such as Research Resources, Support Services, Animal Resources, and Veterinary Resources.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Lead facility operations to meet operational and quality objectives.
• Oversee the BSL3 Contract Research portfolio to ensure studies are conducted in accordance with the highest quality research standards, including FDA and OECD GLPs, if applicable, and the USDA Animal Welfare Act.
• Collaborate with the executive management team on strategy, solution roadmap, positioning, and other planning activities to keep ahead of facility and industry needs.
• Maintain a comprehensive preventative maintenance program for the facility, including buildings, areas, and equipment.
• Ensure biosafety rules and SOPs are followed, particularly inside the BSL-3 facility.
• Collaborate with the Director and Associate Director of NIRC on issues that may affect the quality, performance, scaling, etc., at NIRC.
• Work with other University of Louisiana at Lafayette departments to implement campus policies and NIRC work practices in compliance with university, civil service, and state policies.
• Be part of the leadership team supporting the university-sponsored development of Louisiana’s biotech economy in New Iberia.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• PhD, MD or DVM degree in Biology, Chemistry, Genetics, Microbiology, or related field.
• 10+ years of experience in management of laboratory business, including areas of operations, BSL-3 utilization, client services, animal care, quality management, and technical service.
• 10+ years of experience effectively working in a regulated laboratory environment in the research industry.
• 10+ years of managerial or supervisory experience.
• 5+ years of experience working under federally regulated research programs such as FDA, CDC/USDA (BSAT).

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• A proven history of being a driven leader to laboratory research and support staff in high stress unique environments.
• As well as in-depth knowledge of complex laboratory techniques, laboratory safety and quality assurance to support ongoing and future projects are also required, as is the ability to communicate well through written and verbal means.
  Job Ad# (req3879

• Lead facility operations to meet operational and quality objectives.
• Oversee the BSL3 Contract Research portfolio to ensure studies are conducted in accordance with the highest quality research standards, including FDA and OECD GLPs, if applicable, and the USDA Animal Welfare Act.
• Collaborate with the executive management team on strategy, solution roadmap, positioning, and other planning activities to keep ahead of facility and industry needs.
• Maintain a comprehensive preventative maintenance program for the facility, including buildings, areas, and equipment.
• Ensure biosafety rules and SOPs are followed, particularly inside the BSL-3 facility.
• Collaborate with the Director and Associate Director of NIRC on issues that may affect the quality, performance, scaling, etc., at NIRC.
• Work with other University of Louisiana at Lafayette departments to implement campus policies and NIRC work practices in compliance with university, civil service, and state policies.
• Be part of the leadership team supporting the university-sponsored development of Louisiana’s biotech economy in New Iberia