The Ellison Institute of Technology (EIT) Oxford’s purpose is to have a global impact by fundamentally reimagining the way science and technology translate into end-to-end solutions and delivering these solutions in programmes and platforms that respond to humanity’s most challenging problems.
EIT Oxford will ensure scientific discoveries and pioneering science are turned into products for the benefit of society that can have high-impact worldwide and, over time, be commercialised to ensure long-term sustainability.
Led by a faculty of world experts, EIT Oxford seeks to solve the world’s most challenging problems across four high-risk, high-reward, high-impact humane endeavours: health and medical science; food security and sustainable agriculture; climate change and clean energy; and government innovation in an era of artificial intelligence.
EIT Oxford is investing significant resources in a new world-class research and development facility in the Oxford Science Park. Set for completion in 2027, the state-of-the-art campus includes 300,000 sq ft of research laboratories, an oncology and preventative care clinic, and educational and meeting spaces. Together, they create the perfect environment for EIT Oxford experts to take ground-breaking ideas from research to broad implementation. The new facility will further EIT’s current partnership with the University of Oxford and become the new home for Ellison Scholars.
EIT Oxford is committed to cultivating a community where excellence is achieved through collaboration, trust, innovation and tenacity. We foster an environment where everyone’s experience and expertise are valued. We are curious and resilient in our efforts to drive long-term, sustainable innovation to meet humanity’s most enduring challenges.
As a fast-growing research institute at the forefront of scientific innovation across multiple disciplines, we seek aScientific Facilities Operations Managerto oversee our laboratory facilities specialising in biological sample preparation, nucleic acid extractions, and advanced genomic sequencing. This leadership role involves managing the Winchester House laboratories, overseeing equipment maintenance, troubleshooting facility challenges, and ensuring inventory and supply management while upholding the highest safety, quality, and efficiency standards. The manager will supervise a team of technicians, serve as the primary contact for laboratory operations during and outside working hours, and ensure the infrastructure aligns with our scientific objectives. This role requires technical expertise in sequencing technologies, strong managerial skills, and experience in high-throughput sequencing facility operations within a dynamic, collaborative environment.
Key Responsibilities:
- Facility & Equipment Management:Oversee daily operations of the Winchester House laboratories, ensuring efficient workflow, quality standards, and compliance with regulatory requirements (GLP, ISO, HTA). Manage laboratory staff, including hiring, training, mentoring, and performance evaluation. Maintain optimal lab conditions (temperature, humidity, air quality) and oversee sequencing equipment (Illumina, Oxford Nanopore), PCR machines, centrifuges, and other critical instruments. Coordinate with vendors for maintenance, calibration, and repairs to ensure seamless operations.
- Operational Support:Develop and implement Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to ensure consistency and regulatory compliance. Troubleshoot technical and operational issues in sequencing workflows, implementing solutions to prevent delays. Optimise laboratory space, equipment usage, and workflow efficiency to support nucleic acid processing and sequencing while maintaining flexibility for evolving research projects.
- Inventory & Supply Management:Work alongside procurement specialists, laboratory technicians, and finance teams to manage inventory levels, ensuring the continuous availability of consumables, reagents, and critical supplies. Oversee procurement processes and maintain accurate documentation to track usage, storage, and disposal of hazardous materials while ensuring compliance with safety regulations.
- Collaboration & Strategy:Work closely with scientific leadership to align laboratory operations with research objectives, adapting workflows to meet evolving project needs. Act as the primary facilities contact, providing updates on equipment, infrastructure, and operational challenges while suggesting improvements. Manage facility and equipment scheduling, proactively resolving conflicts and ensuring smooth research operations. Support project planning and strategy to align laboratory resources with organisational scientific goals.
- Quality & Compliance:Ensure adherence to all relevant safety, regulatory, and quality standards (GxP, ISO, HTA), maintaining rigorous quality control (QC) processes for sequencing workflows to ensure high accuracy and reproducibility. Participate in internal and external audits, inspections, and compliance reviews, maintaining thorough documentation of processes, workflows, and sample handling to uphold research integrity and regulatory standards.
Requirements
Essential Skills, Qualifications & Experience:
- Educated to a minimum of BSc up to PhD in a relevant field e.g. Molecular Biology, Genetics.
- At least 5 years of experience working in a laboratory environment, with a minimum of 2 years in a management or supervisory role.
- Strong background in sequencing technologies, such as Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS), and familiarity with associated instrumentation (e.g., Illumina, PacBio, Oxford Nanopore).
- Proven experience managing a high-throughput laboratory, overseeing both equipment and staff.
- Familiarity with laboratory safety protocols, regulatory requirements, and quality management systems (e.g., GLP, GxP, ISO).
Benefits
We offer the following salary and benefits:
- Salary: £50k-£60k
- Enhanced holiday pay
- Pension
- Life Assurance
- Income Protection
- Private Medical Insurance
- Hospital Cash Plan
- Therapy Services
- Perk Box
- Electric Car Scheme
Why work for EIT:
At the Ellison Institute, we believe a collaborative, inclusive team is key to our success. We are building a supportive environment where creative risks are encouraged, and everyone feels heard. Valuing emotional intelligence, empathy, respect, and resilience, we encourage people to be curious and to have a shared commitment to excellence. Join us and make an impact!
Terms of Appointment:
- You must have the right to work permanently in the UK with a willingness to travel as necessary.
- You will live in, or within easy commuting distance of, Oxford.
- During peak periods, some longer hours may be required and some working across multiple time zones due to the global nature of the programme.
- This is a full time, permanent position, fully onsite at the Oxford Science Park.
