Operations Manager, L.S. Skaggs Institute for Health Innovation Research Evaluation and Commercialization Hub

Application instructions are located at the bottom of the page.  Please apply directly through the University of Montana's career portal UM Jobs at https://umjobs.silkroad.com/ for positions at the University of Montana – Missoula, University of Montana Western (Dillon), and Helena College.  Do not apply through Indeed.com or use easy apply through Indeed.com*.

The L.S. Skaggs Institute for Health Innovation (SIHI) Research Evaluation and Commercialization Hub (REACH) is seeking applications for an Operations Manager to provide management and oversight of all aspects of SIHI-REACH operations and communications. SIHI-REACH provides biomedical innovators with funding, external resources and expertise, and entrepreneurship training to drive early-stage technology development projects towards commercialization. The Operations Manager will report directly to SIHI-REACH Co-Directors and work collaboratively with other team members to provide day-to-day program administration in collaboration with SIHI-REACH leadership and administrative staff.

This position will build relationships with and advise SIHI-REACH innovators and technology development teams on early-stage technology development, business formation, SBIR/STTR and other funding and partnership opportunities, and will collaborate with innovators to assess, advise, and implement commercialization strategies. The primary responsibilities of this position will include, but not be limited to: developing, utilizing and refining commercialization plans; collaborating with innovators to develop strategies for commercialization; working with and through SIHI-REACH commercialization programs to develop problem-solution validation and related assessments; and project management; forming relationships with partners to negotiate and execute license, option or other commercialization agreements. The Operations Manager will also develop communications content for public-oriented newsletters and external engagement outlets, such as social media platforms and the SIHI-REACH website, as needed, and oversee planning of SIHI-REACH sponsored events.

The Operations Manager is responsible for independently identifying and assessing important administrative duties and operates with an exceptionally high degree of autonomy to administer and manage the program and execute the responsibilities as outlined.

The University of Montana is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer and has a strong institutional commitment to the principle of diversity in all areas. In that spirit, we are particularly interested in receiving applications from a broad spectrum of qualified people who would assist the University in demonstrating its five priorities for action : Place student success at the center of all we do; drive excellence and innovation in teaching, learning, and research; embody the principle of “mission first, people always"; partner with place; and proudly tell the UM story.

Position Details:

• Position is full-time, 1.0 FTE, Letter of Appointment and includes a comprehensive and competitive benefits package including Insurance package, mandatory retirement plan, partial tuition waiver, and wellness program.
• Salary for this position is $70,000-$72,00 per year commensurate with qualifications.
• Position may be eligible for remote work with supervisor’s approval.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree and 5 years of experience in program or project management, with demonstrated business development success.
• Established leadership and management skills and the ability to oversee and guide complex, challenging tasks, while often having to prioritize multiple projects.
• Excellent communication skills, demonstrated project management skills, ability to lead meetings, ability to problem solve, propensity for thought leadership
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain strong working relationships with a wide-ranging group of individuals and organizations.

Preferred Qualifications:

• A Master’s degree in business, pharmaceutical sciences, other biomedical sciences, or an equivalent degree from an accredited university. Other qualified candidates will be considered with demonstrated experience in entrepreneurship, talent recruiting, sales, and/or experience working for a Medtech/pharmaceutical company, technology transfer office, or a supporting organization.
• Excellent computer literacy and knowledge of word-processing programs, spreadsheets, and visual communications.
• A working understanding and knowledge of best practices in interacting with an academic institution is preferred.

The University of Montana is flagship, research-intensive R1 institution with approximately 10,000 undergraduate and graduate students. It is located in Missoula, a culturally vibrant community of about 75,000, surrounded by mountains where three rivers converge. Abundant recreational opportunities in surrounding state and national forests and nearby Glacier National Park and Yellowstone National Park complement a thriving intellectual atmosphere.

The L.S. Skaggs Institute for Health Innovation (SIHI) is a Board of Regents approved institute within the University of Montana. The mission of SIHI is to serve as a statewide hub for health education, research, and outreach to improve access to healthcare and emerging health innovation for rural and tribal populations. SIHI builds upon the success of existing programs in the Skaggs School of Pharmacy, namely ImProving Health Among Rural Montanans (IPHARM), IPHARM Medication Therapy Management (MTM) Center, and Precision Medicine Project (PMP). With a focus on integrating direct patient care, experiential learning opportunities for students, and access to cutting-edge research, SIHI is poised be a leader in developing partnerships to promote access to care and broader health initiatives in resource-limited areas.

SIHI-REACH is an NIH-funded academic hub dedicated to accelerating translation of biomedical research discoveries into technologies that address unmet medical needs, disease burden, and health disparities for populations across the United States. The mission of SIHI-REACH is to reduce the barriers and bridge the resource gap facing academic innovators across the IDeA states in the Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, and Idaho (WWAMI) region. SIHI-REACH aims to elevate a region-wide pro-entrepreneurial culture among academic investigators, drive economic development, and bring products that address unmet medical needs to market.

To learn more about the University of Montana, Missoula, and the State of Montana, please visit the links below.

Criminal Background Investigation is required prior to Offer of Employment. In accordance with University policy, finalists for this position will be subject to criminal background investigations. ADA/EOE/AA/Veteran's Preference. Reasonable accommodations are provided in the hiring process for persons with disabilities. For example, this material is available in alternative format upon request. As an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer, we encourage applications from minorities, veterans, and women. Qualified candidates may request veterans’ or disabilities preference in accordance with state law. References *References not listed on the application materials may be contacted; notice may be provided to the applicant. Testing Individual hiring departments at UM may elect to administer pre-employment tests, which are relevant to essential job functions. Employment Eligibility.  All New Employees must be eligible and show employment eligibility verification by the first date of employment at UM, as legally required (e.g., Form I-9).

Must be eligible to work in the United State upon hire.

How to Apply:

Priority Application Date: Wednesday, December 20, 2023 by 11:59 PM (Mountain Time)

Complete applications received by this date will be guaranteed consideration. To receive full consideration, candidates are required to submit all of the following materials.

Please submit the following application materials** via the UM Jobs portal and by clicking "New Resume/CV" button.  Please do not apply through Indeed.com*.

• Letter of Interest – addressing the stated required skills for the position
• Detailed resume listing education and describing work experience
• Three (3) professional references- Names and contact information

*Applying through Indeed.com or easy apply through Indeed.com may result in submission of an incomplete application.  Applications may be removed from full consideration if they are not complete with materials listed above under the "How to Apply" section.  It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure complete application materials are submitted and received by the date listed above. 

**Please note: only five (5) attachments are allowed per application. Please combine documents accordingly.

Missoula, Montana, United States