Director of Operations, Traverso Lab / Laboratory for Translational Engineering

The Broad Institute•Cambridge, MA

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Traverso Lab / Laboratory for Translational Engineering at the Broad Institute is seeking a Director of Operations to provide senior operational leadership for the lab’s activities at the Broad Institute. This is a 50% FTE position focused on enabling the successful execution of complex, multidisciplinary research programs through strategic operational planning, cross-functional coordination, resource management, compliance oversight, and administrative leadership. The Director will serve as a key operational partner to the Principal Investigator and lab leadership, helping translate scientific and organizational priorities into actionable plans that support research excellence, operational efficiency, compliance, and long-term growth. The role will require close coordination with Broad administrative, financial, sponsored research, facilities, safety, HR, procurement, and alliance management teams, as well as with collaborators across MIT, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and other partner institutions. This position is appropriate for an experienced operations leader who can work independently, exercise sound judgment, manage competing priorities, and provide high-level oversight without requiring day-to-day supervision. About the Laboratory The Laboratory for Translational Engineering, led by Prof. Giovanni Traverso, develops technologies at the interface of mechanical engineering, medicine, materials science, and translational biomedical research. The lab’s work includes drug delivery systems, ingestible and implantable devices, oral delivery of biologics and small molecules, ultra-long-acting delivery platforms, physiological sensing, electroceuticals, biomaterials, and ex vivo/in vitro models for studying tissue transport and device performance. The lab operates across multiple sites, including MIT, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and the Broad Institute. This role will focus primarily on supporting and coordinating the lab’s operational presence and activities at the Broad Institute.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree and at least 12 years of related experience, Master’s degree and at least 10 years of related experience, or Ph.D. and at least 7 years of related experience.
At least 7 years of management experience.
Demonstrated experience leading complex research operations, preferably in an academic, biomedical, research institute, hospital, biotechnology, or multi-institutional environment.
Strong understanding of laboratory operations, research administration, sponsored programs, compliance, financial administration, HR coordination, and institutional processes.
Proven ability to manage complex priorities across multiple stakeholders, sites, and deadlines.
Excellent judgment, discretion, communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
Ability to operate independently in a senior, part-time leadership role while maintaining strong communication with the PI, lab leadership, and institutional partners.

Nice To Haves

Experience supporting large, multidisciplinary scientific programs or platform-like research operations.
Familiarity with Broad Institute, MIT, Harvard, or hospital-based research administration.
Experience with sponsored research administration, federal and philanthropic grants, industry collaborations, and complex multi-site projects.
Experience with laboratory safety, procurement, vendor management, facilities coordination, and research compliance.
Experience supporting international scholars, visa processes, visiting appointments, or cross-institutional personnel administration.
Demonstrated ability to build systems, improve workflows, and support scalable operations in a growing research environment.

Responsibilities

Provide senior operational leadership for the Traverso Lab’s Broad-based activities, ensuring alignment with Broad policies, institutional priorities, sponsor expectations, and the lab’s scientific goals.
Translate PI and lab leadership priorities into operational plans, timelines, staffing models, and resource strategies.
Establish, refine, and oversee operational processes that support a growing, multidisciplinary research portfolio.
Serve as a senior point of contact for Broad administrative and operational stakeholders.
Identify operational gaps, bottlenecks, and risks, and develop practical solutions to improve efficiency, compliance, and execution.
Support long-term planning for lab growth, including space, staffing, infrastructure, equipment, and administrative support needs.
Oversee the operational needs of the lab’s Broad Institute space, including coordination of facilities, equipment, repairs, access, safety, signage, and space-related matters.
Coordinate with Broad facilities, EHS, security, procurement, and administrative teams to ensure smooth laboratory operations.
Support equipment acquisition, inventory, vendor onboarding, service contracts, maintenance, and asset disposition.
Coordinate preparation for internal or external inspections, audits, and compliance reviews relevant to Broad-based lab activities.
Ensure laboratory personnel are aware of and complete the required Broad safety, compliance, and operational training.
Work closely with Sponsored Research, finance, and program management teams to support the execution of active grants, sponsored projects, and collaborative research agreements.
Support development and tracking of project milestones, deliverables, timelines, operational dependencies, and reporting requirements.
Coordinate operational planning for new and ongoing research initiatives at Broad.
Help forecast personnel, space, equipment, procurement, and administrative needs for current and future projects.
Support communication across multi-institutional teams and help ensure timely follow-through on operational decisions.
Partner with finance and sponsored research teams to monitor budgets, spending, allocations, and allowable expenses for Broad-based lab activities.
Review financial reports and help identify incorrect charges, allocation issues, or emerging budget risks.
Support procurement of laboratory supplies, capital equipment, software, services, and other research-related needs through approved Broad systems.
Coordinate invoice payments, reimbursements, stipends, vendor expenses, and related administrative processes as needed.
Work with relevant Broad offices on research agreements, confidentiality agreements, material transfer agreements, and other operational components of external partnerships.
Coordinate with HR, lab leadership, and institutional partners on recruitment, onboarding, offboarding, payroll-related processes, and position planning for Broad-based lab personnel.
Support workforce planning for staff, trainees, co-ops, interns, visiting scientists, and extended workforce members affiliated with Broad activities.
Help ensure clear onboarding processes, role expectations, training requirements, and operational support for lab members working at Broad.
Support performance management, promotion processes, and personnel issue resolution in coordination with HR and lab leadership.
Promote a professional, inclusive, collaborative, and accountable lab culture.
Serve as an operational contact for visa, appointment, and immigration-related administrative processes involving Broad-affiliated lab personnel.
Coordinate timelines and documentation for foreign nationals, visiting researchers, and other personnel requiring institutional sponsorship or appointment processing.
Work with appropriate institutional offices to ensure timely and compliant handling of immigration-related administrative requirements.
Provide high-level operational and administrative support to the Principal Investigator and senior lab leadership related to Broad-based activities.
Prepare, edit, and coordinate operational documents, reports, presentations, and communications.
Support scheduling, meeting preparation, follow-up, and coordination for strategic operational matters.
Help maintain visibility across key operational priorities, deadlines, and institutional commitments.