Research Operations Manager
What this job does:
Keeps a research institute, lab, or department running smoothly behind the scenes. Oversees budgets, ensures the organization meets safety and regulatory requirements (such as IRB and IACUC protocols), manages staff, maintains facilities and equipment, and coordinates across teams so that scientists can focus on their research. Serves as the operational backbone translating research strategy into day-to-day execution.
This job is similar to these lab/research tasks:
Managing lab operations and shared instruments, coordinating multi-investigator projects, maintaining IRB and IACUC protocols, managing safety training, tracking project timelines and budgets
Typical starting salary range
$106k to $165k
Salary estimate represented as 25th to 75th percentile. Gathered from recent job postings, Glassdoor.com, and Salary.com
Daily task breakdown
- Administrative and budget management: grants, contracts, procurement (30%)
- Strategic planning and project management: metrics, KPIs, process improvement (20%)
- Regulatory compliance and safety oversight: IRB, IACUC, EHS (20%)
- Staff supervision and team leadership (15%)
- Stakeholder liaison and communications (15%)
Skills you'll use in this job:
Project management; budget development and financial oversight; regulatory compliance (IRB, IACUC, EHS); strategic planning; operations management; personnel management and leadership; grant and contract administration; vendor and procurement management; data-driven decision-making; communication and stakeholder engagement; process improvement; scientific literacy
Talk about these PhD skills in your resume and interview:
Talk about managing lab operations - ordering supplies, maintaining equipment schedules, coordinating shared instruments, and tracking project timelines. If you maintained IRB or IACUC protocols, managed safety training, or ensured compliance with institutional policies, highlight this regulatory fluency. Experience managing budgets at the lab level, training junior researchers, and coordinating multi-investigator projects translates directly. Emphasize your ability to keep complex scientific projects on track while ensuring safety and compliance.
Alternative job titles to search:
Research Operations Director; Director of Research Operations; Research Program Manager; Research Institute Administrator; Associate Director of Research Operations; Senior Research Manager; Lab Operations Manager; Research Facilities Manager; Research Management Officer
*Note:
-Job titles are inconsistent between companies. Try various keywords.
-PhDs tend to undershoot seniority level. Target higher than you think.
