Open call for a Operations Unit Officer - Ref. "OUO Mar2024"

Champalimaud Foundation (Fundação D. Anna de Sommer Champalimaud e Dr. Carlos Montez Champalimaud), a private, non-profit research institution in Lisbon, Portugal, is looking for a Operations Unit Officer fellow to join our team. 

Champalimaud Research (CR) has an open position for an Operations Unit Officer, to work in a professional, dynamic and diverse work environment at the Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown. The OUO will be part of the Operations Unit, and will provide support to the CR laboratories. The OUO will report directly to the Operations Manager/Biosafety Officer and will support scientists and research technicians by providing the necessary operational tools for efficient research activities. Additional responsibilities include establishing, implementing, maintaining and continually improving the Occupational Health and Safety programme.

Duties and Responsibilities

Main duties will include: 

- Manage all laboratory resources, tasks and activities to ensure continuity of laboratory services for the CR groups, including, but not limited to:
    - Core laboratory equipment;
    - Chemical and reagent management;
    - Fume cupboards & Tissue Culture Hoods;
    - Waste management;
    - Procurement;
    - Storage, including Cryostorage;
- Ability to carry out risk assessments and provide advice and assistance to researchers on health and safety related matters;
- Responsible for ensuring that suitable waste management systems and processes are in place and are compliant with regulations;
- Management of core laboratory equipment to include asset record keeping, service contracts, calibration, validation, dealing with breakdowns and supervision of service engineers and advice and guidance to laboratory researchers; 
- Administer and be key contact for the emergency call outs system for freezers and cryogenic cell stores; 
- Liaison with Research groups in determining their needs to progress research and assisting with addressing issues within their lab areas;
- Responsibility for ensuring the induction of new staff & students in the safe use of core laboratory equipment and laboratory systems, in addition to instructing lab users to follow established safety policies/procedures;
- Responsibility for project managing all laboratory moves including equipment moves, planning and communications with impacted staff members and liaison with Facilities team and research groups;
- Update and maintain the CR equipment database and other databases, policies and procedures;
- Tickets submission and validation to the IT, maintenance and other departments of the Champalimaud Foundation (CF), follow-up and quality assurance of the work provided by these departments;
- Complies with all safety/regulatory requirements ensuring supplies/chemicals are stored and used per chemical safety program;
- Update chemical inventory and obtain and maintain current and archived Material Safety Datasheets (MSDS);
Update and implement laboratory safety regulations and procedures (Open Labs and BSL-2 room), in compliance with the national legislation in the field.

Application start date

06/03/2024

Application closing date

Open until filled, review of applications begins on 29/03/2024 

Number and type of fellowships or contracts to be awarded

1 fellowship

Expected position starting date

15/04/2024

Primary location of work

Champalimaud Center for the Unknown

Requirements

Research Field: Biological sciences
Education Level: Bachelor Degree or equivalent

Skills/Qualifications

Minimum qualifications

Bachelor’s degree with professional experience in life sciences field;
Excellent level of English is required (written and oral).

Specific Requirements

Essential skills

- Strong document management skills;
- Skilled user of MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), Google;
- Experienced in working with databases;
- Excellent organizational and planning abilities; 
- Excellent communication skills; 
- Strong attention to detail;
- Multitasking;
- Ability to troubleshoot and problem solving;
- Exemplary professionalism.

Offered conditions

- Competitive remuneration package commensurate with skills, qualifications and experience;
- Full immersion into a research excellence ecosystem with highly motivated researchers, supported by state-of-the-art technology and continuous development opportunities;

Maximum allowable duration of the scholarships including the respective renewals

Initial duration: 12 months, with possibility of renewal

Eligibility criteria

Evaluation and selection criteria (respecting article 37 of Decree-Law No. 63/2019, of 16 May)

- Candidates will be screened to determine eligibility based on minimum qualifications listed in call
- Candidates meeting minimum requirements will be scored according to required application materials.
- Define relative weighting: 70% CV, 30% motivation letter.

When tied, top candidates will be interviewed (in person, or remotely). The result of the interview is then the sole evaluation criteria (basic documentation required). If no tie, holding of interviews at discretion of the Evaluation Committee. 

If provided, and if shortlisted, candidates’ referees may be contacted and may count towards evaluation.

Evaluation Committee members

- Cátia Feliciano
- Raquel Gonçalves
- Artur Silva
- Maria José Vito

Selection process

Application materials

- CV and letter of motivation;
- Proof of qualifications (certificates) may be required at a later date for formalization of the fellowship/contract agreement.

How to apply

Format

Candidates must complete the standard application form and submit a single annexed .pdf document containing the application materials stated in call. Call Ref. “OUO Mar2024” 

Applications are also accepted in paper, sent or handed to the HR & Fellows Support Office at the Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, Avenida Brasília, 1400-038 Lisbon, Portugal.

Notification of results

All candidates will receive a receipt of acknowledgment within 7 days. The highest scoring candidate will be notified by email or telephone. All other candidates will be notified solely by email of the final outcome of the recruitment process.

After being notified, candidates will have 10 working days to present a claim for redress by email (careers@research.fchampalimaud.org). If no claim is received by the Champalimaud Foundation, the Evaluation Committee's decision will become definitive. 

About Us

Research is at the heart of the Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, a modern research and clinical facility situated on the waterfront in Lisbon, Portugal. The goal of Champalimaud Research (CR) is to perform world-leading fundamental and translational research. Current research work is focused on the fields of neuroscience, physiology and cancer.  Champalimaud Research comprises a team of over 400 scientists from around the world. English is the official language of the Centre. Lisbon’s sunny Atlantic Mediterranean climate, vibrant culture and high quality of life make this a great place to live and work.

Relevant Institutional Information

In line with our community guidelines and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion policy and Gender Equality Plan, no candidate may be privileged, favored, prejudiced or deprived of any right or excluded from any duty on the basis of age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race/ethnicity, disability, chronic illness, language, nationality, territory of origin, family status (marital, pregnancy and maternity, having or not having dependents), socioeconomic situation, education, religion, political or ideological beliefs,  trade union membership, or on any other grounds which are irrelevant to decision-making. 

HR Excellence in Research

Legal Notices

This call may be cancelled at any time on or before the Evaluation Committee’s  evaluation of all eligible candidates and the recruitment process shall be concluded on the day of the full execution of the signed agreement between the Champalimaud Foundation and the selected candidate.