Assistant Director- Fabrication and Design

Department: Oregon Fabrication and Design
Appointment Type and Duration: Regular, Ongoing
Salary: $90,000 - $100,000 per year; Commensurate with experience
Compensation Band: OS-OA09-Fiscal Year 2024-2025
FTE: 1.0

Application Review Begins

October 21, 2024; position open until filled

Special Instructions to Applicants

With your online application, you will also be asked to enter the names and contact information of three professional references; candidates will be notified prior to contacting references.

Please upload a resume describing how you meet the minimum requirements, professional competencies, and any preferred qualifications.

The position is based out of Eugene, Oregon, on campus.

Department Summary

The University of Oregon Scientific Instrument Fabrication and Engineering Shop, also known as OFAD, Oregon Fabrication and Design (Formerly, TSA, Technical Science Administration) is a research core facility located in Pacific Hall, Cascade Annex, and Knight Campus on the UO main campus. We are a scientific instrument engineering shop that has been operating to the benefit of publicly and privately funded research from our location in Eugene, Oregon for over 30 years. Our shops house diagnostic and manufacturing equipment that are utilized and maintained by trained personnel uniquely capable of providing prototyping expertise, technical consultation, mechanical engineering, CAD design, CNC/CAM programming, instrument repair, and precision fabrication services to all university research labs, as well as private sector companies within the Pacific Northwest and beyond.

Position Summary

The Assistant Director is the primary administrator and technical leader of Oregon Fabrication and Design (OFAD), reporting to the OVPRI Strategic Advisor for Research Cores Facilities. The assistant director has responsibility for and oversight of fiscal and daily operations for efficient and successful consistent processes and procedures to ensure safety and compliance. This position directly supervises approximately 3-5 employees and 1-3 student workers, and is responsible for hiring (pending OVPRI approval), performance evaluations, and structuring performance improvement plans as needed for staff working in OFAD.

This position will be expected to define services and develop activities toward balancing the OFAD facility budget and fulfilling UO research goals -- informed by the Faculty Advisory Committee and the office of the Vice President of Research and Innovation. The Assistant Director will work with OFAD managers to evaluate the status of current equipment and technical assistance offered in the OFAD. The Assistant Director also serves as the primary contact for relationship building with external clients and internal constituents.

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in a Scientific, Engineering, or Design field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Eight years of full-time experience with designing and fabricating scientific apparatus and/or precision parts, including experience with CNC, mills, lathes, CAD and CAM software, 3D printing, and various other precision machine shop tooling.
• Three years of experience in a supervisory or managerial position, including training and hiring of employees.

Professional Competencies

• Proficient in all functions and features of manual lathes, milling machines, and related supporting equipment necessary to the fabrication of precise components and assemblies of various materials and complexities.
• Familiarity with 3D printing, and well experienced using 3D modeling software, including CAM for control of CNC machining equipment.
• Ability to design for a wide variety of complex challenges across all scientific disciplines, using a working knowledge of available technical materials and subcomponents.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate at a high level interpersonally and in writing.
• Proven ability to manage projects and employees.
• Ability to manage budgets, invoices, procurement and inventory.

Preferred Qualifications

• 10 years of full-time experience designing and fabricating high precision parts for scientific applications utilizing instruments in a precision machine shop environment.
• 10 years of experience in a supervisory or managerial position.
• Experience with budgeting, invoicing, materials procurement and inventory management.

FLSA Exempt: Yes

All offers of employment are contingent upon successful completion of a background check.