User Facilities Director for MATRIX-MIP and Facility Manager for Hard Materials Lab (HML)

UWMSN University of Wisconsin Madison; United States; On-site; USD 108,000 - 132,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Wisconsin–Madison seeks an outstanding scientist to lead HML operations and the MATRIX‑MIP user program. The role involves hiring and managing a six-member team, coordinating staff for internal and external users, and guiding program reviews and NSF reporting.

The incumbent will help establish the facility during startup, including design, equipment evaluation, and user training development, while fostering collaboration across units and ensuring safe, efficient operations.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of lab experience focused on bulk synthesis and characterization of structural materials.
• Preferred: bulk synthesis and characterization of structural materials in extreme conditions, high-temperature environments.

Responsibilities

• Serve as consultant to project directors and provide technical expertise.
• Determine unit personnel needs and allocate resources.
• Plan and manage strategic initiatives for a center/program with institutional recognition.
• Manage large research projects and coordinate with internal stakeholders.
• Lead MATRIX-MIP user program and oversee proposal submissions and reviews.

Skills

lab experience

bulk synthesis

characterization

leadership

communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Materials Science or related field

Masters or PhD preferred

Job description

Current Employees: If you are currently employed at any of the Universities of Wisconsin, log in to Workday to apply through the internal application process.

Job Category: Academic Staff Employment Type: Regular Job Profile: Research Program Associate Director (Inst)

Job Summary:

The University of Wisconsin - Madison seeks an outstanding scientist to serve as a staff member for MATRIX_MIP (Materials AI and Transformation through Research Infrastructure for eXtreme environments) and the Hard Materials Lab (HML). MATRIX-MIP is a newly established NSF research center focused on developing structural materials for extreme environments. The center will be housed in HML, a new core facility of the Wisconsin Centers for Nanoscale Technology (WCNT), launching alongside MATRIX-MIP. The successful candidate will provide integrated leadership for HML operations and the MATRIX-MIP user program, with primary responsibilities for hiring and managing a team of six HML staff members and supporting the lab’s broader user community.

During the startup phase, the individual will help establish the facility through laboratory design, equipment evaluation and acquisition, and development of user training programs. Ongoing responsibilities will include coordinating staff support for internal and external users, consulting with prospective users on project feasibility and available resources, and serving as the primary point of contact for resolving escalated user concerns.

The individual will also lead and promote the MATRIX-MIP user program and oversee its proposal submission and review process. In support of MATRIX-MIP’s NSF reporting and oversight activities, the individual will participate in meetings with NSF, coordinate the collection of user program and facility usage data, and contribute to progress reports.

This position requires a collaborative leader with strong scientific expertise and excellent communication skills.

This vacancy is being announced simultaneously with JR#10015627; please note that only one vacancy exists. Having two job postings allows the College of Engineering to consider candidates with both oversight and strategic planning for a center and conceptualizing, designs, instrumentation systems used in scientific research.

Key Job Responsibilities:

• Serves as a consultant to project directors and provides technical expertise to research and operational personnel
• Determines unit personnel needs and the unit personnel resource allocation plan
• Assists with planning, implementation, and management of strategic initiatives for a center or program that has institutional recognition
• Manages large research projects for the institution
• Serves as a unit liaison to internal stakeholder groups to foster cross-unit partnership efforts regarding research programs and activities
• Collaborates with project directors and the full range of clients whose knowledge and expertise varies
• Exercises supervisory authority, including hiring, transferring, suspending, promoting, managing conduct and performance, discharging, assigning, rewarding, disciplining, and/or approving hours worked of at least 2.0 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees

Required Qualifications:

• A minimum of 5 years of lab experience focused on bulk synthesis and characterization of structural materials

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience on bulk synthesis and characterization of structural materials in extreme conditions, notably high temperature structural environments
• One year of personnel management experience
• Experience in metallic and/or ceramic additive manufacturing
• Experience in primary processing of materials and scale-up
• Experience with lab design, including space needs, facilities planning, and safety considerations
• Experience in user training and the development of instructional materials
• Experience with instrument maintenance and repair

Education:

• Required: Bachelor’s degree in Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, or other related discipline
• Preferred: Masters or PhD in Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, or other related discipline

Institutional Statement on Diversity:

Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals. The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background - people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world. The University of Wisconsin-Madison is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, including but not limited to, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, or status as a protected veteran and other bases as defined by federal regulations and UW System policies. We promote excellence by acknowledging skills and expertise from all backgrounds and encourage all qualified individuals to apply. For more information regarding applicant and employee rights and to view federal and state required postings, visit the Human Resources Workplace Poster website. To request a disability or pregnancy-related accommodation for any step in the hiring process (e.g., application, interview, pre-employment testing, etc.), please contact the Divisional Disability Representative (DDR) in the division you are applying to. Please make your request as soon as possible to help the university respond most effectively to you. Employment may require a criminal background check. It may also require your references to answer questions regarding misconduct, including sexual violence and sexual harassment. The University of Wisconsin System will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except that the identity of the successful candidate will be released. See Wis. Stat. sec. 19.36(7).

Contact Information:

Julie Morasch, [e-mail]. Relay Access (WTRS): 7-1-1. See RELAY_SERVICE for further information.

Work with purpose, make an impact, and grow your career. The University of Wisconsin–Madison is committed to equity, inclusion and employee well-being as we proudly work to improve the lives of people in Wisconsin and beyond. UW–Madison offers a wide range of professions that cover various interests and skill levels. We employ everything from accountants to arborists, chefs to custodians, editors to electricians, graphic designers to groundskeepers, HR associates to HVAC technicians, librarians to locksmiths, mechanics to medical assistants, painters to police officers, web designers to welders, and absolutely everything in between! No matter what you are looking for professionally, chances are you will not only find it but will thrive at it while working at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Compensation: The starting salary for the position is $120,000 (but is negotiable based on experience and qualifications).

Employment Type: Regular.