Chief Scientific Operations Officer - Biological & Chemical Innovation Cloud Lab - Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR)

Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) is seeking an inaugural Chief Scientific Operations Officer (CSOO) to provide visionary scientific, organizational, and operational leadership for the Biological & Chemical Innovation Cloud Lab (BCICL), a foundational component of the University's AI Science Foundry .

Created at a pivotal moment in the convergence of artificial intelligence, laboratory automation, advanced instrumentation, and scientific discovery, this role represents a unique opportunity to shape an entirely new model for conducting biological and chemical research. The BCICL is being established to transform how experiments are conceived, executed, analyzed, and scaled, enabling researchers to interact with sophisticated laboratory systems through cloud-based infrastructure and AI-driven workflows. As the operational architect of this platform, the CSOO will help define the vision, operating model, and long-term trajectory of a globally significant research capability that is intended to accelerate the pace, reproducibility, and accessibility of science.

The CSOO will be responsible for building and leading the operations of this first-of-its-kind enterprise that bridges disciplines traditionally separated by organizational, technical, and geographic boundaries. Working across AI, robotics, engineering, biology, chemistry, and data science, the role will align diverse teams around a common mission: creating a highly integrated, remotely accessible scientific environment capable of generating novel discoveries at unprecedented speed and scale. Beyond overseeing daily operations, the CSOO will establish the governance frameworks, strategic partnerships, and execution disciplines necessary to ensure the BCICL becomes a trusted and enduring platform for researchers, educators, and innovators. The individual will serve as a critical connector between CMU faculty, university leadership, engineers, technologists, and external collaborators from government, industry, national laboratories, academia, and nonprofit organizations, fostering an ecosystem that amplifies the University's reputation as a leader in AI-enabled science.

Reporting directly to the Vice President for Research and serving as a key member of the AI Science Foundry leadership team, the CSOO will play a central role in advancing CMU's ambition to redefine the future of scientific discovery.

The BCICL is expected to serve as a major node within the National Science Foundation's Programmable Cloud Lab Testbed in support of the Genesis Mission, positioning CMU at the forefront of a national effort to create programmable, autonomous research infrastructure. The impact of this role extends well beyond the boundaries of a single laboratory or institution. The CSOO will have the opportunity to influence how future generations of scientists conduct research, enable breakthrough discoveries across disciplines, democratize access to advanced experimental capabilities, and establish a model for AI-powered scientific innovation that can be adopted by institutions around the world. Few leadership opportunities offer the chance to simultaneously build a new organization, shape an emerging field, and help define the next era of scientific research.

Key Responsibilities

The CSOO will establish and lead the operational organization supporting the BCICL's research, education, partnership, and external-user portfolio. Areas of responsibility will include:

Scientific & Laboratory Operations

- Lead laboratory operations across biological, chemical, characterization, analytical, and automated platforms.

- Establish operating standards, quality systems, performance metrics, and customer service models.

- Oversee technical and operations staffing, instrumentation, scheduling, resource utilization, and continuous improvement.

AI, Automation & Research Infrastructure

- Partner with researchers, educators,, roboticists, engineers, and software developers to integrate AI, robotics, automation, and advanced instrumentation.
- Transition prototype workflows into reproducible, remote-access automated workflows.
- Advance secure, cloud-enabled laboratory operations.

Financial & Business Operations

- Develop and manage annual operating and capital budgets.
- Establish a sustainable operational and financial model.
- Oversee workforce planning, procurement, capital equipment strategy, and resource allocation.
- Identify strategic investments that expand scientific capability and impact.

Facilities, Quality, Safety & Compliance

- Provide executive oversight for laboratory facilities, infrastructure, instrumentation, robotics, and supporting systems.
- Ensure appropriate EHS, biosafety, biosecurity, chemical safety, cybersecurity, and institutional compliance.
- Establish governance, risk-management, quality-assurance, emergency preparedness, and continuous improvement practices.

Users, Partnerships & External Engagement

- Develop partnerships across academia, government, national laboratories, nonprofit organizations, and industry.
- Establish and maintain a high-quality user experience for internal and external research users to support research, education, and translation.
- Balance sponsored research, technology development, translational science, and external service activities.
- Help establish the AI Science Foundry as a nationally recognized leader in AI-enabled scientific research infrastructure.

Experience and Professional Qualifications

The Chief Scientific Operations Officer will bring a distinguished record of leadership at the intersection of scientific innovation, advanced technology, and operational execution. They will possess deep familiarity with biological, chemical, or adjacent scientific research environments and an appreciation for how emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, robotics, automation, and advanced instrumentation are transforming the research enterprise. The CSOO must demonstrate a proven ability to translate an enterprise’s scientific vision into a scalable, sustainable, and highly effective operating model capable of serving a broad community of researchers and stakeholders.

The ideal candidate will have significant executive leadership experience building, transforming, or managing complex research, laboratory, technology, or scientific service organizations. They will bring a track record of establishing operational excellence across multidisciplinary environments, including responsibility for infrastructure, laboratory operations, scientific instrumentation, technology platforms, and associated personnel. Experience leading through periods of growth, organizational change, or platform development will be particularly valuable, as the successful candidate will be tasked with creating many of the foundational systems, processes, governance structures, and operating disciplines necessary for a first-of-its-kind scientific enterprise.

Given the highly collaborative nature of the AI Science Foundry and the Biological & Chemical Innovation Cloud Lab, the CSOO must possess exceptional relationship-building and stakeholder management capabilities. The individual should have experience working across organizational boundaries to align scientists, engineers, technologists, operations professionals, and institutional leaders around shared objectives. Experience developing and managing strategic partnerships with universities, government agencies, national laboratories, industry partners, nonprofit organizations, and funding entities will be highly desirable. The successful candidate will be able to navigate both scientific and administrative environments with equal effectiveness, serving as a trusted advisor to senior leadership while maintaining credibility with researchers and technical experts.

Importantly, this is fundamentally a builder and operator role. The successful candidate will demonstrate the ability to convert emerging scientific and technological capabilities into reliable, reproducible, secure, and customer-focused services. They will possess strong financial and business acumen, including experience managing budgets, capital investments, resource allocation, and long-term operational planning. In addition, they will bring a comprehensive understanding of quality systems, laboratory safety, risk management, compliance frameworks, and performance measurement. Experience developing shared-service, platform, cloud-based, or externally facing research environments that serve multiple user constituencies will be particularly attractive, as will experience leading organizations that combine physical laboratory infrastructure with sophisticated digital technologies.

Additional professional qualifications and related experience will include, but not be limited to:

- Proven executive leadership experience within complex scientific, research, technology, laboratory, or innovation-intensive organizations.
- Deep understanding of biological, chemical, biomedical, or related scientific research environments.
- Demonstrated success building, scaling, or transforming multidisciplinary organizations and operating platforms.
- Experience overseeing sophisticated laboratory facilities, research infrastructure, advanced instrumentation, and capital-intensive operations.
- Track record of leading initiatives involving AI, machine learning, automation, robotics, digital laboratories, cloud-based scientific platforms, or related technologies.
- Experience managing significant operating budgets, capital expenditures, long-range financial planning, and resource allocation.
- Demonstrated expertise establishing operational processes, governance frameworks, performance metrics, and organizational accountability mechanisms.
- Strong understanding of laboratory quality systems, safety programs, regulatory requirements, compliance frameworks, and enterprise risk management.
- Experience developing customer-oriented service models supporting internal and/or external scientific users.
- Proven ability to lead and integrate teams spanning science, engineering, data science, robotics, automation, information technology, and operations.
- Track record of building productive partnerships across academia, government, industry, nonprofit organizations, and research funding agencies.
- Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with executive leaders, scientific stakeholders, technical experts, sponsors, and external partners while fostering alignment around a shared vision.

Education

- Advanced degree in a relevant field is preferred but not required; candidates should demonstrate the technical fluency and scientific literacy necessary to lead effectively in a complex biological, chemical, or AI-enabled laboratory environment, with preference for individuals who bring substantial executive operating experience, leadership credentials, and/or business training relevant to building and scaling research infrastructure.

Additional Requirements:

- Successful completion of a pre-employment background check
- Applicants for this position must be currently legally authorized to work for CMU in the United States. CMU will not sponsor or take over the sponsorship of an employment visa for this opportunity.  Carnegie Mellon is not a qualifying employer for the STEM OPT benefit: only the 12-month OPT may be used to work at Carnegie Mellon.

Application Procedures

Carnegie Mellon Executive Search has retained Korn Ferry to assist in this important search.

Applications should be submitted via the CMU Career portal and should include a cover letter, letter or interest, CV and/or resume.

Upon receipt of your application, it will be shared with the Korn Ferry team for further review and evaluation.

Joining the CMU team opens the door to an array of exceptional benefits.

Benefits eligible employees enjoy a wide array of benefits including comprehensive medical, prescription, dental, and vision insurance as well as a generous retirement savings program with employer contributions. Unlock your potential with tuition benefits , take well-deserved breaks with ample paid time off and observed holidays , and rest easy with life and accidental death and disability insurance.

Additional perks include a free Pittsburgh Regional Transit bus pass, access to our Family Concierge Team to help navigate childcare needs, fitness center access , and much more!

For a comprehensive overview of the benefits available, explore our Benefits page .

At Carnegie Mellon, we value the whole package when extending offers of employment. Beyond credentials, we evaluate the role and responsibilities, your valuable work experience, and the knowledge gained through education and training. We appreciate your unique skills and the perspective you bring. Your journey with us is about more than just a job; it’s about finding the perfect fit for your professional growth and personal aspirations.

Are you interested in an exciting opportunity with an exceptional organization?! Apply today!

Location
Pittsburgh, PA
Job Function
University Administration and Management
Position Type
Staff – Regular
Full Time/Part time
Full time
Pay Basis
Salary
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