ZEUS Facility Manager

University Of Michigan; Ann Arbor (MI); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous time off

Retirement plan with generous matching

Comprehensive health insurance

Life insurance

Long-term disability coverage

Flexible spending accounts

Parental leave

Job summary

University of Michigan is seeking a ZeUS Facility Manager to oversee the NSF ZEUS user facility, ensuring safe and efficient operation while supervising staff and coordinating with ZEUS researchers and the ZEUS Director.

The role requires leadership, strong communication, and experience in managing complex optics and high-power laser systems, with a focus on budgeting and procedural changes.

Qualifications

• PhD in laser science, plasma physics or related discipline.
• Demonstrated ability to interpret, analyze, and critically evaluate technical information.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day operation of the NSF ZEUS facility; coordinate daily user meetings and issue resolution.
• Coordinate meetings with users and committees (FMC, ZUG, NSF panel site review).
• Manage staff schedules to ensure smooth facility operation.
• Manage facility schedule, including experiment allocations and maintenance periods.
• Coordinate system maintenance with ZEUS staff and external vendors.
• Ensure facility safety for users, staff, and equipment.
• Assist with annual NSF reporting and budgeting; contribute to the annual NSF proposal.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Organizational skills

People management

Problem solving

Documentation

Analytical thinking

Microsoft Office

Google Workspace

Education

PhD in laser science or plasma physics

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Google Workspace

Job description

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Who We Are

Michigan Engineers are world-class educators, researchers, students and staff who strive to build a people-first future. As part of a top national public research institution, Michigan Engineering's mission is to provide scientific and technological leadership to the people of the world, develop intellectually curious and socially conscious minds, create collaborative solutions to societal problems, and promote an inclusive and innovative community of service for the common good.

Job Summary

The ZEUS Facility Manager (FM) will oversee the management of the National Science Foundation (NSF) ZEUS user facility, working alongside the (faculty) ZEUS Director and Associate Director, to ensure its safe and effective operation as a user facility. The FM will supervise ZEUS staff, coordinate with ZEUS research faculty, and manage the day-to-day facility operation, facility maintenance, facility schedule, and assist with reporting. The FM will have an understanding of high power laser systems and experiments as well the mission and goals of scientific user facilities. The FM will work with the ZEUS Business Operations Manager to coordinate budgeting, planning, scheduling, and procedural change.

Responsibilities*

• Overseeing the day-to-day operation of the NSF ZEUS facility including coordination of daily user meetings, and resolving issues with the facility operation. This will require communication with users, the ZEUS experimental, laser and engineering team to ensure smooth running of the facility
• Coordinating and planning meetings; with users to plan their experimental time, monthly Facility Management Committee (FMC) meeting with the NSF, annual meeting of the External Advisory Board (EAB), the annual ZEUS User Group (ZUG) meeting and the annual NSF panel site review of the facility
• Managing the staff schedules to ensure smooth operation of the facility
• Managing the facility schedule, including the experiment allocations and maintenance periods, to ensure efficient operation
• Coordinating the system maintenance (including maintenance performed by ZEUS staff, maintenance by external vendors, and infrastructure maintenance)
• The FM will be responsible for overseeing facility safety (safety of the users, staff, and the system itself)
• Coordinating the annual proposal call, and review process
• Assist with required reporting to the NSF, including leading the assembly of the annual report to NSF, particularly the scientific and system content
• Keep track of experimental statistics and user feedback to make the facility more efficient and productive
• Management duties include interviewing, selecting and training of employees; setting and adjusting rates of pay and hours of work; planning and directing their work; appraising their productivity and efficiency for the purpose of recommending promotions or other changes in their status; handling their complaints and grievances and disciplining when necessary
• Updating the Project Execution Plan (PEP) as necessary
• The FM will work with the ZEUS Business Operations Manager to coordinate on budgeting, controlling costs, planning, scheduling, and procedural change
• Other duties as assigned by the ZEUS Director

Required Qualifications*

• PhD degree in laser science, plasma physics or related discipline
• Minimum of 8 years of experience in an experimental research environment
• Excellent leadership skills and the ability to effectively communicate with faculty, staff, students and others
• Excellent organizational and prioritizing skills
• Experience in managing people and teams
• Experience with complex optics, vacuum systems
• Excellent problem-solving skills, including the demonstrated ability to synthesize ideas, anticipate next steps and prioritize important decisions
• Proficient in general office software (i.e. Microsoft Office Suite - Word, Excel, PowerPoint,Teams, etc. and Google Workspace)
• Demonstrated ability to interpret, analyze, and critically evaluate technical information
• Ability to accurately document technical data
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Must be able to work effectively with minimal supervision

Desired Qualifications*

• Experience working in a user facility

Why Work at Michigan?

In addition to a career filled with purpose and opportunity, The University of Michigan offers a comprehensive benefits package to help you stay well, protect yourself and your family and plan for a secure future. Benefits include:

• Generous time off
• A retirement plan that provides two-for-one matching contributions with immediate vesting
• Many choices for comprehensive health insurance
• Life insurance
• Long-term disability coverage
• Flexible spending accounts for healthcare and dependent care expenses
• Maternity and Parental Leave

Modes of Work

Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes .

This position is classified as onsite. Occasional travel for meetings may also be required.

Additional Information

• This position requires work in the laser clean room, necessitating the use of PPE
• The person in this position routinely presents information at events and in meetings
• May require work during early mornings, nights, and/or weekends
• This position may require travel domestically and/or internationally

The University of Michigan conducts background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer and may use a third party administrator to conduct background checks. Background checksare performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

Application Deadline

Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days.The review and selection process maybegin as early as the eighth day after posting.Thisopening may be removed from posting boards and filled any time after the minimum posting period has ended.

U-M EEO Statement

The University of Michigan is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.