Director of operations CIME

École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne, EPFL; Lausanne; Vor Ort; CHF 180.000 - 260.000; Vollzeit

Benefits dieser Stelle

Competitive salary

Access to cutting-edge facilities

Interdisciplinary environment

Zusammenfassung

EPFL in Lausanne invites applications for the role of Director of operations for the Central Electron Microscopy Facility (CIME). You will lead a multidisciplinary team, oversee maintenance of SEM/TEM/FIB/cryo-EM, and develop a strategic plan to advance the platform within EPFL and with external partners.

The successful candidate will drive scientific and operational excellence, manage budgets, training, and collaborations across EPFL schools and industry, while strengthening user support and

Qualifikationen

• PhD or equivalent in materials science, physics, chemistry, or related fields.
• Proven expertise in advanced electron microscopy techniques (TEM, SEM, FIB, tomography, cryo-EM, or in-situ EM).
• Active engagement in the electron microscopy community with ability to build collaborations.
• Strong leadership and ability to manage multidisciplinary teams.
• Excellent communication in English; French knowledge is a plus.

Aufgaben

• Lead and manage the CIME team (scientific, technical, and administrative staff).
• Lead maintenance, upgrade, and operation of electron microscopy infrastructure (SEM, TEM, FIB, cryo-EM).
• Develop and implement the strategic vision of the platform in coordination with EPFL leadership and user community.
• Ensure efficient user support, training, and education at all levels (students, researchers, industry users).
• Foster collaborations across EPFL schools and with external partners; manage budget and investments.

Kenntnisse

Leadership

Interpersonal skills

English communication

Ausbildung

PhD or equivalent in materials science/physics/chemistry

Tools

Electron microscopy techniques (TEM, SEM, FIB, cryo-EM)

Jobbeschreibung

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EPFL, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne, is one of the most dynamic university campuses in Europe and ranks among the top 20 universities worldwide. The EPFL employs more than 6,500 people supporting the three main missions of the institutions: education, research and innovation. The EPFL campus offers an exceptional working environment at the heart of a community of more than 18,500 people, including over 14,000 students and 4,000 researchers from more than 120 different countries.

Director of operations CIME

Mission

EPFL is seeking a dynamic and experienced scientist or engineer to head its Central Electron Microscopy Facility (CIME).

The head of CIME will lead a multidisciplinary platform providing state-of-the-art electron microscopy services, training, and collaborative research support to the EPFL community and external partners. The successful candidate will create a vision for the strategic development of the platform, driving its implementation while ensuring excellence in scientific, technical, and operational performance, and will manage the personnel associated with this facility.

Main duties and responsibilities

• Lead and manage the CIME team (scientific, technical, and administrative staff).
• Lead maintenance, upgrade, and optimal operation of the electron microscopy infrastructure (SEM, TEM, FIB, cryo-EM, etc.).
• Develop and implement the strategic vision of the platform in coordination with the AVP-Platforms and user community.
• Ensure efficient user support, training, and education at all levels (students, researchers, industry users).
• Foster collaborations across EPFL schools (STI, SB, SV, INC, ENAC) and with external partners (academia and industry).
• Manage the operational budget, resource allocation, and long-term investment planning.

Profile

• PhD or equivalent experience in materials science, physics, chemistry, or related fields.
• Proven expertise in advanced electron microscopy techniques (TEM, SEM, FIB, tomography, cryo-EM, or in-situ EM)
• Active engagement in the electron microscopy community, including regular participation in conferences, workshops, user meetings, and professional societies, with the ability to build and maintain scientific and technical collaborations that support the facility's mission.
• Strong commitment to education and training, with experience in/or demonstrable appetite for teaching and supervising at Master and Doctoral School levels;
• Strong leadership and interpersonal skills, with demonstrated ability to motivate and manage multidisciplinary teams.
• Strategic thinking, with the ability to balance scientific excellence and operational efficiency.
• Excellent communication skills in English; working knowledge of French is a strong asset
• Demonstrated capabilities of leading an infrastructure or facility is an advantage.
• Experience with academic and industrial collaborations is an advantage.

We offer

• A stimulating, interdisciplinary environment at one of Europe’s leading research institutions.
• Access to cutting-edge facilities and a broad network of experts.
• Opportunities to shape the future of advanced microscopy at EPFL.
• Competitive salary and benefits according to EPFL standards.

Informations

Contract Start Date : 08/01/2027 or to be discussed/negotiated