ZEUS Facility Manager

Michigan Engineers are world-class educators, researchers, students and staff who strive to build a people-first future. As part of a top national public research institution, Michigan Engineering's mission is to provide scientific and technological leadership to the people of the world, develop intellectually curious and socially conscious minds, create collaborative solutions to societal problems, and promote an inclusive and innovative community of service for the common good.

The ZEUS Facility Manager (FM) will oversee the management of the National Science Foundation (NSF) ZEUS user facility, working alongside the (faculty) ZEUS Director and Associate Director, to ensure its safe and effective operation as a user facility. The FM will supervise ZEUS staff, coordinate with ZEUS research faculty, and manage the day-to-day facility operation, facility maintenance, facility schedule, and assist with reporting.

The FM will be involved the facilities long-term development through leading strategic R&D, facility upgrades and be involved in new funding opportunities. The FM will have an understanding of high power laser systems and experiments as well the mission and goals of scientific user facilities. The FM will work with the ZEUS Business Operations Manager to coordinate budgeting, planning, scheduling, and procedural change.

• Overseeing the day-to-day operation of the NSF ZEUS facility including coordination of daily user meetings, and resolving issues with the facility operation. This will require communication with users, the ZEUS experimental, laser and engineering team to ensure smooth running of the facility
• Coordinating and planning meetings; with users to plan their experimental time, monthly Facility Management Committee (FMC) meeting with the NSF, annual meeting of the External Advisory Board (EAB), the annual ZEUS User Group (ZUG) meeting and the annual NSF panel site review of the facility
• Managing the staff schedules to ensure smooth operation of the facility
• Managing the facility schedule, including the experiment allocations and maintenance periods, to ensure efficient operation
• Coordinating the system maintenance (including maintenance performed by ZEUS staff, maintenance by external vendors, and infrastructure maintenance)
• The FM will be responsible for overseeing facility safety (safety of the users, staff, and the system itself)
• Coordinating the annual proposal call, and review process
• Assist with required reporting to the NSF, including leading the assembly of the annual report to NSF, particularly the scientific and system content
• Keep track of experimental statistics and user feedback to make the facility more efficient and productive
• Management duties include interviewing, selecting and training of employees; setting and adjusting rates of pay and hours of work; planning and directing their work; appraising their productivity and efficiency for the purpose of recommending promotions or other changes in their status; handling their complaints and grievances and disciplining when necessary
• Updating the Project Execution Plan (PEP) as necessary
• The FM will work with the ZEUS Business Operations Manager to coordinate on budgeting, controlling costs, planning, scheduling, and procedural change
• Other duties as assigned by the ZEUS Director

• PhD degree in laser science, plasma physics or related discipline
• Minimum of 8 years of experience in an experimental research environment
• Excellent leadership skills and the ability to effectively communicate with faculty, staff, students and others
• Excellent organizational and prioritizing skills
• Experience in managing people and teams
• Experience with complex optics, vacuum systems
• Excel…