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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead platform operations and ensure seamless delivery of services for developers and learners.
- Company: Join EMBL-EBI, a leader in life sciences research and innovation.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, hybrid working, generous leave, and comprehensive health coverage.
- Other info: Flexible working options and a vibrant campus life await you!
- Why this job: Make a real impact in science while working with cutting-edge technology and a collaborative team.
- Qualifications: Experience in IT platforms, Kubernetes, and leading diverse teams is essential.
The predicted salary is between 57900 - 57900 £ per year.
About the Team
In service of its world-leading life sciences services, training, and research, the Applications team within ITS operates a substantial platform based on circa 120 Kubernetes clusters, combining a large VMware on-premises estate with a growing presence in public cloud. The Platform Coordinator will oversee the full spectrum of platform operations, spanning both on-premises user application platforms and public cloud services. This role ensures the seamless delivery, support, and evolution of platforms used by developers, bioinformaticians, and learners across EMBL-EBI, contributing directly to the success of EMBL-EBI’s training mission.
The role requires strong technical leadership, stakeholder management, and a holistic view of platform operations to ensure efficiency, cost control, and high service quality across all environments. In addition, the Platform Coordinator will lead the Solutions Architecture function, driving the standardisation of platform and solution architectures across the organisation. This will focus on simplifying the technology landscape, promoting reusable patterns and reference architectures, and improving delivery efficiency while maintaining flexibility for innovation.
The Platform Coordinator leads a combined team of DevOps engineers and Site Reliability Engineers (SREs), managing the operational health, reliability, and evolution of EMBL-EBI’s on-premises and cloud platforms. This includes Kubernetes, CI/CD tools like Gitlab, web traffic management, web statistics services, and public cloud platforms (AWS and GCP).
Main Duties and Responsibilities:
- Technical Leadership
- Translate strategic objectives into actionable technical plans for the platform team.
- Oversee the lifecycle of technical projects, ensuring timely delivery and adherence to best practices.
- Manage operational performance and ensure high availability of both on-premises and cloud platforms.
- Maintain and develop strong collaborative relationships with IT teams and EMBL-EBI service stakeholders.
- Lead platform administration including Kubernetes clusters, GitLab, web statistics, and web traffic management systems.
- Oversee management of public cloud estates (AWS and GCP), promoting FinOps practices for cost tracking, forecasting, and governance.
- Engage in architecture design and promote reusable blueprints and best practices across the platforms.
- Support EMBL-EBI Training by implementing the technical components of course delivery.
- Drive continuous improvement, evaluating technologies, and prototyping solutions to meet evolving business needs.
- Lead and coordinate a combined team of 4 SREs and 3 DevOps as a single, cohesive unit.
- Manage performance, development, and career progression through regular 1:1s, objective setting, and coaching.
- Foster a culture of collaboration, continuous improvement, and knowledge sharing.
- Encourage Agile practices and coaching within the team.
- Promote accountability for platform stability, performance, and customer satisfaction.
- Act as the primary point of contact for platform-related inquiries and escalations.
- Ensure high-quality service delivery and proactive issue resolution.
- Collaborate with Training and Research teams to uphold standards of platform availability and learning experience.
You have (Requirements)
- Proven experience managing complex IT platforms, including on-premises and cloud environments.
- Strong understanding of Kubernetes, GitLab, cloud services (AWS/GCP), and web infrastructure management.
- Experience leading combined teams of DevOps and SREs, with the ability to unify teams across different specialties.
- Strong stakeholder management and communication skills.
- Knowledge of FinOps principles and cost management in multi-cloud environments.
- Agile and project management experience.
- Technical problem-solving skills and hands-on experience in platform administration is desirable.
Behaviors we value in our team:
- You enjoy working & leading as part of a collaborative, international team.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
- You will be committed to high-quality, reliable services.
- Proactively monitor and improve processes, systems and performance.
- Striving for service excellence.
- Empathy & understanding for users.
- Lead a team and drive forward a strategic goal of the Applications Team.
- Excellent attention to detail and problem-solving skills.
Other helpful information
- Hybrid Working: At EMBL-EBI we are pleased to offer hybrid working options for all our employees. A dedicated desk will be available every day, but our team work two days on site and three from home.
- Contract length: 3 years (renewable up to 9 years).
- Salary: Grade 8 monthly salary starting at £4,825 per month after tax but excluding pension and insurance contributions. Plus other paid generous benefits.
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.
- 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.
- Enjoy lots of benefits: Financial incentives, flexible working arrangements, private medical insurance, generous time off, relocation package, campus life benefits, family benefits, and benefits for non-UK residents.
What else you need to know
- International applicants: We recruit internationally and successful candidates are offered visa exemptions.
- Diversity and inclusion: At EMBL, we believe that diverse teams drive innovation and scientific excellence.
- 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.
Closing Date: 12/05/2026
Application Platform Coordinator employer: European Molecular Biology Laboratory
Contact Detail:
European Molecular Biology Laboratory Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Application Platform Coordinator
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to folks in your field on LinkedIn or at industry events. A friendly chat can open doors that a CV just can't.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its culture. Tailor your answers to show how you fit into their mission, especially around platform operations and team collaboration.
✨Tip Number 3
Show off your skills! If you’ve got a portfolio or examples of past projects, bring them along. Demonstrating your hands-on experience with Kubernetes or cloud services can really impress.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive!
We think you need these skills to ace Application Platform Coordinator
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Cover Letter: Make sure to customise your cover letter for the Application Platform Coordinator role. Highlight your experience with Kubernetes, cloud services, and team leadership, showing us how you can contribute to our mission at EMBL-EBI.
Showcase Your Technical Skills: In your CV, don’t just list your skills—demonstrate them! Include specific examples of how you've managed complex IT platforms and led teams in both on-premises and cloud environments. We want to see your hands-on experience!
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, clarity is key. Use straightforward language and avoid jargon where possible. We appreciate a well-structured application that makes it easy for us to see your qualifications and fit for the role.
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to submit your application through our online system! It’s the best way for us to receive your materials and ensures you’re considered for the position. Plus, we love seeing applications come directly from our website!
How to prepare for a job interview at European Molecular Biology Laboratory
✨Know Your Platforms
Make sure you have a solid understanding of Kubernetes, GitLab, and cloud services like AWS and GCP. Brush up on your technical knowledge and be ready to discuss how you've managed complex IT platforms in the past. This will show that you're not just familiar with the tools, but that you can lead teams effectively.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples of how you've successfully led teams of DevOps engineers and Site Reliability Engineers. Highlight your experience in unifying teams across different specialties and how you foster collaboration. This is key for the Platform Coordinator role, so make it a focal point in your interview.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
Demonstrate your strong stakeholder management skills by discussing how you've built relationships with IT teams and service stakeholders. Be ready to share specific instances where you resolved issues or improved service delivery. This will illustrate your ability to act as the primary point of contact for platform-related inquiries.
✨Emphasise Continuous Improvement
Talk about your commitment to continuous improvement and how you've evaluated technologies or prototyped solutions in previous roles. Share examples of how you've implemented best practices and promoted reusable patterns. This aligns perfectly with the expectations for driving efficiency and innovation in the Applications team.