Job Summary

Responsible for day-to-day management of all aspects of a growing center which carries out research projects and industry collaboration in composites process manufacturing and materials design, simulation, and modeling. Manage all the details inherent to a university research center, while maintaining a bigger picture perspective. Exercise communication expertise, working with people across disciplinary boundaries, managing resources, and meeting deadlines. Work with the CMSC director to achieve the mission of the CMSC. Participate in the preparation of grant proposals. Assist with development and implementation of collaborative research education and outreach projects. Develop communications for the center. Administer the daily operations of the CMSC center. Serve as Building Deputy for Indiana Manufacturing Institute.

Responsibilities of our Operations Manager position include:

• This position is the one non-technical position in the research center
• The faculty and staff handle the fundraising and technical work; this position touches or is responsible for all other aspects of the research center
• This position works independently, but coordinates regularly with the CMSC Director and Deputy Director positions. Organization, prioritization, and non-technical project management are essential
• This position and the Deputy Director position are the primary focal points for interaction with the University support organizations, such as: business office, IT, HR, Purchasing/Procurement, Property accounting, and Safety. Knowledge of Purdue University operations is extremely helpful
• This position oversees day-to-day operations, such as personnel onboarding and support; building support, maintenance, scheduling, and hosting; and events planning, organizing, and hosting. Discernment, judgment, and common sense are critical
• This position interacts with partners and customers, such as in scheduling and hosting, and via email, phone and video calls, and our website. Communication, both oral and written, is essential
• This position will focus primarily on enabling and executing specific projects and maintaining day-to-day operations of the center and building, with awareness of all aspects of the center, and the overall Indiana Manufacturing Institute building
• This position has financial, building, and safety oversight responsibility. Responsibility and the ability to keep confidences is essential

Who We Are

The Composites Manufacturing and Simulation Center at Purdue University:

• We are a Purdue University Research Center consisting of over a dozen university faculty, and professional research staff, over two dozen graduate researchers, and a score of undergraduate researchers, across the disciplines of engineering, science, and technology
• We work with industry and government to solve cutting edge problems at the intersection of manufacturing and simulation in the area of composite materials
• We investigate, optimize, innovate, research, develop, and apply new manufacturing methods in almost 15,000 sq. ft. of lab space in ten different laboratory spaces
• We serve as the Design, Modeling, and Simulation Technology Area for IACMI, The National Composites Institute, one of the national manufacturing institutes, started in 2015
• Our customers and partners include global organizations and original equipment manufacturers, such as The Boeing Company, Lockheed Martin, Ford Motor Company, the multi-national CERN particle collider experiment, to supply chain members, to material suppliers, to simulation tool providers, to companies just getting established, to government agencies, such as The Department of Energy, The National Science Foundation, and The Department of Defense
• We are located in the Indiana Manufacturing Institute, in the Purdue Research Park, just north of Purdue's main campus

For more information, please visit: https://www.purdue.edu/cmsc/index.php

What We Are Looking For

Education and Experience:
Required:

• Bachelor's degree
• Two years of industry experience including office management, administrative experience, and experience managing projects

Preferred:

• Five years of relevant experience
• Experience coordinating major programs/initiatives
• Experience coordinating international projects
• Experience managing programs at Purdue

Skills:
Required:

• Knowledge of organizational effectiveness and operations management
• Ability to multi-task, prioritize, and problem solve
• Knowledge of university procedures, regulations, and structure
• Ability to develop or improve operational systems, processes, and best practices that guarantee organizational well-being
• Must demonstrate excellence in oral and written communication, including editing and organizational skills
• Must work effectively in a team environment and contribute to the achievement of the center's strategic and operational objectives
• Must be able to handle budgets/spreadsheets
• Ability to work with students
• Ability to maintain confidentiality

Preferred:

• Wide range of software experience (Office Suite, Concur, MyPurdue, Blackboard, Zoom)

Additional Information

• 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: Defined Contribution Waiting Period
• 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
• Purdue University is an EOE/AA employer. All individuals, including minorities, women, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply