Technical Director, Environmental Chemical Analysis Facility (ECAF)
Immigration Policy Lab
Technical Director, Environmental Chemical Analysis Facility (ECAF)
80%-100%, Zurich, permanent
The Department of Environmental Systems Science (D-USYS) at ETH Zurich is seeking a Technical Director to lead the operation of the Environmental Chemical Analysis Facility (ECAF), a newly established departmental platform. The Technical Director is the senior technical manager of ECAF and ensures safe, reliable, and efficient operation of ECAF instruments and user facilities in support of research and training. This role combines operational leadership of a modern analytical facility with close scientific interaction with a diverse user community.
Project background
The Environmental Chemical Analysis Facility (ECAF) is a user facility for chemical analysis instrumentation supporting research and teaching across D-USYS and other ETH Zurich and ETH Domain units. The facility that includes various mass spectrometry (MS) instruments (HR-MS, ICP-MS), standalone and MS-coupled chromatography systems (GC, LC, IC), further instrumentation for elemental analyses, and instrumentation for stable isotope measurements. ECAF is being established as a robust, user-focused platform with standardized workflows, strong safety culture, and high-quality training to support chemical analyses critical for environmental research.
Job description
- Facility launch: As its first Technical Director, your vision and leadership will be critical in establishing ECAF as a modern, well-run, state-of-the-art, user-focused chemical analysis facility, helping to develop its policies, procedures, user culture, and strategy.
- Facility operations: Oversee the day-to-day activities in ECAF, ensuring that instruments and user facilities are running and available.
- Scientific and research support: Support users in developing and optimizing analytical protocols for challenging analytes and complex matrices, including sample preparation workflows and QA/QC concepts. Provide consultation during experimental design (e.g., selection of analytical approach, measurement strategy, controls, and interpretation limits) and help translate research needs into analytical workflows. Where appropriate, contribute as a scientific and technical partner to research projects that rely on ECAF infrastructure.
- Supervision: Share supervision responsibilities with the ECAF faculty Director, overseeing and coordinating technical staff and student assistants.
- Maintenance and service coordination: Plan and coordinate preventive maintenance, servicing, repairs, vendor support, and service contracts.
- User access and training framework: Develop and maintain workflows for user registration, onboarding, authorization, training records, and operational oversight.
- Resource and cost oversight: Maintain the inventory and operational documentation; manage internal billing processes; provide input and guidance for annual fee setting and budget planning.
- Governance and stakeholder coordination: Serve as a member of the ECAF Directorate and contribute to operational planning, policy implementation, and continuous improvement of facility processes.
Profile
- Education: Advanced degree (PhD) in analytical chemistry, environmental sciences, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
- Technical expertise: Demonstrated experience with modern analytical instrumentation and laboratory workflows (e.g., LC-MS, GC, ICP, IC, elemental analysis, optical spectroscopy, or comparable platforms).
- Operational leadership: Ability to manage complex laboratory infrastructure, coordinate vendors and service providers, and maintain robust documentation systems.
- People and communication skills: Strong service orientation and communication skills; ability to work with diverse user groups and balance competing priorities.
- Language: Excellent English; German is an advantage.
Workplace
Workplace
We offer
- A key role in shaping and operating a new departmental research platform, with scope to influence the long-term development of ECAF’s analytical capabilities, workflows, and user support model.
- A collaborative environment with a broad scientific user community.
- Employment conditions, salary, and benefits in accordance with ETH Zurich regulations.
We value diversity and sustainability
Curious? So are we.
We look forward to receiving your online application with the following documents:
- A two-page CV
- A motivational statement describing relevant facility/instrument experience and leadership responsibilities (max. one page)
Screening of applications will begin May 15, 2026 and will continue until the position is filled.
Further information about the Institute can be found on our website.Questions regarding the position should be directed to Prof. Dr. Kristopher McNeill by email (kris.mcneill@env.ethz.ch; no applications).
Please note that we exclusively accept applications submitted through our online application portal. Applications via email or postal services will not be considered.
We would like to point out that the pre-selection is carried out by the responsible recruiters and not by artificial intelligence.
For recruitment services the GTC of ETH Zurich apply.