Associate Director, Waisman Center

University of Wisconsin Madison•Madison, WI

About The Position

The Waisman Center is dedicated to the advancement of knowledge about human development, developmental disabilities, and neurodegenerative diseases throughout the lifespan. One of 15 centers of its kind in the United States, the Waisman Center encompasses laboratories for biomedical and behavioral research, several scientific research cores, and a clinical biomanufacturing facility for the production of pharmaceuticals for early stage human clinical trials. In addition to its research efforts, the Center provides an array of services to people with developmental disabilities, offers numerous educational and outreach programs to young children and their families, and trains scientists and clinicians who will serve our nation in the future. The Associate Director provides administrative leadership and overall programmatic, quality improvement, and operational direction for the Waisman Center's research, educational, clinical and service activities. The Associate Director will inspire, lead, manage and coordinate the overall operations of the Waisman Center as well as provide supervision of business services, financial operations, grants and research administration, human resources, communications and information technology. This position may require responding to facility emergencies outside of regular business hours.

Requirements

Six plus years’ progressively responsible professional experience with a record of significant accomplishments, preferably in finance, research or overall administration of a complex academic research center or department.
Demonstrated experience overseeing administrative and operational processes and resources.
Experience managing financial, sponsored project portfolio and/or budgetary processes as well as in-depth knowledge and proficiency in various budgeting and financial software tools, databases and network applications.
Demonstrated experience in leading and managing professional staff and teams.
Superior oral, written and interpersonal skills as well as excellent presentational and organizational skills.
Strong leadership, analytical and creative problem-solving skills.
A Criminal Background Check will be performed.
The successful applicant will be required to complete HIPAA training and receive certification upon hire and annually thereafter.

Nice To Haves

Two plus years’ experience in pre- and post-award grants management including proposal submissions, and award setup and closeout.
Demonstrated experience in effective policy development, strategic planning, change management, quality improvement, and program development.
Experience in leading, designing and implementing program evaluation using quantitative and qualitative methods and enacting program modifications.
Knowledge of and experience with public or private universities and/or State fiscal, budget and administrative policies and procedures, revenue producing activities, as well as clinical operations.
Professional experience relevant to the Waisman Center’s mission.
A Master’s Degree in the aforementioned fields is highly preferred.

Responsibilities

Oversees the implementation of all operational and administrative activities
Develops the division's financial strategy including planning, forecasts, budgets, and cash management that focus on attaining and sustaining long-term financial equilibrium in collaboration with university leadership
Oversees the maintenance, repair and upgrades to the facility, building security and safety and emergency planning
Works with senior administrative and academic leadership to design, establish, and maintain an administrative organizational structure to effectively and efficiently accomplish goals and objectives while appropriately defining duties and mitigating risk
Assesses processes, staffing, and systems to identify opportunities for improvement and streamlining on a regular basis
Serves as a major point of contact and catalyst for problem resolution. Provides insightful and diplomatic communications
Exercises supervisory authority, including hiring, transferring, suspending, promoting, managing conduct and performance, discharging, assigning, rewarding, disciplining, and/or approving hours worked of at least 2.0 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees
Serves as the primary business advisor, liaison, and partner to divisional leadership and key stakeholder groups