Senior Director of Operations and Strategic Initiatives

About Us

At the forefront of medical discovery as it relates to understanding the causes of obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer and dementia, Pennington Biomedical Research Center is a campus of Louisiana State University and conducts basic, clinical and population research. The Center includes Basic Science, Clinical Research, and Population and Public Health, enabling both focused research and translational science. Research at Pennington Biomedical is supported broadly by multiple NIH Research Centers , and includes approximately 65 faculty and 20 postdoctoral fellows who comprise a network of 44 laboratories and 13 highly specialized core service facilities.  Pennington Biomedical is located within state-of-the-art research facilities on a 222-acre campus in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

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Job Posting Title

Senior Director of Operations and Strategic Initiatives

Position Type

Professional / Unclassified

Department

LSUPBRC ExD - Operations (Elizabeth S. Stanley (00311945))

Work Location

LSU - Pennington Biomedical

Pay Grade

Professional

Job Description

Pennington Biomedical Research Center , a world-renowned academic research institute of Louisiana State University, is seeking a Senior Director of Operations and Strategic Initiatives in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

The Senior Director of Operations & Strategic Initiatives works with the Associate Executive Director of Operations & CFO to provide direction and support to Pennington Biomedical administration. The position provides professional counsel and advice, exercises leadership and guidance, assists with the formulation and administration of policies and procedures, and coordinates operational and strategic initiatives within the scope of authority delegated by the Associate Executive Director of Operations & CFO. This position provides direct oversight of Computing Services, Auxiliary Services, Facilities Management, and Institutional Research. The Senior Director also coordinates the annual budget development process and leads cross-functional initiatives that support institutional priorities, operational effectiveness, and continuity of operations.

Job Responsibilities

• As a trusted advisor, provide expert advice to the Associate Executive Director of Operations & CFO regarding operational matters, institutional priorities, and the implementation implications of leadership decisions.

• Provide leadership and broad direction to Computing Services, Ancillary Services, Facilities Management, and Institutional Research. Establish expectations, monitor operational performance, and promote responsive, effective service.

• Coordinate activities across assigned units to strengthen communication, improve processes, reduce unnecessary duplication, and ensure that services align with institutional priorities.

• Lead cross-functional strategic initiatives assigned by the Associate Executive Director of Operations & CFO, including development of implementation plans, milestones, responsibilities, risk considerations, and progress reports.

• Develop and implement operational strategies, policies, procedures, continuity plans, and performance measures that support Pennington Biomedical’s mission and long-term goals.

• Identify operational risks, capacity constraints, service gaps, and opportunities for improvement; recommend practical solutions and coordinate implementation with responsible leaders.

• Coordinate the annual institutional budget development process under the direction of the Associate Executive Director of Operations & CFO. Establish timelines, organize budget submissions, coordinate meetings with directors and cost center leaders, document requests and decisions, and monitor follow-up items.

• Partner with Fiscal Operations to ensure budget submissions and consolidated information are financially accurate and consistent with institutional accounting, reporting, and internal control requirements.

• Partner with Institutional Research to obtain historical trends, forecasts, scenario analyses, resource allocation models, dashboards, and other decision-support information needed for budget and strategic planning discussions.

• Ensure access to confidential personnel, compensation, and other sensitive information is limited to the level authorized by the Associate Executive Director of Operations & CFO.

• Prepare concise summaries, recommendations, and decision materials for executive leadership regarding budget requests, operational priorities, resource needs, and strategic initiatives.

• Collaborate with Legal and Regulatory, Communications, Institutional Relations, Human Resources, Sponsored Projects, Fiscal Operations, other LSU campuses, and external partners when initiatives require coordination or specialized input.

• Perform other duties and lead special projects as assigned by the Associate Executive Director of Operations & CFO.

• Provide oversight, leadership, and broad direction to the following:

• Computing Services regarding technology operations, infrastructure, systems support, cybersecurity coordination, continuity planning, and technology initiatives supporting administrative, research, and institutional needs.

• Auxiliary Services regarding service delivery, operational processes, vendor and marketplace coordination, inventory controls, and effective support of institutional customers.

• Facilities Management regarding the security and safety of property, operation and maintenance of buildings, grounds, equipment and systems, energy management, and renovation and construction projects.

• Institutional Research regarding the development of historical trends, forecasts, scenario analyses, resource allocation models, dashboards, and other decision-support information needed for budget and strategic planning discussions.

Required Qualifications

• A college degree from an accredited institution in Business Administration, Public Administration, Management, Organizational Leadership, or related field.

• At least ten (10) years of progressively responsible operational or management experience, at least three of which must have been at a senior management level.

• Demonstrated experience leading complex operations, supervising professional leaders, managing cross-functional initiatives, improving organizational processes, and advising senior executives.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Organizational Leadership, Management, or related field.

• Experience in a public university, academic research organization, healthcare research environment, or similarly complex institution.

• Experience coordinating institutional budget development, strategic planning, operational improvement, continuity planning, or enterprise-wide initiatives.

• Demonstrated ability to develop trusted working relationships with executive leaders, faculty, administrators, and staff.

Pennington Biomedical Research Center seeks to recruit a highly productive workforce with a broad range of backgrounds and perspectives and will provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and prospective employees. Employment decisions shall be based strictly on merit and without regard to religious or political beliefs, sex, race, or any other non-merit factor.

Additional Job Description

Competencies

None

Special Instructions

Pennington Biomedical is seeking an exceptionally innovative, dynamic, and strategic leader to serve as the Senior Director of Operations and Strategic Initiatives.

Interested candidates should include