Chief Technology Officer

Microbial Resource Research Infrastructure - European Research Infrastructure Consortium; Portugal; Hybrid; EUR 24,000 - 28,000; Part time

Job summary

Microbial Resource Research Infrastructure - European Research Infrastructure Consortium (MIRRI-ERIC) is seeking a Chief Technology Officer to lead the technical and scientific implementation of MIRRI-ERIC. The CTO will work with the direction to modernise the infrastructure's capacity and data systems and ensure long-term sustainability.

Reporting to the Executive Director, the CTO will define the technology strategy, oversee services integration including genomic and bioinformatics, and drive

Qualifications

• PhD in Biological Sciences or related field required.
• At least 15 years of life sciences research and technology experience.
• At least 5 years of experience managing a research infrastructure, core facility or technical platform.
• Fluency in English (C1 level).

Responsibilities

• Define and implement MIRRI-ERIC technology strategy.
• Lead interoperability and FAIR data across data systems.
• Coordinate technical quality management across node networks.
• Oversee development of MIRRI-ERIC services and data platforms.
• Report directly to the Executive Director.

Skills

English (C1)

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Cross-cultural collaboration

Education

PhD in Biological Sciences

15+ years experience in life sciences

Tools

Bioinformatics tools

High-throughput sequencing

Job description

Organisation/Company Microbial Resource Research Infrastructure - European Research Infrastructure Consortium Research Field Biological sciences » Biology Researcher Profile Established Researcher (R3) Positions Postdoc Positions Application Deadline 28 Oct 2026 - 18:00 (Europe/Paris) Country Portugal Type of Contract Permanent Job Status Part-time Hours Per Week 16 Offer Starting Date 1 Dec 2026 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Other EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? Yes

Offer Description

Job Announcement

Starting date: 01 December 2026 or earlier

Contract duration: Contract with indefinite duration, subject to periodic evaluations

Contract type: The CTO will be hired in the form of a service commission contract, as foreseen in the Portuguese Labour Code (articles 161 to 164), stating his/her role, duties and compensation.

Working time dedication: 40%

Location: MIRRI-ERIC Headquarters (Braga, Portugal), with the possibility of hybrid work within Portugal

Gross Salary: 25164,27€, corresponding to 40% of index 245 of the Portuguese Public Research career.

Applicable legislation: Portuguese Labour Code and applicable Portuguese legislation.

Work Authorisation & Relocation: Applicants must possess current and unrestricted authorisation to work in the country of employment. Please note that the employer will not provide visa sponsorship or assistance of any kind to obtain work authorisation. Additionally, this position is remote with occasional presence in the headquarters. The applicant is solely responsible for its own bureaucratic eligibility to work before the start date.

About MIRRI-ERIC

The Microbial Resource Research Infrastructure – European Research Infrastructure Consortium (MIRRI-ERIC) is a pan-European distributed Research Infrastructure that connects leading microbial domain Biological Resource Centres (mBRCs), culture collections, universities and research organisations.

MIRRI-ERIC provides coordinated access to high-quality microbial resources, associated data and expertise, supporting research and innovation in biotechnology, health, agriculture, food systems, environmental sustainability and the circular bioeconomy. By promoting harmonised standards, quality management and FAIR data principles, MIRRI-ERIC contributes to scientific excellence and Europe's competitiveness in biotechnology.

Position Summary

MIRRI-ERIC is seeking an experienced and highly motivated Chief Technology Officer (CTO) to lead the technical and scientific implementation of the MIRRI-ERIC.

Reporting to the Executive Director of MIRRI-ERIC, the Chief Technology Officer will work with the MIRRI-ERIC direction and team to modernise the infrastructure's technical capacity, services and data systems, and to ensure their long‑term sustainability.

Main Responsibilities

The Chief Technology Officer will:

• Define and implement the MIRRI-ERIC technology strategy, aligned with its current and future scientific and service priorities;
• Lead the improvement of interoperability and FAIRness of microbial resource data, catalogues and information systems, including alignment with European data infrastructures and standards;
• Coordinate the technical harmonisation of quality management across microbial Biological Resource Centres and national nodes;
• Oversee the technical development of the MIRRI-ERIC services portfolio, including the integration of genomic, bioinformatic and data services;
• Monitor emerging technologies in sequencing, omics and computational biology and assess their adoption by the infrastructure and its nodes;
• Contribute to environmentally sustainable operations and to the technical resilience of the infrastructure;
• Support industry engagement and technology transfer activities, and collaboration with other European Research Infrastructures, including ELIXIR;
• Contribute to the design and delivery of training activities for the MIRRI-ERIC community;
• Report directly to the Executive Director.

Essential Qualifications

Applicants should have:

• a PhD in Biological Sciences, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Bioinformatics or another relevant discipline;
• at least 15 years of relevant professional experience in life sciences research and technology;
• at least 5 years of experience managing a research infrastructure, core facility or technical platform, including its staff, budget and service delivery;
• demonstrated expertise in genomics and bioinformatics, including high‑throughput sequencing technologies and data analysis;
• experience in research data management and data infrastructure;
• a track record of coordinating competitively funded European projects;
• experience supervising and training technical and scientific staff;
• excellent written and spoken English (minimum C1 level).

Desirable Qualifications

Preference will be given to candidates with:

• experience in microbial, environmental or comparative genomics, including metagenomics;
• experience with biobanks, culture collections or Biological Resource Centres, including participation in networks of biological resource repositories;
• experience implementing FAIR data principles and data stewardship;
• experience with quality management systems in regulated laboratory environments;
• experience working with European research infrastructures;
• experience in technology transfer, intellectual property or collaboration with the industry;
• formal training in management or leadership;
• experience organising international workshops and training courses.

Personal Skills

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

• integrity and professionalism;
• strategic vision combined with hands‑on technical expertise;
• excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain technical matters to non‑specialist audiences;
• strong organisational, planning and team leadership abilities;attention to detail combined with a pragmatic, solution‑oriented approach;
• initiative, autonomy and adaptability;
• ability to work effectively in multicultural and international environments;
• ability to build trusted relationships with scientific, institutional and industry stakeholders at all levels;
• ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining a high standard of quality and delivery.

What We Offer

MIRRI-ERIC offers:

• the opportunity to shape the technological development of a major European Research Infrastructure;
• an international, collaborative and multidisciplinary working environment;
• opportunities for professional development;
• remote work from Portugal;
• competitive salary package according to qualifications and experience.

Requirements

Research Field Biological sciences » Biology Education Level PhD or equivalent

Skills/Qualifications

• PhD in Biological Sciences, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Bioinformatics or another relevant discipline.
• At least 15 years of relevant professional experience in life sciences research and technology.
• At least 5 years of experience managing a research infrastructure, core facility or technical platform, including staff, budget and service delivery.
• Demonstrated expertise in genomics and bioinformatics, including high‑throughput sequencing technologies and data analysis.
• Experience in research data management and data infrastructure.
• A track record of coordinating competitively funded European projects.
• Experience supervising and training technical and scientific staff.
• Excellent written and spoken English, at a minimum C1 level.
• Experience in microbial, environmental or comparative genomics, including metagenomics.
• Experience with biobanks, culture collections or Biological Resource Centres, including participation in networks of biological resource repositories.
• Experience implementing FAIR data principles and data stewardship.
• Experience with quality management systems in regulated laboratory environments.
• Experience working with European research infrastructures.
• Experience in technology transfer, intellectual property or collaboration with industry.
• Formal training in management or leadership.
• Experience organising international workshops and training courses.

Personal skills

• Integrity and professionalism.
• Strategic vision combined with hands‑on technical expertise.
• Excellent communication skills, including the ability to explain technical matters to non‑specialist audiences.
• Strong organisational, planning and team leadership abilities.
• Attention to detail and a pragmatic, solution‑oriented approach.
• Initiative, autonomy and adaptability.
• Ability to work effectively in multicultural and international environments.
• Ability to build trusted relationships with scientific, institutional and industry stakeholders.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining a high standard of quality and delivery.

• Availability to undertake the position at 40% working time.
• Availability to work remotely from Portugal, with occasional presence at MIRRI-ERIC Headquarters in Braga.
• Current and unrestricted authorisation to work in Portugal before the start date. Applicants who are not citizens of an EU Member State must demonstrate their legal right to work in Portugal at the application stage. MIRRI-ERIC does not provide visa sponsorship, work permit assistance or relocation support.

Languages ENGLISH Level Excellent

Research Field Biological sciences

Work Location(s)

Number of offers available 1 Company/Institute Microbial Resource Research Infrastructure - European Research Infrastructure Consortium Country Portugal City Braga Geofield