King's College London

About us:

The Centre for Developmental Neurobiology (CDN) focuses on deciphering how neural circuits assemble during development, from neural patterning to synapse formation and plasticity, and how disruption of this process leads to disease. The research in the Centre is based on a variety of model systems, including human in vitro approaches, and is generally structured around three main programmes: Building brains, Circuit Assembly, and Neurodevelopmental Disorders.

CDN is one of four departments in the School of Neuroscience at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience and is located at Guy’s campus. Researchers have access to core facilities providing dedicated support in genotyping, histology, viral production, cell and tissue cultures, bioinformatics, microscopy and image analysis. The department partners with Medical Research Council (MRC) to make up the world-leading MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders.

About the role:

To lead on the strategic planning, management and development of departmental space, facilities, and physical resources, ensuring that infrastructure effectively supports current and future scientific and operational needs.

Postholder will provide management and effective co-ordination of space allocation to meet the changing needs of the department in partnership with the Managing Director.

They will be responsible for maintaining oversight of office and laboratory and facility layouts to optimise utilisation and functionality and the project management off all building works and refurbishments working with Kings Estates and Facilities and external contractors.

The postholder will also be expected to manage departmental technical services including Fly Food preparation, Molecular Biology/Virus services, mouse genotyping and microscopy

This role is expected to be based on site, five days per week at Guy’s Campus, reflecting the requirement for close engagement with laboratories, facilities and stakeholders. Limited and occasional remote working may be agreed by exception, subject to operational needs.

You will be offered a full-time position on an indefinite contract.

About you:

To be successful in this role, we are looking for candidates to have the following skills and experience:

Essential criteria

1. PhD in biomedical science or related subject or MSc with commensurate experience
2. Ability to lead, manage and coordinate projects (including modifications to laboratory space) in interaction with different stakeholders, e.g. engineers, contractors, estate department other facilities.
3. Experience of managing a team of people
4. Experience of managing resources in a laboratory environment (for example space utilisation, shared equipment) and dealing with suppliers and procuring large items of equipment/service contracts
5. Excellent written communication skills and an ability to produce reports and other documents clearly and concisely
6. Excellent organisational skills, with ability to prioritise own workload and be able to work to deadlines
7. Strong IT skills (MS Office and collaborative tools such as Sharepoint, MS Teams)
8. Strong awareness and application of financial and environmental sustainability to work

Desirable criteria

1. Extensive research experience in biomedical/molecular subject
2. Familiarity with equipment booking and recharging systems such as PPMS or Helix
3. Familiarity in Research Facility management

Downloading a copy of our Job Description

Full details of the role and the skills, knowledge and experience required can be found in the Job Description document, provided at the bottom of the page. This document will provide information of what criteria will be assessed at each stage of the recruitment process.

Further Information

 

At King’s, we believe that the diversity of our community and a culture that is welcoming, open, inclusive and collaborative, are great strengths of the university.

The Equality Act of 2010 protects the rights of our students and staff and provides a framework to fulfil our duties to eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation and in addition, to advance equality of opportunity and foster good relations between those who share a protected characteristic and those who do not. At times, this will include balancing rights and beliefs that can feel in tension.

We are committed to free speech and to academic freedom, believing that our foundational purpose as a university, is to create spaces where a wide range of ideas, including ideas that are controversial, can be discussed and debated, and where members of our community can express lawful views without fear of intimidation, harassment or discrimination.

When engaging in the robust exchange of ideas, we ask that our community is mindful of our Dignity at King’s guidance.

We ask all candidates to submit a copy of their CV, and a supporting statement, detailing how they meet the essential criteria listed in the person specification section of the job description. If we receive a strong field of candidates, we may use the desirable criteria to choose our final shortlist, so please include your evidence against these where possible.

We reserve the right to close adverts early due to the volume of applications we receive. While the closing date may change, all adverts will close at 23:59 to allow sufficient time for applications to be submitted on that day.

We encourage you to apply at the earliest opportunity to avoid disappointment as once we have closed a vacancy you will be unable to submit your application.

To find out how our managers will review your application, please take a look at our ‘How we Recruit’ pages.

Interviews are due to be held within two weeks of closing date