Light Microscopy Facility Manager

Job Duties

• Directs day-to-day operations of the electron microscopy laboratory, ensuring reliable, efficient, and high-quality delivery of EM services in alignment with the Director's scientific vision and priorities.
• Provides advanced technical and operational leadership for electron microscopy workflows, instrumentation, and service offerings; oversees EM personnel to ensure consistent execution of approved methods and standards.
• Applies deep expertise in TEM/SEM systems and advanced EM modalities, to guide operational decisions, assess technical feasibility, and support implementation of new methods and protocols developed under the Director's direction.
• Covers laboratory duties, schedules, project activities, instrument usage, operating time, billing, and space utilization to support multiple concurrent research and/or clinical projects.
• Oversees readiness and availability of EM instrumentation and technical resources, including coordination of service, maintenance, calibration schedules, and downtime planning to minimize disruption to users.
• Supervises laboratory and administrative personnel, and support staff; manages staffing levels, assignments, onboarding, and professional development in accordance with institutional guidelines.
• Orders and allocates laboratory supplies, materials, and equipment; manages inventory, vendor relationships, service contracts, warranties, licenses, and permits to ensure continuity of operations.
• Ensures compliance with safety, regulatory, and institutional requirements; oversees training programs, documentation systems, audits, and corrective actions related to EM laboratory operations.
• Maintains laboratory performance metrics, including utilization, turnaround time, staffing efficiency, and operational costs; supports budgeting, forecasting, and resource planning.
• Identifies operational risks and technical bottlenecks; escalates scientific decisions to the Director while independently resolving administrative, staffing, and operational issues.

Qualifications

• Education and Experience Required:
• Master's Degree in a relevant scientific, engineering, or biomedical field or
• Bachelor's Degree in a relevant scientific, engineering, or biomedical field
• 3 years of progressively responsible electron microscopy experience, demonstrating increasing leadership over EM operations, instrumentation, and service delivery with a Master's Degree or
• 5 years of progressively responsible electron microscopy experience, demonstrating increasing leadership over EM operations, instrumentation, and service delivery with a Bachelor's Degree
• Knowledge, Skills And Abilities:
• Advanced, in-depth knowledge of electron microscopy methodologies, instrumentation, and data quality standards sufficient to oversee and govern day-to-day EM operations.
• Independent judgment and high-level problem-solving related to operational execution of EM services, while escalating final scientific decisions to the Director.
• Accountability for facility-wide instrumentation performance, operational readiness, and adherence to specimen-handling and data-quality standards.
• Advanced organizational and communication skills to coordinate complex, multi-user EM workflows, manage competing priorities, and ensure consistent execution of approved methods.
• Expert-level understanding of EM workflows and techniques, including the physical, spatial, and quantitative principles underlying advanced microscopy, even when not performing routine hands-on work.
• Strong written and oral communication skills, including the ability to author and maintain SOPs, operational documentation, training materials, and internal guidance.