At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a multidisciplinary IT team to manage and evolve EMBL-EBI's vast infrastructure.
- Company: Join EMBL-EBI, a global leader in bioinformatics and life sciences research.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, generous leave, private medical insurance, and a vibrant campus life.
- Why this job: Make a meaningful impact on global health and biodiversity while fostering innovation.
- Qualifications: Degree in a relevant field and proven leadership experience in IT infrastructure management.
- Other info: Hybrid working with at least 2 days on-site; international applicants welcome.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 70000 £ per year.
Join to apply for the Head of Infrastructure Services role at European Bioinformatics Institute | EMBL-EBI
Join to apply for the Head of Infrastructure Services role at European Bioinformatics Institute | EMBL-EBI
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The European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) is a non-profit, Intergovernmental Organisation funded by 29 member states, one associate member state and two prospect member states. EMBL has over 2,000 members of personnel from over 80 nations based across its six sites: Heidelberg (Germany), Hinxton near Cambridge (UK), Grenoble (France), Hamburg (Germany), Rome (Italy) and Barcelona (Spain).
In service of its world-leading life sciences services, training, and research, EMBL-EBI operates a substantial infrastructure estate, comprising 500PB of raw storage, high bandwidth networks, multiple High Performance Computing (HPC) clusters and a large VMWare presence.
The Head of Infrastructure Services leads a multidisciplinary IT team responsible for the operation and evolution of this massive infrastructure. They will build and maintain a service roadmap, adapting to the diverse IT requirements of the scientific teams across EMBL-EBI. This involves building strong internal relationships, both within the IT department and more widely with the teams managing public-facing bioinformatics services.
Specifically, this role will lead the Infrastructure team (currently 18 persons), supported by team leads, covering data centres, high performance computing, network and connectivity, storage and virtualisation. The Infrastructure team is part of the IT and Technical Services (ITS) department, which consists of five teams: Head office, Operations, Infrastructure, Applications and Web Development. The role will entail working closely with leading life scientists and technical users to develop solutions to complex problems and ensure that the infrastructure continues to serve the needs of its users now and into the future.
The Head of Infrastructure is crucial in ensuring operational excellence, efficiency, and continuous alignment of services with the needs of a dynamic research and service delivery organisation.
EMBL-EBI supports hybrid working, and this position requires on-site working for at least 2 days per week.
Your role
Strategic Leadership
- Define the team\’s roadmap and align this with the rest of IT & EMBL-EBI\’s mission, defining the technical direction and development of the infrastructure.
- Work with the Head of ITS & the other ITS team leaders to develop and deliver the ITS strategy.
- Foster a service-oriented mindset within the team, prioritising reliable and user-friendly solutions.
Stakeholder Engagement
- Build strong relationships with internal stakeholders across EMBL-EBI.
- Ensure that services are tailored to meet their specific requirements.
Technical Excellence
- Oversee the design, implementation and operation of EMBL-EBI IT infrastructure.
- Continuously improve existing solutions to enhance reliability, performance, and adaptability.
Team Development
- Provide guidance and support to your team, ensuring they have the tools and resources to succeed in their roles.
- Facilitate professional development through training and skills-building activities.
You have
- A degree in a relevant area or equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
- A proactive and positive problem-solving mindset
- Inclusive leadership skills; actively seek to identify your own biases and consider a range of perspectives to inform decision-making and the way you lead and collaborate with others
- Demonstrate key leadership qualities – self awareness, empathy, growth mindset, active listening, empowerment of others and superior communication skills
- Dedication to developing effective relationships across EMBL while demonstrating a commitment to inclusive behaviours
- Previous senior team management experience, providing leadership to a team in the delivery of a large IT infrastructure across multiple data centres.
- Experience building long-term IT service roadmaps with a user community and delivering on those roadmaps.
- Technical understanding of some of the following:
- High performance computing (HPC)
- High performance storage, i.e. Lustre, VAST, Weka etc.
- Large-scale storage, particularly object storage
- WAN and data centre networking
You may also have
- Experience of leading a team in developing or operating IT services at scale (PBs of data, 100s of VMs, 100s of users).
- Familiarity with agile management practices (e.g. Kanban, Scrum) and their role in managing a team and projects.
- Experience providing IT services in an academic or research IT environment.
- Qualification or experience with ITSM (we use ServiceNow).
- Experience in facilitating teams to review current processes and develop new ones to improve operational efficiency, quality and simplification.
- Hands-on experience of bioinformatics tools, analyses and/or public biodata resources.
- Experience working in a diverse and multinational environment.
Contract length: 5 years, renewable to a maximum of 9 years.
Salary: Grade 9, monthly salary from £5,848.23 plus financial allowances based on family circumstances. Excl. pension and insurance contributions.
Interviews: For planning purposes, we intend to hold interviews in person, at our Campus in Hinxton on Thursday 31st July 2025. EMBL will cover the cost of all travel arrangements.
Why join us
Do something meaningful
At EMBL-EBI you can apply your talent and passion to accelerate science and tackle some of humankind\’s greatest challenges. EMBL-EBI, part of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory, is a worldwide leader in the storage, analysis and dissemination of large biological datasets. We provide the global research community with access to publicly available databases and tools which are crucial for the advancement of healthcare, food security, and biodiversity.
Join a culture of innovation
We are located on the Wellcome Genome Campus, alongside other prominent research and biotech organisations, and surrounded by beautiful Cambridgeshire countryside. This is a highly collaborative and inclusive community where our employees enjoy a relaxed atmosphere. We are committed to ensuring our employees feel valued, supported and empowered to reach their professional potential. Watch this video to see how EMBL-EBI makes an impact.
Enjoy Lots Of Benefits
- Financial incentives: Monthly family, child and non-resident allowances, annual salary review, pension scheme, death benefit, long-term care, accident-at-work and unemployment insurances
- Flexible working arrangements – including hybrid working patterns
- Private medical insurance for you and your immediate family (including all prescriptions and generous dental & optical cover)
- Generous time off: 30 days annual leave per year, in addition public holidays
- Relocation package including installation grant (if required)
- Campus life: Free shuttle bus to and from work, on-site library, subsidised on-site gym and cafeteria, casual dress code, extensive sports and social club activities (on campus and remotely)
- Family benefits: On-site nursery, 10 days of child sick leave, generous parental leave, holiday clubs on campus and monthly family and child allowances
- Benefits for non-UK residents: Visa exemption, education grant for private schooling, financial support to travel back to your home country every second year and a monthly non-resident allowance.
For detailed information please visit our employee benefits page here.
What else you need to know
- International applicants: We recruit internationally and successful candidates are offered visa exemptions. Please take a look at our International Applicants page for further information.
- EMBL is a signatory of DORA. Find out how we apply DORA principles to our recruitment and performance assessment processes here.
- Diversity and inclusion: At EMBL, we strongly believe that inclusive and diverse teams benefit from higher levels of innovation and creative thought. We encourage applications from women, LGBTQ+ & individuals from all nationalities.
- How to apply: To apply please submit a cover letter and a CV through our online system. Applications will close at 23:59 CET on the date shown below. We aim to provide a response within two weeks after the closing date.
Closing Date
13/07/2025
Seniority level
-
Seniority level
Director
Employment type
-
Employment type
Full-time
Job function
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Job function
Information Technology
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Industries
Software Development
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Head of Infrastructure Services employer: European Bioinformatics Institute | EMBL-EBI
Contact Detail:
European Bioinformatics Institute | EMBL-EBI Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Infrastructure Services
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the specific technologies mentioned in the job description, such as High Performance Computing (HPC) and large-scale storage solutions. Being able to discuss these technologies confidently during your interactions will demonstrate your technical expertise and alignment with the role.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with current or former employees of EMBL-EBI to gain insights into the company culture and the expectations for the Head of Infrastructure Services role. This can provide you with valuable information that can help you tailor your approach and show that you understand the organisation's needs.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss your leadership style and how you foster a service-oriented mindset within a team. Be ready to share examples of how you've successfully built relationships with stakeholders and adapted services to meet their specific requirements in previous roles.
✨Tip Number 4
Research the latest trends in IT infrastructure and bioinformatics to showcase your commitment to continuous improvement and innovation. Being knowledgeable about current developments will help you stand out as a candidate who is not only qualified but also forward-thinking.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Infrastructure Services
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Cover Letter: Make sure to customise your cover letter for the Head of Infrastructure Services role. Highlight your leadership experience, technical expertise, and how you align with EMBL-EBI's mission. Use specific examples that demonstrate your ability to manage large IT infrastructures.
Showcase Relevant Experience: In your CV, emphasise your previous roles in managing IT teams and infrastructure projects. Include details about your experience with high-performance computing, storage solutions, and stakeholder engagement. Quantify your achievements where possible to illustrate your impact.
Highlight Soft Skills: Given the emphasis on inclusive leadership and communication skills in the job description, make sure to showcase these attributes. Provide examples of how you've built relationships within teams and across departments, and how you've fostered a positive team environment.
Follow Application Instructions: Ensure you submit your application through the specified online system. Double-check that you include both your cover letter and CV, and adhere to the submission deadline. Attention to detail is crucial, so review your documents for any errors before sending them off.
How to prepare for a job interview at European Bioinformatics Institute | EMBL-EBI
✨Understand the Role
Make sure you have a solid grasp of what the Head of Infrastructure Services entails. Familiarise yourself with EMBL-EBI's mission and how this role contributes to it. Be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with their needs.
✨Showcase Leadership Skills
Prepare examples that demonstrate your leadership qualities, such as empathy, active listening, and team empowerment. Highlight your experience in managing multidisciplinary teams and how you've fostered a service-oriented mindset.
✨Technical Proficiency
Brush up on your technical knowledge related to high-performance computing, storage solutions, and networking. Be prepared to discuss specific technologies you've worked with and how they can be applied to enhance EMBL-EBI's infrastructure.
✨Build Relationships
Emphasise your ability to build strong relationships with stakeholders. Prepare to discuss how you've tailored IT services to meet user needs in previous roles, showcasing your communication skills and collaborative approach.