Manager Desktop Support

About IT Services

IT Services operates and supports the IT infrastructure and services at EMBL headquarters in Heidelberg, as well as at the laboratory's sites in Barcelona, Rome, Grenoble and Hamburg.

The Desktop Support Team provides first-level support to the EMBL user community and manages the corporate Windows backend infrastructure. The team also supports the lab's training mission by coordinating and administering the Computer Training Lab installations.

We are seeking a highly motivated Technical Manager to assume a dual role, leading the Desktop Support Team and taking on additional operational responsibilities.

Your role 

involves key responsibilities, including:

• Leading and supporting your team in delivering excellent IT support to EMBL's internal users across Mac, Windows and Linux desktop and mobile devices, as well as a complementary Windows server infrastructure;
• Standardising and automating IT support processes and service delivery across all supported platforms;
• Continuously improving the integration of desktop and mobile computing with EMBL's high-performance backend IT infrastructure and support processes;
• Coordinating the development and operation of EMBL's Windows backend infrastructure, including Active Directory, Exchange, enterprise databases, Windows security, and other related systems;
• Coordinating the development and operation of EMBL's Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) service; and
• Coordinating administrative and scientific projects based on Windows Server infrastructure.

You have 

• At least 3 years of experience in a professional IT support organisation, supporting large and heterogeneous IT infrastructures (1,000+ users).
• Experience in systems management, deployment, automation, and integration across a heterogeneous enterprise IT landscape.
• Broad knowledge of  technologies to manage, monitor, and secure a complex enterprise IT environment.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills to effectively support internal customers.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to work collaboratively across teams.

You may also have

• Professional expertise in managing Windows / Microsoft 365 environments in a corporate setting, including user management, system/software deployment, and mail server administration, would be a plus.
• Previous managerial or project management experience.

As part of our IT Services team, you will:

• Work with cutting-edge technology in a fast-growing big data environment, managing hundreds of petabytes of scientific data as well as large-scale high-performance computing and AI infrastructures across multiple sites.
• Access certified training and ongoing professional and personal development opportunities.
• Benefit from technological exchange and collaboration with IT teams at other EMBL sites.
• Enjoy a competitive salary, comprehensive pension scheme, medical and educational benefits, and financial support for relocation and settling in with your family.
• Thrive in a flexible, international, and friendly working environment that fosters creativity.
• Join an inclusive workplace committed to equal opportunity and gender balance.
• Be part of one of the world's leading scientific research organisations and contribute to advancing our understanding of the principles of life.

Contract length: 3 years (renewable up to 9)

Salary: Grade 7 or 8, depending on experience and qualifications (monthly starting salary from 5.2-6k EUR net of tax, excl. EMBL excl. pension and health insurance contributions )

Why join us

EMBL is curiosity-driven, community-oriented and international. As an inclusive, equal opportunity employer, we believe that diversity enables us to collaborate more effectively and be innovative in our approaches. We are, therefore, committed to creating an inclusive and flexible culture - one where everyone can realise their full potential and make a positive contribution to our organisation. 

We encourage applications from individuals who can complement our existing team – we believe that success is built on having teams whose backgrounds and personal experiences reflect the diversity of the populations that our science serves. We actively encourage applications from all genders and cultures, ethnic groups and all demographics to help us avoid perpetuating biases and oversights at this transformational point in our people strategy.

Enjoy lots of benefits:

• Financial incentives: Salary free of income tax, 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

• 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 to public holidays

• Relocation package including installation grant (if applicable)

• Campus life: Free shuttle bus (select sites), on-site library, subsidised on-site gym and cafeteria, casual dress code, extensive sports and social club activities (on campus and remotely)

• Family benefits: Kindergarten (Heidelberg), 10 days of child sick leave, generous paid maternity/parental leave and monthly family & child allowances

• Benefits for international newcomers: 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. Visit our International Applicants page, to find out more.

• 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