Manager Research - Civil Construction and Environmental Engineering

at  Iowa State University

REQUIRED MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Bachelor’s degree and 5 years of related experience

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Degree in Civil Engineering, Construction Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or related discipline, or documented training, certifications, or licensure relevant to the position’s responsibilities.
• Experience managing engineering research and teaching laboratories.
• Experience managing fee-for-service or other business operations.
• Experience with laboratory safety, lab quality, and space management.
• Experience developing laboratories and integrating custom, automated laboratory equipment and test configurations and required software development.
• Broad communication and collaboration experience including proposal development
• Experience managing teams.

SUMMARY

Supervises the day-to-day activities of a team of research specialists operating
The Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering (CCEE) at Iowa State University seeks a Manager Research to manage the day-to-day activities of a team of research scientists and others operating the Department’s structures, geotechnical and materials, environmental and surveying fee-for-service operations. These operations include a broad range of on-campus laboratories and some off-campus laboratory, warehouse and field operations and provide services in support of the teaching, research and outreach efforts of the Department.
The Manager Research will apply their technical expertise and laboratory management experience to manage these operations with a strong emphasis on safety, quality, space utilization, project, and asset management. Continuous improvement of the operations to achieve breakeven cost recovery is expected. The Manager Research will coordinate, contribute and lead as necessary the development of technical specifications, design calculations, analytical methods selection and communications related to sampling, fabrication, handling, testing and disposition of laboratory specimens and the integration of test apparatus and facilities as required for project workflows through these operations.
All staff members are expected to interact collegially and maintain the highest standards of integrity and ethical behavior.

About you: The ideal candidate will have:

• Technical knowledge and abilities that transfer well to the Department operations they will manage.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, attention to detail, and strong organizational skills.
• The ability to create policies, guidelines, proposals, and technical publications; maintain accurate records; and develop a quality program for laboratory and field environments.
• Accountability for Department laboratory and field operations and the safety and proficiency training of the staff they supervise and the laboratory and field researchers working within these operations.

• Responsible for ensuring administrative, financial, personnel and planning aspects of projects are managed properly.
• Oversees development and review of rate structures and supporting documentation for Department fee-for-service operations.
• Oversees planning, procurement and execution of plans for new equipment, processes and laboratory facility renovations for Department laboratories.
• Scopes, negotiates and maintains agreements for warehouse storage and off-site land and facilities in support of Department fee-for-service operations.
• Monitors operational readiness of and integrity of data collection from assets in Department fee-for-service operations and coordinates the development and use of protocols and procedures for the use of these assets.
• Oversees staff engaged in day-to-day laboratory and field operations of the Department’s fee-for-service operations.
• Collaborates with Department chair, researchers and instructors using Department fee-for-service operations on long-range planning for the operations and on space utilization in accordance with Department space policies and guidelines.
• Communicates requirements and ensures adherence to Department and University laboratory and field safety policies and guidelines within Department laboratory and field operations.