The Research Director (Researcher Lead) will direct the research activities of the Shingo Institute in the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business at Utah State University. The position also assists the Shingo Institute in its mission of “improving the process of improvement.”

Reports to the Executive Director of the Shingo Institute.

This position is telework eligible within the state of Utah. Telework outside of the state of Utah is subject to review and approval by the University prior to a job offer being extended.

Research- Lead and oversee all research efforts at the Shingo Institute, including:

• Work closely with new Huntsman Faculty on Shingo Institute research strategy and agenda
• Chair and process owner of the Shingo Research Advisory Board.
• Oversee administration of the Shingo Research Award process
• Support current research initiatives
• Steering Committee member of CLEAR
• Participate (co-author) in academic papers about our research
• Work towards special edition of a journal
• Support of POMS and annual sponsorship
• Case study creation with Huntsman Faculty for use in courses

Faculty Fellows- Point of contact for everything Fellow related, including:

• Manage relationships
• Coordinate activities
• Try new experiments
• Conference participation
• Encourage and promote the research activities of Shingo Faculty Fellows
• Identify talent, seek approval and onboard new Fellows

Insight- Leader of the overall product and process including:

• Sales process with prospective clients
• Working with each client on survey design
• Report analysis and report out to client
• Supporting each assessment team with interpretation
• Continuous improvement, based on customer feedback
• Maintain master list

Publication Award- Administration of the process from beginning to end, including:

• Maintaining the examiner pool

Whitepaper- Owner of process.

Articles/Webinars- Administration of the front end of the process including:

• Development of schedule
• Recruiting of talent
• Standard work for talent
• Editing and final review
• Coordination with Events manager

Teach courses at the Huntsman School, including:

• Develop new courses
• Recruiting leaders to support courses

Speaking:

• Shingo Conferences
• Community Conferences
• Affiliate Conferences
• Webinar and Virtual Conferences

Support of improvement community, including:

• Future of People at Work Coordinating Group
• Future of People at Work Academic Group
• CLEAR
• Teaching Lean Group
• Lean Frontiers
• POMS Operational Excellence College

Minimum Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in related field required, PhD preferred.
• Minimum of 10 years related industry experience.
• Demonstrated experience with the application of the Shingo Model.
• US citizenship and residency.
• Exceptional communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Masters degree in Business or related field.
• Shingo Alumni (will be required to be an alumnus within 1 yr of hire).
• Shingo Examiner status.
• Multi industry experience.
• Located near Utah State University main campus in Logan, Utah.

Along with the online application, please attach:

1. Resume/CV to be uploaded at the beginning of your application in the Candidate Profile under “Resume/CV"
2. Name and contact information for 3 professional references to be entered into Candidate Profile. Letters of recommendation will be requested from the references of finalist candidates only. Do not upload letters of recommendation with your application.
3. Cover letter to be typed/pasted at the end of your application.

**Document size may not exceed 10 MB.**

Employees work indoors and are protected from weather and/or contaminants, but not, necessarily, occasional temperature changes. The employee is regularly required to sit and often uses repetitive hand motions.

Founded in 1888, Utah State University is Utah’s premier land-grant, public service university, with a strong commitment to excellence, access, and inclusion, empowering people to lead successful lives of involvement, innovation, and impact. Utah State provides high-quality education to 27,500-plus students locations throughout the state, including at three residential campuses, eight statewide campuses, and 23 education centers. USU Online educates students from all 50 states and 55 countries. For over 25 years, USU Extension has served and engaged Utahns in all of Utah’s counties. As an R1 research institution, Utah State is dedicated to advancing knowledge through research and scholarly activities, providing a high-quality undergraduate and graduate education at an affordable price.

Utah State is committed to cultivating a community of inclusive excellence where all perspectives, values, cultures, and identities are acknowledged, welcomed, and valued. We seek to recruit, hire, and retain people from all walks of life who will champion excellence in education, research, discovery, outreach, and service. We believe that promoting a strong sense of community and belonging empowers and engages all members of USU to thrive and be successful. Forbes recognized our commitment to employees when they named Utah State the best employer in Utah in 2023. Learn more about USU. 

The university provides a Dual Career Assistance Program to support careers for partners who are also seeking employment. Additionally, USU is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities. To request a reasonable accommodation for a disability, contact the university’s ADA Coordinator in the Office of Human Resources at (435) 797-0122 or hr@usu.edu. 

About the Region

U.S. News and World Report ranked Utah first for its strong economy, fiscal stability, education, and health care. Outstanding outdoor recreational opportunities abound throughout the state, including five national parks, 43 state parks and recreation areas, and 15 alpine ski resorts. The home of USU’s main campus, Logan, is a city of 54,000-plus people in a picturesque mountain valley 80 miles north of Salt Lake City. The Logan metro area claimed the top spot in the Milken Institute’s 2022 ranking for best-performing small cities in the nation. 

*updated 04/2024

In its programs and activities, including in admissions and employment, Utah State University does not discriminate or tolerate discrimination, including harassment, based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other status protected by University policy, Title IX, or any other federal, state, or local law.

The following individuals have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the application of Title IX and its implementing regulations and/or USU’s non-discrimination policies:

Executive Director of the Office of Equity Matthew Pinner, discrimination@usu.edu, Distance Education Rm. 401, 435-797-1266

Title IX Coordinator Cody Carmichael, titleix@usu.edu, Distance Education Rm. 404, 435-797-1266

Mailing address: 5100 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322

For further information regarding non-discrimination, please visit https://equity.usu.edu/, or contact:

U.S. Department of Education, Office of Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 800-421-3481, OCR@ed.gov

*updated 09/2023