Executive Director, Research Shared Services

The mission of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center is to eliminate cancer in Texas, the nation, and the world through outstanding programs that integrate patient care, research and prevention, and through education for undergraduate and graduate students, trainees, professionals, employees and the public.

The Executive Director of Institutional Shared Resources provides administrative, scientific, financial, and operational oversight and management for all institutional core facilities; determines the value of MD Anderson core facilities to MD Anderson investigators and makes recommendations; develops, promotes, and obtains support for new core facilities, to ensure the effective operation of the research enterprise. The Executive Director serves as the dedicated administrative leader for all institutionally supported Core Facilities/Shared Resources.

KEY FUNCTIONS

I.    Strategic Planning & Financial Oversight of Core Facilities:
Maintain knowledge of institutional research programs and priorities, new core facility services, initiatives/goals, personnel. Maintain knowledge of current trends in science and technology relevant to core facilities. Increase visibility/utility of shared resources/services to research community. Assists in the development and implementation of the MD Anderson Scientific Priorities as they relate to shared resources, ensuring alignment with the strategic plans across the institution. Leads strategic planning for core facilities. Evaluates new services and new core facilities with considerations of core facilities available at other institutions. Maintains knowledge of latest technologies and advances. Determines infrastructure needs including facilities and information technology. Enhances innovation in cores. Manages fiscal activities, including budget coordination, financial analysis, and grant administration, and oversees the monitoring of revenue cycle activities and compliance with regulatory standards for institutional shared resources/core facilities. Facilitates efficient and effective communication between shared resources/core facilities leadership, oversight boards and the research community to ensure that MCC research meets the highest standards for speed, safety, effectiveness, and quality in a manner that enhances the reputation of the organization. Develop and maintain systems designed to facilitate research collaborations and mentorship. Inform MD Anderson faculty, department chairs and senior leadership about requirements for compliance with institutional, local, state and federal rules, regulations, and procedures that impact upon the conduct of core facilities. Inform core facility directors and managers about and monitor compliance with relevant institutional, state and federal guidelines and policies. Review core facility operations on a regular basis, make recommend actions as needed to address concerns/issues.

II.    Administration & Leadership: 
Directs, monitors, coordinates, and evaluates the comprehensive administrative operations for institutional core facilities/shared resources at the MD Anderson Cancer Center. The Executive Director works closely with the CCSG Associate Center Director for Administration, Associate Directors, and Program Leaders. Integrates innovative and creative best practices across the research community, ensuring a level of customer service and support, which readily enables faculty and research staff to dedicate their efforts toward direct research activities. Advises the CCSG Associate Center Director for Administration on all matters pertaining to core facilities/shared resources administration and operations and assists with the duties of the CCSG Associate Center Director for Administration as needed. Completes bi-annual surveys of MCC membership to determine effectiveness of meeting member’s research infrastructure needs. Communicates applicable rules, regulations and expectations regarding research resources, research activities, research funding, and the use of research data to core facility directors, staff and faculty. Participate in institutional oversight for core facilities. Analyze relevant core facility data, advise/report to cancer center leadership. Participate in core facility advisory committee meetings. Work with core facility managers/directors to develop, review and monitor core services and operations. Work with the Technology Task Force, Core Facility Oversight Board and the CCSG Executive Committee to advise/assist in new core facility development. Develop and implement unified general core operational procedures. Facilitate an information technology supported central core utilization tracking and sample management systems. Organize meetings/outreach for core facility users and managers. Leverage technical background to oversee content accuracy for the central website for institutional core facilities. Leads management of core facility oversight across MD Anderson’s administrative units. Work to streamline administrative, scientific, and financial oversight of core facilities done by the Office of Research Administration, Office of Research Finance, Compliance Office, Internal Audit. Provides forward looking, strategic leadership to ensure shared resources/core facilities remain technically sound. Participates as a member of the leadership team for Division operations. Leads advancement of institutional core sharing initiatives. Leads the coordination and oversees core facilities usage by MD Anderson faculty at external institutions, and external users of MD Anderson core facilities. Participate in all committees, consortiums, and strategic initiatives that impact core facilities. Represent MD Anderson at UT System on core facilities issues.

III.    Data Management and Compliance: 
Collaborate with research analytics and data management teams to collect and analyze financial, scientific and utilization related data for various initiatives related to shared resources and specifically for CCSG assessments and reporting. Ensure adherence to institutional and regulatory standards for proposals and activities. Partner with research administration, research finance and facilities teams to recommend and implement procedures that improve organizational efficiency and compliance. Conducts on-going review and assessment of processes and procedures to ensure the implementation of best practices for core facilities/shared resources operations and administration. Creates and updates performance boards to ensure institutional compliance and optimal performance. Develops and implements performance metrics, including monitoring of the key performance indicators reported to senior leadership. Institutional administrator of core management software. Produces and maintains a computer-based user-friendly system to manage and monitor all core facilities including ordering, scheduling, billing, and tracking use of equipment, services, turnaround times and other relevant metrics. Produces quarterly, yearly and ad-hoc reports to aid in evaluation of core facilities. Designs and disseminates metrics performance summaries, scorecards, and dashboards. Develops and effectively implements performance metrics in making strategic process and business decisions. Applies metric driven and strategic analysis in the review, evaluation, and on-going assessment of all institutional core facilities/shared resources. Monitors compliance with agency and University policies and requirements. Interpret policy and guidelines; provide guidance, recommendations, instruction, and facilitation for implementation of the policy and guidelines in each unique situation.

IV.    People Management & Research Quality Improvement: 
Provides strategic guidance and oversees a team responsible for financial management of all institutional core facilities. Responsible for a team that provides expert advice and support to Principal Investigators in the development of complex submissions for shared resources, assuring the science is crafted consistent with PI's vision and is well coordinated across all elements of the proposal. Lead and supervise staff involved in various aspects of project execution. Provide guidance and support to team members, facilitate their professional development, and ensure effective collaboration and communication within the team. 

V.    Other duties as assigned.