Facility Manager (Biomolecular NMR Support Officer)

Warwick University

We will consider applications for employment on a part-time or other flexible working basis, even where a position is advertised as full-time, unless there are operational or other objective reasons why it is not possible to do so.  

The Departments of Chemistry and Physics seek to appoint a Facility Manager to support biomolecular solution NMR on the 1.2 GHz NMR spectrometer in the UK High-Field NMR National Research Facility (NRF) and at the high-field NMR facility in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Warwick when 1.2 GHz instrument is in the solid-state NMR mode.

The NRF is based upon an 850 MHz wide bore (89 mm) Bruker solid-state NMR spectrometer, a standard bore (54 mm) 1 GHz Bruker solid-state NMR spectrometer and a currently being installed standard bore 1.2 GHz Bruker spectrometer that will run part-time in solution-state mode and part-time in solid-state NMR mode. Separately, the NMR Facility at the Department of Chemistry hosts 300 MHz, 3x 400 MHz, 2x 500 MHz, 600 MHz, and 700 MHz (equipped in TCI and TXO cryoprobes) spectrometers.

In the NRF, you will work with the Technical Director, Dr Dinu Iuga, as part of the Facility Management Team (FMT), being responsible together for providing high-level technical assistance to users in solution NMR at a 1.2 GHz spectrometer and maintaining the instrumentation to the high level expected of an NRF.

In the Department of Chemistry, you will collaborate with the departmental facility manager and technical team, being responsible for providing high-level technical assistance and training in biomolecular solution NMR to users and getting involved in collaborative research, particularly in the area related to natural products biosynthesis. In order to complement existing strengths within the FMT, the appointee should have extensive hands-on experience with biological solution-state NMR

This is a great opportunity for an individual wishing to extend and further develop their skills in an academic environment, whilst learning about a growing, strategically important department at the University of Warwick.

About You

You will hold a PhD or equivalent in a relevant scientific discipline (e.g. chemistry, biology, physics) and will have significant proven ability in research and evidence of quality research output in biomolecular solution NMR, including publications in leading journals and presentations at international conferences. 

To enhance know-how within the FMT, you will have extensive hands-on experience with biological solution-state NMR. You will also have experience in maintaining the solution NMR infrastructure.

You will be an excellent communicator, liaising with users before, during and after their visit to the NRF, as well as engaging with users in the Department of Chemistry, current and potential users in the wider research community and the NRF’s Facility Executive and Oversight Committee. You will be capable of working effectively both independently and as part of the Local Management Team of the NRF and the NMR team in the Department of Chemistry. You will possess excellent planning and time management skills to ensure the objectives of the respective facilities are achieved effectively.

The UK High-Field Solid-State NMR Facility (http://go.warwick.ac.uk/850mhz) has been operational since 2010. Recurrent funding of the NRF is provided by EPSRC (Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council) with 20% support from BBSRC (Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council).   Recently, a £17M award from UKRI (UK Research and Innovation) via EPSRC has funded a 1.2 GHz NMR spectrometer that, from 2025, will serve both the UK solid-state and solution-state NMR communities.

The Facility has a Director (Professor Steven P. Brown, Warwick), a Technical Director (Dr Dinu Iuga, Warwick) and a Deputy Director (Professor Sharon E. Ashbrook, St Andrews) and is managed by a Facility Executive comprising eight solid-state NMR spectroscopists from six different UK universities (East Anglia, Lancaster, Liverpool, Southampton, St Andrews, and Warwick). The NRF spectrometers are hosted within the Millburn House Magnetic Resonance Laboratory at the University of Warwick.

The NMR facility at the Chemistry department provides service, support, and collaboration to researchers within Chemistry and other departments at Warwick University (Engineering, Life Sciences, Medical School, WMG (Warwick Manufacturing Group) and Physics). It also offers service work for external industrial companies. The facility is managed by a Research Focused Assistant Professor (Dr Ivan Prokes) and is supported by a Senior NMR Technician (Mr Rob Perry). Spectrometers are located in the Chemistry building and the Materials and Analytical Sciences building.

For further information regarding the skills required for this role, please see the personal specification section of the attached job description.

About the Department

The Departments of Chemistry and Physics at Warwick are a thriving community of students, academics, researchers, and support staff.

Our fundamental research pushes boundaries in all major fields of Chemistry and Physics. Through collaborations with the wider science community and industry, our applied work aims to tackle huge global issues from antimicrobial resistance to solar energy harvesting and sustainable materials.

We provide an inclusive, vibrant and friendly environment where our students have dedicated support to explore their passion for chemistry and physics.

Athena SWAN Silver Award

We are committed to supporting staff to achieve their potential. The Department of Chemistry, the Department of Physics and the University of Warwick hold Athena SWAN silver awards, a national initiative that recognises the advancement of gender equality, representation, progression, and success for all in academia. We provide a welcoming and inclusive working and learning environment, recognising that everyone is different in a variety of visible and non-visible ways, and that those differences are to be recognised, respected, and valued. We welcome applications from individuals who identify with any of the protected characteristics defined by the Equality Act 2010. We are supportive of staff with caring responsibilities.

About the University

Born in the 60s with a mindset of boldness, imagination and collaboration, the University of Warwick is a world-leading research-intensive university with the highest academic and research standards. We’re one of the world’s top universities, ranked 67th in the world and 10th in the UK*, with 92% of our research assessed to be ‘world leading or internationally excellent’**. 

You'll be joining a diverse, innovative and globally connected community committed to igniting real-world progress. Here at Warwick, we offer you opportunities to follow your ambitions as long as you bring the energy and determination to succeed.

*QS World University Rankings 2024

** Research Excellence Framework 2021

To find out more about us, visit our website.

How to Apply

CLOSING DATE: Tuesday 20th May 2025 at 23:55 (BST) 

To apply, please click ‘Apply’ below and submit an application form by the closing date.  

Please plan for any potential delays as you will not be able to submit an application form past this deadline (even if you opened the form at, say, 23:30). 

You will have to attach a CV and a cover letter. 

  • Your CV should include your employment history (including your most recent employment), your educational history, and any other relevant experience. 
  • Your cover letter should explain your motivations for applying to the role. It should also explain, using examples, how you meet each of the essential and desirable criteria detailed in the Job Description PDF document below. Please note that all essential criteria must be met by candidates who are invited to interview. 

Please see here for guidance on writing a cover letter. We highly recommend using individual criteria as headers and explaining below, using examples, how you meet the criterion, though you are free to format the letter as you wish. 

To streamline our hiring processes, we can only accept applications submitted via our official careers webpage, warwick-careers.tal.net. 

  • Interview Date: TBC
  • Start Date: TBC

What We Offer

We will provide you with a great range of benefits, which include an attractive pension scheme, 30 days' holiday plus Christmas closure, excellent learning and development opportunities, and savings on a wide range of products and services. We offer a generous maternity/paternity/adoption/parental leave policy, and onsite childcare facilities.

We recognise the importance of a healthy work/life balance and offer you access to flexible working. For more information, click here

We are proud to say that we are a Living Wage employer.

If you are considering relocating to the UK, read our Relocation Guide to find out more about what Warwick has to offer and what might be involved in the process.

Our Commitment to Inclusion

Warwick is committed to building an organisation of mutual respect and dignity, promoting a welcoming, diverse, and inclusive working and learning environment.  We recognise that everyone is different in a variety of visible and non-visible ways, and that those differences are to be recognised, respected, and valued.  Where possible, we go beyond legislation to provide a place where everyone can thrive, supporting all staff to achieve their full potential. We aspire to remove economic, social, and cultural barriers that may otherwise prevent people from succeeding. 

We therefore welcome and encourage applications from all communities regardless of culture, background, age, disability, sex/gender, gender identity or expression, ethnicity, religion/belief, or sexual or romantic orientation. To find out more about our social inclusion work at Warwick, visit our webpages here

The University currently holds a Race Equality Charter Bronze Award, Athena Swan Silver Award and a Disability Smart Bronze Award. Further information on all of the University's Awards and Accreditations can be found here. The University of Warwick is also one of the six founder institutions of the EUTOPIA European University Alliance

Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS)

The University of Warwick is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all those we work with. 

In line with the DBS Code of Practice, the successful candidates for any roles involving regulated activity will be subject to a DBS check at the appropriate level. The University will take all necessary measures to ensure that any individual subject to a barring order does not undertake any work with the barred group specified (i.e. children and/or adults).

We expect all employees, volunteers, and partners to share our commitment to safeguarding.

Rehabilitation of Ex-Offenders

The University undertakes not to discriminate against anyone who makes a disclosure relating to a conviction. The information disclosed at the application stage is only visible to the central DBS team (i.e. not recruiting managers) to ensure there is no bias during the shortlisting process.

Job Description

JD Facility Manager (Biomolecular NMR Support Officer) (110422).pdf – 211KB

Right to Work in the UK 

If you do not yet have the right to work in the UK and/or are seeking sponsorship for a Skilled Worker visa, please follow this link, which contains further information about obtaining the right to work in the UK.

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