Lab Manager, Health and Wellness Core, Office of Research, Innovation, and Economic Development UTK

The Health and Wellness Research Core Manager will play a foundational role in establishing and developing a new clinical research core facility within the university. This is an exciting opportunity to shape the operations strategy and vision of a core facility that will provide essential support for clinical and translational research and innovation. By collaborating with researchers clinicians and administrative teams the Health and Wellness Research Core Manager will ensure the facility becomes a cornerstone for advancing patient care and scientific discovery. The program works collaboratively with researchers scientific staff and users to make shared resources broadly available under a sustainable fee structure. This position involves not only managing day-to-day operations but also building the infrastructure processes and team needed to launch and sustain the cores success. This collaborative but leadership-driven role the position helps ensure the Cores financial sustainability and readiness to support an R1 research enterprise. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in research administration excellent communication skills and attention to detail.

Operational and Financial Management

- Manages and coordinates the daily activities and operational functions of the clinical research laboratory.

- Exercises a high degree of independence in decision-making related to lab and facility management.

- Responsible for making day-to-day and strategic decisions related to laboratory operations equipment utilization scheduling maintenance and workflow optimization to ensure reliable compliant and efficient facility performance.

- Independently evaluates operational priorities resolves technical and logistical issues and implements process improvements that directly impact service delivery cost recovery and researcher productivity

- Makes independent recommendations to the CFP Director regarding equipment upgrades service expansion vendor selection and staffing needs using data faculty input and benchmarking against peer R1 institutions.

- Autonomously maintains a responsive sustainable and high-performing research facility that supports externally funded time-sensitive research activities.

- Conducts and oversees all quality assurance (QA) and quality control (QC) processes to meet regulatory and institutional standards.

- Schedules allocates and oversees use of laboratory space shared resources and specialized equipment.

- Instructs and trains faculty staff and students on proper and safe operation of laboratory equipment and materials.

- Responsible for preparing and maintaining annual rate sheets ensuring rates are accurate defensible and aligned with cost-recovery requirements and institutional policies to include independently evaluating usage data supply costs service demand and staffing effort to support sustainable operations

- Supervises laboratory personnel including training performance management and workflow oversight.

- Manages operational budgets for facility supplies service contracts and personnel making informed decisions to balance service quality fiscal responsibility and research needs

- Manages financial transactions including preparing monitoring and reconciling budgets.

- Develops and maintains costing structures for billable services and recharge operations.

- Works in close consultation with the CFP business manager to ensure compliance with institutional sponsor and audit requirements while also providing data-driven input for forecasting capital planning and staffing adjustments.

Strategic Planning & Stakeholder Engagement

- Provides strategic leadership for a complex multi-user research environment ensuring that facility operations technologies and services align with current and emerging priorities of a high-impact externally funded research enterprise.

- Participates in long-range and strategic planning for laboratory growth equipment acquisition and service development.

- Responsible for aligning facility capabilities with current and emerging research priorities across the institution.

- Directly to forward-looking planning by evaluating national research trends benchmarking against peer R1 institutions and identifying opportunities for new or expanded capabilities that strengthen institutional competitiveness for major grants and interdisciplinary initiatives.

- Through faculty engagement analysis of utilization and cost-recovery data the Lab Manager helps ensure the Core remains sustainable innovative and positioned to support large-scale collaborative research programs.

- Provides expert recommendations that enhance research quality operational efficiency and strategic utilization of lab resources.

- Builds strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders to strengthen the core labs reputation and service model.

Compliance and equipment assurance

-Develops updates and enforces standard operating procedures (SOPs) safety protocols and compliance documentation.

- Conducts and supports compliance activities to ensure alignment with institutional and regulatory requirements.

- Ensures adherence to safety procedures protocols proper documentation and mandated record-keeping standards.

- Oversees proper storage handling and disposal of laboratory materials and hazardous waste.

- Ensures compliance with relevant regulatory and confidentiality requirements including but not limited to ICH GCP RCR HIPAA

IRB and related guidelines.

- Manages the acquisition repair and maintenance of highly specialized equipment.

- Manages facility security systems access control and authorization protocols.

Other Duties as Assigned

- As required

Required Qualifications

Education:

Bachelors degree in any related field

• Experience:

3 years of experience in laboratory management research operations or related technical environments

At least 1 year of Phlebotomy collection experience

Experience with ICH/GCP regulations

Experience with human subjects research

Experience and/or ability to complete basic lab processing of blood urine and saliva samples

• Knowledge Skills Abilities:

Excellent attention to detail.

Excellent problem-solving skills.

Ability to read and proof documents for accuracy.

Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively and proactively.

Ability to analyze information critically to make informed decisions.

Excellent oral and written communication skills.

Ability to multitask in a fast-paced environment with adherence to strict deadlines.

Knowledge and understanding of HIPAA regulations; maintains strict confidentiality of participant/patient information.

Preferred Qualifications

• Education:
  • Masters Degree in any related field
• Experience:

Phlebotomy certification

5 years of experience in laboratory management research operations or related technical environments

HIPAA training

Experience collecting data

Experience with REDCap highly preferred

Experience working in or managing a core research facility highly preferred

Supervisory experience preferred

• Knowledge Skills Abilities:

Knowledge of medical terminology

Work Location

• Location: Knoxville TN
• Onsite

Compensation and Benefits

• UT market range: 12
• Anticipated hiring range: 12
• Find more information on the UT Market Range structurehere
• Find more information on UT Benefitshere

Application Instructions

To express interest please submit an application with the noted below attachments.

• Resume
• Cover Letter
• List of 3 Professional References