Greenhouse & Lab Facilities Manager

About the job

BUSINESS TITLE:  Greenhouse & Lab Facilities Manager

WORK SCHEDULE:

This position is onsite at the 260 Panama campus at Stanford and requires regular presence to oversee greenhouse conditions, staff, and facility needs.

BUDGETED SALARY:

The expected pay range for this position is $93,398 to $135,000 per annum.

****SCHOOL/UNIT DESCRIPTION:

The Office of the Vice Provost and Dean of Research (DoR) supports Stanford's research enterprise through shared facilities, interdisciplinary institutes, and research administration. DoR is restoring and activating the 260 Panama campus at Stanford, a complex of greenhouses, indoor growth rooms, laboratories, offices, and storage, as a new multidisciplinary plant biology research hub, envisioned as a “Bio-X for plant biology,” that will bring together faculty and researchers from across the university.

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Greenhouse and Facilities Manager will lead the operation, readiness, and growth of the 260 Panama campus, managing its research greenhouses, indoor growth rooms, laboratories, and support spaces. Reporting to DoR, this position oversees daily greenhouse and facility operations through a small team, partners with faculty and leadership on strategic planning for space and future research needs, plans equipment and capital improvements, manages renovations and lab moves with LBRE, administers a multi-source budget, and oversees health and safety compliance in partnership with EH&S.

DoR is seeking an experienced, proactive leader who anticipates problems before they affect research. You will work directly with faculty, postdocs, and students, many of whom may be new to plant cultivation, on growing requirements, training, and space, and you will help shape how a historic research campus becomes a new home for plant biology at Stanford. If you bring deep greenhouse or horticultural expertise, strong facilities and systems knowledge, and experience leading staff and budgets, we would like to hear from you.

PREFERRED/DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Strong subject matter knowledge and expertise relevant to greenhouse, grow room, growth chamber, and plant biology facilities operations, specifically in an academic research setting in a medium to large campus operation.
• Excellent planning and organizational skills, with the ability to establish priorities, manage multiple projects, and meet time-sensitive deadlines.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate clearly and effectively with diverse internal and external audiences including faculty, staff, postdocs / grad students and vendors.
• Strong interpersonal, relationship-building, negotiation, and customer service skills, with the ability to work effectively and diplomatically with a wide range of stakeholders.
• Strong analytical, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills, with demonstrated sound judgment, initiative, creativity, and decision-making ability.
• Excellent attention to detail and accuracy.
• Ability to work effectively both independently and collaboratively as part of a team.

In addition, preferred requirements include:

• Work experience in plant biology, greenhouse operations, growth chamber operations and maintenance, physical facilities and laboratory operations specific to plant biology and growth, faculty partnership, vendor management, plant and greenhouse security, pet control, climate control, and scientific operations.

Responsibilities

Core Duties:

• Oversee the operation and management of assigned research and teaching facilities.

• Participate in creating strategic plans for future laboratory needs in consultation with faculty and department leadership. Consult and collaborate with faculty and department leadership to plan and allocate lab space for current and future teaching and research needs.

• Plan and determine equipment needs, authorize purchase of equipment including capital improvements, and manage installation of equipment and instruments in collaboration with facilities services staff. Evaluate and strategically determine equipment upgrade/replacement options and other alternatives in lieu of repair based on latest technological advances and current and future needs. Negotiate, select, and monitor complex equipment service contracts and warranties with vendors.

• Design and implement plans for renovations of equipment and/or facilities; manage complex laboratory moves in collaboration with facilities services staff.

• Administer and prepare complex budgets that include multiple funding sources.

• Oversee and administer health and safety programs and ensure safety compliance; liaise with school and/or university health and safety office as appropriate.

• Direct work of other staff including supervision, hiring, promotions, and terminations; determine staffing needs, and ensure efficient utilization of staff.

Minimum Education and Experience

Bachelor's degree and five years of relevant experience, or combination of education and relevant experience.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Understanding of academic research facility needs.

• General background in a discipline related to the work of specific lab(s).

• Demonstrated supervisory experience.

• Demonstrated experience managing multiple large budgets.

• Knowledge and experience in managing facilities, operations, maintenance, space, and equipment administration in a research or teaching setting.

• Excellent communication and customer services skills.

• Ability to coordinate and manage multiple projects in a complex and technical environment.

• Familiarity with health and safety compliance regulations.

Additional Information

• Job Identification: 201744
• Job Category: Research
• Posting Date: 2026-11-12
• Locations: 408 Panama Mall, Stanford, CA, 94305, US
• Pay Range: $93,398-$174,343
• Pay Frequency: Annually
• Fixed Term: N
• Stanford Schools and Units: Vice Provost and Dean of Research
• Full time or Part time: Full Time