What are the responsibilities and job description for the Job Title: Assistant Director, Office of Research Facilities and Space Operations position at Purdue University College of Engineering-Office of Academic Affairs?
Assistant Director, Office of Research Facilities and Space Operations
By continuing to use and navigate this website, you are agreeing to the use of cookies.
Skip to main content
Employee Login
Job Description
Apply now
Req Id: 42211
Job Title: Assistant Director, Office of Research Facilities and Space Operations
City: West Lafayette
Job Description:
Job Summary
Purdue University's Office of Research catalyzes Purdue-led research by bringing together researchers and resources across traditional academic boundaries and by providing guidance and support that enables discovery and societal impact. The Office of Research supports grant and regulatory functions, large multi-disciplinary programs, interdisciplinary institutes and centers, major research infrastructure, Purdue's research presence in Indianapolis, the One Health Innovation District, and new interdisciplinary life science research facilities.
The Assistant Director, Research Facilities and Space Operations, serves as a lead operational integrator for the Office of Research facility portfolio. The position coordinates research space, facility operations, project development, relocations, and service model improvements across complex interdisciplinary research environments. The role works closely with faculty, institute leadership, academic units, Administrative Operations, Capital Asset Management, Facilities Operations, Environmental Health and Safety, Space Administration, Centrally Managed Animal Facilities, business offices, vendors, and external partners to translate research needs into executable facility, space, and operational plans.
This position is responsible not only for supporting existing facilities and projects, but also for identifying, developing, launching, and stabilizing new operational capabilities that improve the reliability, responsiveness, and stewardship of research infrastructure. This may include creating scalable support models, improving coordination across existing campus service providers, clarifying service expectations for interdisciplinary research buildings, developing pilot approaches for unmet operational needs, and establishing sustainable operating models for current and future research facilities. As the Assistant Director you must bring structure to ambiguous facility and space challenges, develop clear options and recommendations for leadership, define service boundaries with campus partners, and help ensure Purdue's research facilities are planned, assigned, operated, and improved in alignment with institutional research priorities.
This is an exciting opportunity to help shape the next generation of research facility support at Purdue University. The Office of Research supports a broad and growing research enterprise, including interdisciplinary institutes and centers, shared research infrastructure, specialized facilities, and emerging strategic initiatives across West Lafayette and Indianapolis. As Purdue continues to expand its research impact through interdisciplinary discovery, industry partnership, One Health, life sciences, data-enabled research, national security, and other strategic areas, the need for coordinated, reliable, and forward-looking facility support continues to grow. This position will play a key role in building the processes, service models, partnerships, and operational capabilities needed to support that growth.
About Us
Be a part of Administrative Operations—the organization that powers Purdue University by providing safe, reliable and transformative services. We support the university’s day-to-day operations, as well as the strategic vision for the future.
Administrative Operations delivers a wide range of essential services through various positions, including custodians, construction project managers, electricians, firefighters, groundskeepers, plumbers and more. We are looking for hardworking, dedicated individuals as we continue to grow strong, service-focused teams across campus. Team members work in collaborative environments where their contributions directly impact the success and daily experience of students, faculty, staff and campus visitors.
Our employees benefit from the stability of year-round work, competitive pay and a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental and vision insurance, retirement plans, paid time off and opportunities for ongoing training and professional growth.
Apply now to begin your career with Administration Operations!
What We're Looking For
Education and Experience Required:
Professional 4
Who We Are
Purdue is a community built on collaboration, with global perspectives, Boilermaker pride and endless opportunity to live, learn and grow. Join us and contribute to our culture.
Equal Opportunity Employer
Purdue University is an EOE employer.
Apply now
Posting Start Date: 5/18/26
By continuing to use and navigate this website, you are agreeing to the use of cookies.
Skip to main content
- Home
- Working at Purdue
- How to Apply
- Life in Lafayette-West Lafayette
- Life in Indianapolis
- Explore Careers
- Athletics, Recreation & Wellness
- Business and Finance
- Business Development/Sales
- Child Care
- Communication/Marketing/Public Relations
- Custodial and Skilled Trades
- Dining & Culinary
- Engineering
- Environment and Sustainability
- Executive
- Extension
- Facilities Management and Physical Plant
- Farming, Fishing and Forestry
- Grounds and Landscape Services
- Health and Medical Services
- Human Resources and Legal
- Information Technology
- Lecturer
- Library
- Office Administration
- Planning, Design, and Construction
- Postdoctoral Researcher
- Project Management
- Public Safety, Security and Emergency Services
- Research and Laboratory
- Secretarial/Clerical
- Student Affairs, Student Services, & Res Life
- Veterinary Medicine
- Home
- Working at Purdue
- How to Apply
- Life in Lafayette-West Lafayette
- Life in Indianapolis
- Explore Careers
- Athletics, Recreation & Wellness
- Business and Finance
- Business Development/Sales
- Child Care
- Communication/Marketing/Public Relations
- Custodial and Skilled Trades
- Dining & Culinary
- Engineering
- Environment and Sustainability
- Executive
- Extension
- Facilities Management and Physical Plant
- Farming, Fishing and Forestry
- Grounds and Landscape Services
- Health and Medical Services
- Human Resources and Legal
- Information Technology
- Lecturer
- Library
- Office Administration
- Planning, Design, and Construction
- Postdoctoral Researcher
- Project Management
- Public Safety, Security and Emergency Services
- Research and Laboratory
- Secretarial/Clerical
- Student Affairs, Student Services, & Res Life
- Veterinary Medicine
- English (United States)
Employee Login
Job Description
Apply now
Req Id: 42211
Job Title: Assistant Director, Office of Research Facilities and Space Operations
City: West Lafayette
Job Description:
Job Summary
Purdue University's Office of Research catalyzes Purdue-led research by bringing together researchers and resources across traditional academic boundaries and by providing guidance and support that enables discovery and societal impact. The Office of Research supports grant and regulatory functions, large multi-disciplinary programs, interdisciplinary institutes and centers, major research infrastructure, Purdue's research presence in Indianapolis, the One Health Innovation District, and new interdisciplinary life science research facilities.
The Assistant Director, Research Facilities and Space Operations, serves as a lead operational integrator for the Office of Research facility portfolio. The position coordinates research space, facility operations, project development, relocations, and service model improvements across complex interdisciplinary research environments. The role works closely with faculty, institute leadership, academic units, Administrative Operations, Capital Asset Management, Facilities Operations, Environmental Health and Safety, Space Administration, Centrally Managed Animal Facilities, business offices, vendors, and external partners to translate research needs into executable facility, space, and operational plans.
This position is responsible not only for supporting existing facilities and projects, but also for identifying, developing, launching, and stabilizing new operational capabilities that improve the reliability, responsiveness, and stewardship of research infrastructure. This may include creating scalable support models, improving coordination across existing campus service providers, clarifying service expectations for interdisciplinary research buildings, developing pilot approaches for unmet operational needs, and establishing sustainable operating models for current and future research facilities. As the Assistant Director you must bring structure to ambiguous facility and space challenges, develop clear options and recommendations for leadership, define service boundaries with campus partners, and help ensure Purdue's research facilities are planned, assigned, operated, and improved in alignment with institutional research priorities.
This is an exciting opportunity to help shape the next generation of research facility support at Purdue University. The Office of Research supports a broad and growing research enterprise, including interdisciplinary institutes and centers, shared research infrastructure, specialized facilities, and emerging strategic initiatives across West Lafayette and Indianapolis. As Purdue continues to expand its research impact through interdisciplinary discovery, industry partnership, One Health, life sciences, data-enabled research, national security, and other strategic areas, the need for coordinated, reliable, and forward-looking facility support continues to grow. This position will play a key role in building the processes, service models, partnerships, and operational capabilities needed to support that growth.
About Us
Be a part of Administrative Operations—the organization that powers Purdue University by providing safe, reliable and transformative services. We support the university’s day-to-day operations, as well as the strategic vision for the future.
Administrative Operations delivers a wide range of essential services through various positions, including custodians, construction project managers, electricians, firefighters, groundskeepers, plumbers and more. We are looking for hardworking, dedicated individuals as we continue to grow strong, service-focused teams across campus. Team members work in collaborative environments where their contributions directly impact the success and daily experience of students, faculty, staff and campus visitors.
Our employees benefit from the stability of year-round work, competitive pay and a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental and vision insurance, retirement plans, paid time off and opportunities for ongoing training and professional growth.
Apply now to begin your career with Administration Operations!
What We're Looking For
Education and Experience Required:
- Bachelor's degree in facilities management, architecture, engineering, construction management, planning, science, business administration, public administration, or a related field.
- Minimum of six (6) years of relevant experience in facility planning, research operations, laboratory or technical facility support, capital or non-capital project coordination, space management, institutional operations, or a related field
- Experience should include demonstrated ability to coordinate complex multi-stakeholder facility or operational initiatives; interpret building plans and facility constraints; support research, laboratory, academic, or technical environments; develop project work plans and revise them as needs change; prepare business cases or implementation plans; and launch or improve operational processes, service models, or programs
- Master's degree or equivalent advanced professional experience
- experience includes higher education, academic medical, pharmaceutical, research institute, public sector, or laboratory-intensive settings; familiarity with research safety, laboratory utilities, animal research environments, specialized equipment support, building operations, R&R planning, and space governance; and use of space, project, dashboard, or work order systems. Relevant credentials such as IFMA FMP/CFM, PMP, LEED, APPA, or similar professional certifications are desirable
- Strong:
- judgment in ambiguous environments with incomplete data, unclear ownership, and multiple stakeholder interests
- project and process discipline, including issue tracking, action management, documentation, follow-through, and continuous improvement Demonstrated ability to develop new initiatives from concept through pilot, implementation, metrics, and transition to sustainable operations
- relationship-based influence with faculty, staff, administrators, facility professionals, project managers, and external partners
- Excellent written and verbal communication, including leadership-ready one-pagers, decision memos, business cases, project updates, and meeting summaries
- Effective facilitation of team and client meetings; ability to manage conflict diplomatically and drive decisions without unnecessary escalation
- Highly organized, self-motivated, detail-oriented, and able to prioritize competing demands
- Ability to:
- analyze space, facility, operational, and service data to identify risks, patterns, options, and recommendations
- define service boundaries, governance structures, intake processes, funding assumptions, staffing models, and escalation pathways
- translate research needs into executable facility, space, project, and operational plans
- work effectively in a collaborative, results-driven culture with a strong commitment to safety, reliability, and transparency
- Purdue University will not sponsor employment authorization for this position
- A background check will be required for employment in this position
- FLSA: Exempt (Not Eligible for Overtime)
- Retirement Eligibility: Immediate Defined Contribution by the university
- Benefit Statement: Purdue University offers a substantial Benefit Package including medical, dental, and vision insurance as well as a generous paid time off package for sick and vacation days
Professional 4
- Pay Band S070
- Job Code #20002070
Who We Are
Purdue is a community built on collaboration, with global perspectives, Boilermaker pride and endless opportunity to live, learn and grow. Join us and contribute to our culture.
Equal Opportunity Employer
Purdue University is an EOE employer.
Apply now
Posting Start Date: 5/18/26
- Careers Home
- View All Jobs
- Opens in a new tab.
- Opens in a new tab.
- Opens in a new tab.
- Opens in a new tab.