Chief Operating OfficerUniversity of Pittsburgh
Chief Operating Officer
Med-Trivedi Institute - Pennsylvania-Pittsburgh - (26000413)
Function:
The Chief Operating Officer (COO) plays an integral role on the Institute’s senior management team and serves as the primary operational partner to the Institute Director. Reporting directly to the Director, the COO oversees the Institute’s administrative, financial, and programmatic operations; builds scalable systems and best practices; and leads the operations team to support research, innovation, partnerships, and donor-facing activities. The COO provides operational discipline by setting priorities, establishing execution rhythms, and ensuring consistent follow-through across the Institute. The COO translates the Director’s vision into executable plans and ensures operational excellence as the Institute grows.
Leadership:
• Oversee strategic planning, operations buildout, and administrative execution for a rapidly scaling institute.
• Implement the Institute Leadership Team’s multipillar vision spanning spaceflight biology, global biomedicine, biomedical innovation, and advanced biological modeling.
• Establish core operating procedures, governance structures, and crossfunctional workflows.
• Ensure alignment across scientific programs, operations, partnerships, and philanthropic initiatives.
• Develop and manage organizational roadmaps for hiring, space planning, and operational growth.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with University leadership, donors, external partners, and government agencies.
• Host regular administrative and leadership meetings to promote coordination and transparency.
• Implement policies and strategies that promote the representation and participation of different groups of individuals, encompassing people of different ages, races, ethnicities, abilities, disabilities, genders, religions, cultures, and sexual orientations. Direct responsibility for Title IX.
• Advance a culture of inclusion, innovation, collaboration, and scientific excellence.
Scientific & Programmatic Operations Oversight:
• Support operational execution for research programs across space biology, synthetic biology, AIdriven biomedical modeling, global health, and translational innovation.
• Interface with investigators within and outside of the Institute
• Coordinate infrastructure for human subjects research, biospecimen workflows, IRB/IACUC compliance, and regulatory adherence.
• Fulfill responsibilities consistent with standards and regulations set forth by regulatory agencies and Hospital/Medical Staff Bylaws, Rules, Regulations, Policies, and Procedures
• Develop metrics and dashboards for program growth, scientific output, training activities, and external impact.
• Work with faculty to build new flagship initiatives, accelerators, and collaborative research platforms.
• Oversee formation of the Institute’s core laboratories, computational infrastructure, innovation pipelines, and technical support teams.
• Support grant development and strategic funding initiatives across federal agencies, industry, foundations, and philanthropy.
Financial Oversight:
• Partner with the Director and finance leadership to ensure fiscal stability, transparency, and strategic growth.
• Develop multiyear financial projections, budgets, and spending plans for a multimillion dollar institute.
• Provide timely monthly, quarterly, and annual reports to the Director and advisory stakeholders.
• Oversee resource allocation across scientific programs, administrative operations, innovation projects, and donorfunded initiatives.
Talent Development & Management:
• Build the Institute’s initial administrative and scientific operations team, including hiring, onboarding, and organizational structuring.
• Oversee HR processes, performance reviews, promotions, and career development for staff.
• Ensure strong support and mentorship systems for researchers, postdocs, trainees, and technical personnel.
• Design staffing plans aligned with operational growth and longterm Institute needs.
External Relations & Strategic Partnerships:
• Coordinate donorfacing activities, including briefings, events, and progress reporting tied to major philanthropic gifts.
• Support partnership development with NASA, DARPA, NIH, ARPAH, industry collaborators, and international programs.
• Oversee communications, marketing, website development, and visibility initiatives for the Institute.
• Represent the Institute in selected external committees, boards, conferences, and strategic planning forums.
Additional Responsibilities:
• Oversee space planning, renovations, and expansion of laboratories, collaborative spaces, and donorfacing environments.
• Develop policies for data governance, research integrity, cybersecurity, and safety.
• Manage crisis response plans, operational continuity, and risk mitigation strategies.
• Support the establishment of training programs and a future graduate track in space biomedicine.
• Ensure operational readiness for highprofile press, scientific, and publicengagement activities.
Job Summary
Position plays an integral role on the senior management team and oversees key University business partnerships and alliance management with UPMC Enterprises, builds best practices, and manages their team to meet partnership objectives and goals.
Essential Functions
Ability to exercise discretion and independent judgement in significant matters.
Ability to work in a complex and strategic environment setting policies and anticipating trends.
High level of problem solving skills required.
Authority to hire and fire employees, conduct performance reviews and handle disciplinary matters.
Physical Effort
Little physical effort required. Duties are primarily sedentary. May be required to move objects up to 25 pounds occasionally.
Assignment Category: Full-time regular
Job Classification: Staff.Director - Innovation Funding and Program Management
Job Family: Research
Job Sub Family: Intellectual Properties
Campus: Pittsburgh
Minimum Education Level Required: Bachelor's Degree
Minimum Years of Experience Required: 7
Will this position accept substitution in lieu of education or experience: Combination of education and relevant experience will be considered in lieu of education and/ or experience requirement.
Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Work Arrangement: On-Campus: Teams that work on campus, in an office, or in a lab.
Hiring Range: $140,387 - $170,536 annually
Relocation_Offered: No
Visa Sponsorship Provided: No
Background Check: For position finalists, employment with the University will require successful completion of a background check
Child Protection Clearances: Not Applicable
Required Documents: Resume
Optional Documents: Cover Letter
Equal employment opportunity, including veterans and individuals with disabilities.
PI281901921