NMR Facilities Manager (10378)

Rosalind Franklin Institute

The Rosalind Franklin Institute (the Franklin) is a UK technology institute for life sciences, creating innovative technologies that transform our understanding of life. Our technologies, borne out of innovation in physical sciences, create collaborations and new avenues in life science which will lead to new therapeutics and advance our understanding of human biology.

As an NMR Facilities Manager your primary responsibility will be managing NMR spectrometers. Your role will entail establishing effective NMR methods for small and large molecule characterisation, including methods for characterisation of biomolecules and of ligand-biomolecule interactions.

Your remit will expand along with the Institute's activity and equipment, to support all work in synthetic, medicinal and chemical biology including our broad ambitions for diverse NMR applications, especially those associated with pathology. Accordingly, your tasks will increasingly encompass diverse methods and novel equipment in collaboration with our dedicated technicians. You will also work with key partners in this area, including diverse academic and industrial partners as well as other complementary facilities on the Harwell Campus and partner institutions/universities.

You will have the opportunity to work within a multidisciplinary, diverse scientific environment, which encourages teamwork and collaboration. Reporting to the Head of Biomolecular NMR, Professor Andrew Baldwin. In this context you will have latitude to explore joint links with external university partners, obtain on-going training and you will be encouraged to both lead and support research. 

This role is based at Harwell Campus, with full or part-time options available (minimum 22.5 hours per week). Please indicate your preference at application.

Salary will be pro rata based on part-time hours.

Key Responsibilities

As a Facilities Lead you will:

• Provide technical leadership for establishment of and integration of complex instrumentation, platforms or capabilities within the Franklin. Work towards maximising benefits to the Franklin from these.
• Maintain the instrumentation and capabilities for highest levels of performance, establish and manage the implementation of the standard operating procedures for use to best enable science strategy for all Franklin scientists.
• Ensure maximum up time of all instrumentation in the NMR facility, with established maintenance schedules; execute calibration protocols.
• Take responsibility for health and safety, ensuring that staff are trained appropriately, risks are well managed and that the highest standards of integrity are upheld.
• Establish framework for training and facilities access for users.
• Work with key partners in the areas of expertise and build scientific collaborations, develop strategic plans with other Franklin leaders for future focus and capabilities.
• Ensure that the Franklin is constantly "horizon scanning" for best tools/methods, pursue instrumentation-based research aligned with the Franklin’s science strategy.
• Lead or jointly lead negotiations with vendors of higher-end equipment, ensure that purchase/maintenance agreements secure the best value for the Franklin.
• Organise systems for staff/student training, monitor and maintain supplies and order consumables.
• Organise and manage access to maximise productivity of the relevant research projects of the user community at the Franklin and on the Harwell Campus. This will involve consideration of schedules of access outside of typical working hours.
• Contribute to the public engagement in science program of the Franklin and partners.
• Any other duties that come up in the normal running of the facility and that can be reasonably requested of the post-holder.

Before submitting your application, please ensure you read the Job Information Pack for full details of this role on our website: NMR Facilities Manager (10378) - Rosalind Franklin Institute (rfi.ac.uk) For informal enquires about this role, please contact Abi Turner at abi.turner@rfi.ac.uk.

This job description set outs the skills and experience we believe are needed to be able to do this job but, research also tells us women are much more likely than men to take this list of requirements as absolute and self-select out of the process. If you think you can deliver this role then we want to hear from you, regardless of the boxes you did not tick.

In return we offer:

• 25 days holidays plus bank holidays and Christmas holiday shutdown
• Generous pension scheme (employer’s contribution currently up to 18%)
• Group Life Assurance (also known as Group Life Insurance or Death in Service)
• Hub building with state-of-the-art laboratories
• Hybrid and flexible working
• Training and development opportunities for staff at all levels
• Bus pass discount scheme and good transport links to Oxford and surrounding areas
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Access to employee discount platform (Perkbox)
• Occupational Health and wellbeing support including Employee Assistance (24/7 support and counselling)
• Health Cash Plan
• Subsidised canteen and food outlets on campus
• Free on-site parking
• Campus location in beautiful countryside with social and sports clubs open to staff

The Franklin’s underlying aim is to produce the best science for research today, and this means resolutely embracing a diverse team, who have a wide range of experiences, skills and knowledge to push forward on the innovative work our institution delivers. Both our work and our institution are better for it. For further information, view our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy. 

We are committed to creating an inclusive environment where every applicant has an equal opportunity to showcase their talents and abilities. This includes making adjustments for candidates with specific needs. Please contact us at recruitment@rfi.ac.uk to discuss your requirements confidentially.

At the Rosalind Franklin Institute we also welcome applications from all around the world!

To be considered for this role, please submit a CV and cover letter explaining why you think you are the right person for this job (via the 'Apply' button above). Please include information about your education and work experience.

Closing date: The closing date for applications is 23:59 on Sunday 30th November 2025.

Applicants should refer to our Candidate Privacy Policy

AREA: Scientific

PERIOD OF APPOINTMENT: Fixed-Term Contract (5 years)