GI Director of Operations

NO VISA SPONSORSHIP AVAILABLE FOR THIS POSITION.

Applicants must have current work authorization when accepting a Genomics Institute staff position. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa for staff.

This is a hybrid position with a minimum of 3 days on-site.

THIS RECRUITMENT WILL REMAIN OPEN UNTIL FILLED.

HOW TO APPLY

For full consideration, applicants should attach their resume and cover letter when applying for a job opening. For guidance related to the application process or if you are experiencing difficulties when applying, please review the Applicant Resources on our website.

• How to Apply
• Troubleshooting
• Tips for Applicants
• FAQ's

INITIAL REVIEW DATE (IRD)

UC Santa Cruz jobs are posted until filled. All application materials submitted by 11:59 pm on the IRD will be routed to the hiring team for consideration. NOTE: Applicants who miss the IRD are still encouraged to apply; their materials will still be forwarded for consideration if requested by the hiring team. Application materials cannot be accepted outside of the jobs portal. Applications cannot be edited on an applicant's behalf. For more information about the IRD and the applicant review process, view this link.

The IRD for this job is: 06-24-2025

ABOUT UC SANTA CRUZ

UC Santa Cruz is a public university like no other in California, combining the experience of a small, liberal arts college with the depth and rigor of a major research university. It's known as an unconventional place where innovation and experimentation is part of the campus's DNA. That playful, bold spirit still thrives today, all on a campus renowned as among the most beautiful in the world.

DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW

Originally founded in 1997, the Baskin School of Engineering is the first professional school at UC Santa Cruz. Over the past 25 years, Baskin Engineering (BE) has become a unique 21st century school of engineering, applied science, and technology, characterized by evolutionary growth fueled by ongoing research opportunities that open new areas of intellectual inquiry. Baskin Engineering has grown to include six academic departments, a variety of research centers and institutes, and has ambitious plans for further programmatic growth. The focus of Baskin Engineering educational programming is to instill strong basic knowledge for sound practice in ethical engineering for the well-being of society, and its diverse curricula facilitate creative thinking and prepare students for productive and rewarding careers. Baskin Engineering is focused on building collaborative connections and expanding instruction and research activities for faculty and students in Santa Cruz and at the UC Santa Cruz Silicon Valley campus in Santa Clara.

The Genomics Institute (GI), an Organized Research Unit located within the Baskin School of Engineering, with faculty from several divisions on campus, leads UC Santa Cruz's efforts to unlock the world's genomic data and accelerate breakthroughs in health and evolutionary biology. With the theme of Creating a Healthier World, GI platforms, technologies, and researchers unite global communities to create and deploy data-driven, life-saving treatments and innovative environmental and conservation efforts, while addressing the most fundamental societal and policy questions. The Genomics Institute is committed to broadening participation in this endeavor and bringing the benefits of genomics to the widest range of world populations and ecosystems.

The Genomics Institute's operating budget is currently $31M per year, comprising $26M in sponsored funds from federal, state, and private sources and $4.7M in gifts and institutional funding, and is on a trajectory of increasing activity, partnerships, and extramural funding.

More information about the Genomics Institute can be found at https://genomics.ucsc.edu/

More information about Baskin Engineering can be found at engineering.ucsc.edu

JOB SUMMARY

Under general direction from the Executive Director and in coordination with the GI Leadership team and Baskin School of Engineering senior staff, the GI Director of Operations oversees the operations for the UC Santa Cruz Genomics Institute (GI), a $31 million interdisciplinary Organizational Research Unit (ORU) within the Baskin School of Engineering at UC Santa Cruz. The GI Director of Finance and Operations is responsible for managing the financial operational systems that support approximately 30 affiliated faculty, over 100 staff and researchers, as well as postdoctoral scholars and students participating in research projects supported by sponsored funds from the federal and state governments, private gifts, and foundations.

The Director of Operations oversees and optimizes all operational aspects of the organization, plays a crucial role in aligning operational strategies with the GI's research goals, and ensures efficiency, productivity, and budget adherence. The Director collaborates with the GI executive team to develop and execute the organization's operational strategies and goals; identifies opportunities to improve operational processes, streamline workflows, and enhance efficiency; builds, leads, and mentors a high-performing operations team, fostering a culture of accountability and continuous improvement; allocates resources effectively to meet operational objectives, including budgeting, staffing, and equipment allocation; develops and manages relationships with vendors and suppliers to ensure timely and cost-effective procurement of goods and services; negotiates contracts and agreements to secure favorable terms and pricing; ensures the organization complies with all relevant laws, regulations, and organizational standards; defines and tracks key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure operational performance and drive data-driven decision-making; regularly reports on departmental achievements and challenges to senior leadership.

This position is a key part of an active administrative office supporting the scientific efforts of faculty and researchers in the UCSC Genomics Institute and its related projects and organizations, such as the UCSC Genome Browser, the Computational Genomics Laboratory and Platform, the Human Cell Atlas, the Braingeneers, and the Treehouse Childhood Cancer Initiative.

APPOINTMENT INFORMATION

Budgeted Salary: $128,400 - $151,900/year. Salary commensurate with skills, qualifications and experience.
Under California law, the University of California, Santa Cruz is required to post a reasonable estimate of the compensation for this role. The salary shown above is the budgeted amount the University reasonably expects to pay and the salary extended should not exceed this posted amount.

Benefits Level Eligibility: Full benefits

Schedule Information:

• Full-time, Fixed
• Percentage of Time: 100%, 40 Hours per Week
• Days of the Week: Mon-Fri
• Shift Includes: Day

Employee Classification: Career appointment

Job End Date: None

Work Location: UC Santa Cruz Main Campus

Union Representation: Non-Represented

Job Code Classification: 000547 (ADMIN MGR 1) - Grade 25

Travel: Never or Rarely

JOB DUTIES

35% - Leadership & Oversight

• Prepares short and long-range strategic planning on operational processes to identify areas for optimization and cost-effective resource allocation.
• Manages resources (human, financial, and material) effectively to meet operational needs.
• Develops policies that affect immediate operations and have organization-wide effects.
• Develops financial strategies, policies, performance measures, and operational procedures.
• Collaborates with operational teams to implement process improvements and monitor their impact on financial performance.
• Develops and monitors metrics to measure operational efficiency and effectiveness.
• Regularly reports on departmental achievements and challenges to senior leadership.
• Through coordination with Research Administration in Baskin Engineering, analyzes data and prepares reports for institutional use.
• Provides oversight of all funding pre-award functions through direction of the Director, Research Development.
• Provides skilled management to the GI research development and grants development team to ensure that grants development and financial matters are handled efficiently, accurately, and in compliance with all regulatory rules and guidelines.
• Establishes close working relationships with Baskin Engineering's Research Administration, HR, Events, and Finance Teams.
• Establishes and manages a close working relationship with the UCSC Office of Research and acts as a liaison with this office on GI grant pre-award matters.

30% - Finance & Budget

• Manages the integrity of the institute's budget, reporting, and tracking systems through oversight of budget and fiscal protocols.
• Functions as budget liaison for resource allocations.
• Oversees analysis and policy development for unit-wide funding matters, budget processes, resource allocations, and funding models.
• Oversees budget, financial, and operations for the Genomics Institute with authority to prepare, program, coordinate, and monitor an annual operating budget of $31 million.
• Develops cash flow management strategies to support unit growth and related funding commitments.
• Develops GI recharge centers and rates in coordination with the Divisional Chief Operating Officer.
• Manages monthly GI recharge financial operations.
• Oversees expenditure approvals for contract, grant, gift, and operating funds of GI administration and core principal investigators, ensuring expenditures are allowable, allocable, and consistent with intended purposes.
• Develops and monitors budgets and coordinates appropriate cost control procedures, particularly when expense trends indicate problems or when budgets are affected by unanticipated circumstances.

20% - Team Management

• Manages, trains, and motivates team.
• Instills strong customer service ethics in team operations and implements conflict negotiation and diplomacy skills to ensure smooth operations among team members and relationships with key faculty and principal investigators.
• Conducts performance evaluations and provides feedback.
• Provides professional development opportunities.
• Applies effective management principles, practices, and techniques to assess and adaptively manage effective and efficient workflow systems while considering objective and subjective variables.
• Sets a high operating standard for a respectful and functional work environment and ensures that the UCSC Principles of Community are adhered to.

5% - Space Planning & Allocation

• Serves as liaison to the Baskin Space planning team for space planning and allocation of GI spaces for faculty, staff, and students.
• Ensures appropriate maintenance of all department facilities and equipment.
• Serves as the GI representative on all facilities and renovation projects.
• Coordinates faculty and staff moves within departmental facilities.
• Manages current GI space and equipment inventories.
• Develops and monitors appropriate internal controls to protect University resources.

5% - IT Management

• Through subordinate staff, ensures technical administration for hardware, operating systems, and network management is run efficiently and effectively for GI systems and platforms.
• Oversees the development, implementation, and maintenance of procedures, systems, and software to support budgeting, reporting, and monitoring of expenses to ensure compliance and to streamline workflow in support of strategic goals.
• Provides direction to team members and support as needed.
• Liaises with divisional ITS to ensure reliable and high-quality delivery of IT services to the Genomics Institute.

5% - Event Management

• Through subordinate staff, ensures events are planned, coordinated, and successful.
• Provides fiscal and budgetary support and coordination.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in related area and / or equivalent experience / training.
• Experience leading and mentoring staff.
• Broad knowledge of human resources, space management, and event planning.
• Broad knowledge of finance and budget policies, practices, and systems; budgeting and reporting techniques; fund accounting; accounting, bookkeeping, and financial forecasting.
• Broad knowledge of sponsored research guidelines and compliance regulations of Federal and non-Federal sponsors supporting research and educational activities, preferably in a university environment.
• Experience in interpreting, organizing, and managing the administration of grant projects, including familiarity with grant budgets, accounting systems, subawards, and the resources that these projects require (e.g., personnel, equipment, space).
• Demonstrated analytical and critical thinking skills.
• Demonstrated customer service skills.
• Effective verbal communication skills with the ability to effectively listen.
• Effective written communication skills.
• Demonstrated interpersonal skills with the ability to work effectively across the organization at all levels; ability to interact with diverse populations.
• Demonstrated negotiation skills.
• Demonstrated ability to multitask.
• Demonstrated ability to manage technical and non-technical staff.
• Ability to evaluate processes to establish and maintain appropriate accountability structures and strong internal control elements and their impact on protecting University resources.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Familiarity with UCSC finance and accounting practices and tools.
• Advanced knowledge of program administration guidelines of Federal and non-Federal sponsors supporting research and educational activities.
• Experience working in a University environment.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

• Selected candidate will be required to pass a pre-employment criminal history background check.
• Selected candidate must pass the employment misconduct disclosure process.
• Ability to work long periods of time at a computer with or without accommodation.
• The selected candidate will be required to work primarily on campus, with periods of remote work possible based on operational needs. If a hybrid work schedule is confirmed, the selected candidate must be able to work successfully from a home/remote office and be able to fulfill the requirements of the UCSC telecommuting agreement.
• Selected candidate will be required to complete training within established time frames as directed including UC compliance training.
• Ability to travel to multiple work locations on and off campus.
• Ability to maintain appearance and conduct suitable for working in a professional setting.
• Exercise the utmost discretion in managing sensitive information learned in the course of performing their duties. Sensitive information includes but is not limited to employee and student records, health and patient records, financial data, strategic plans, proprietary information, and any other sensitive or non-public information learned during the course and scope of employment. Understands that sensitive information should be shared on a limited basis and actively takes steps to limit access to sensitive information to individuals who have legitimate business need to know. Ensure that sensitive information is properly safeguarded. Follow all organizational policies and laws on data protection and privacy. This includes secure handling of physical and digital records and proper usage of IT systems to prevent data leaks. The unauthorized or improper disclosure of confidential work-related information obtained from any source on any work-related matter is a violation of these expectations.
• The University of California has implemented a Vaccination Policy covering all employees. Employees, including new hires, are required to comply with any applicable policies relating to the University of California vaccine program.
• Per the Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act (CANRA), this position has been identified as a Mandated Reporter. The selected candidate will be required to report known or suspected child abuse or neglect as defined by CANRA and will be required to sign a Statement Acknowledging Requirement to Report Child Abuse prior to commencing employment. CANRA Penal Codes, and related definitions, requirements, and responsibilities may be obtained here.

MISCONDUCT DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENT

As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts a conditional offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; received notice of any allegations or are currently the subject of any administrative or disciplinary proceedings involving misconduct; have left a position after receiving notice of allegations or while under investigation in an administrative or disciplinary proceeding involving misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of misconduct with a previous employer.

a. "Misconduct" means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, discrimination, dishonesty, or unethical conduct, as defined by the employer. For reference, below are UC's policies addressing some forms of misconduct:

- UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
- UC Anti-Discrimination Policy
- Abusive Conduct in the Workplace

SAFETY STATEMENT

All UCSC employees must understand and follow job safety procedures, attend required health and safety training, proactively promote safety at work, and promptly report actual and potential accidents and injuries.

NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY

EEO/AA

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status or other protected categories covered by the UC Anti-Discrimination Policy.

It is the policy of the University of California to undertake affirmative action and anti-discrimination efforts, consistent with its obligations as a Federal and State contractor.