Employer: Stanford University
Location: Stanford, CA, United States
Category: Administration
Job function: Academic Operations Manager
Workplace type: On-site
Contract type: Regular
Grade: K
Posted: 2026-08-11T23:58:13+00:00
The Stanford Innovative Neurotherapeutics Center, or SINC, is a new center at Stanford University and the Lucile Packard Children's Hospital dedicated to advancing treatments for devastating neuropsychiatric disorders. Stanford University is seeking an Executive Center Director (Academic Operations Manager 2) to provide management and coordination of administrative and operations-related functions for departments with substantial impact within a school. This position will manage staff to achieve the research and teaching mission, goals and objectives of the unit. They will partner with and/or influence faculty leadership on departmental affairs
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- 5–10 years of experience running a center or similarly scaled translational/academic program, with a proven track record in strategic planning, multi-year budgeting, staffing leadership, and operations management.
- Demonstrated ability to lead cross-disciplinary teams and engage with internal and external stakeholders (faculty, hospitals, industry, donors) to implement large-scale programs.
- PhD or graduate degree in Neuroscience preferred. MPH or MBA strongly preferred to complement scientific leadership with health systems/public health or business administration expertise.
- Clinical translation experience preferred, with familiarity moving research from discovery to clinical application and understanding of regulatory/translational workflows (IRB, GCP, FDA).
- Strong track record of managing budgets, fundraising, grants/contracts, and financial forecasting; experience with donor engagement and external partnerships is a plus.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to influence at multiple organizational levels and represent the center externally when needed.
Core Duties
- Direct staff and provide leadership to achieve goals and vision of the organization and the day-to-day operations. Responsible for hiring and retaining staff, career coaching, personal development for direct reports and accountable for the performance of employees.
- May independently or in collaboration with human resources managers, guide faculty supervisors in the interpretation and implementation of human resources policies, procedures and programs.
- Develop business plans and infrastructure to support research and teaching. Provide analysis and review of multi-year plans, including providing alternative methods for achieving goals when necessary. Influence faculty leadership on specific recommendations for current operation and for future development of the organization and lead process improvement.
- Interpret, implement and ensure compliance with university academic and administrative policies and procedures within an operating unit. Recommend new internal policies, guidelines and procedures.
- Oversee and/or manage the finances across all sources for the annual budget cycle, including developing, monitoring, analyzing forecasting and reporting.
- Manage and coordinate grants and contracts for the department. Ensure compliance with institutional and external requirements.
- Represent the unit’s business and academic operations within the organization. May represent the organization to external constituencies.
Minimum Education
Bachelor’s degree
Minimum Experience
five years of relevant experience in administrative and financial management, or combination of education and relevant experience.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Demonstrated leadership and supervisory skills including conflict resolution.
- Excellent planning and organizational skills.
- Excellent communication skills.
- Strong financial expertise in accounting, budget planning and financial forecasting.
- Strong expertise in grants and contract administration.
- Strong negotiation and interpersonal skills.
- Attention to detail and accuracy.
- Strong analytical and problem solving skills.
- Strong expertise in business and management computer applications and databases.
- Strong knowledge of industry standards and/or regulatory requirements.
- Subject matter expertise for area(s) of responsibility.
- Ability to multi-task and manage deadlines.
