Oorspronkelijke vacature omschrijving:

Circular Plastics

Job Description

We are looking for a Lab Manager to run our polymer processing lab, which is located at the Brightlands Chemelot Campus in Sittard-Geleen. The lab includes compounding, cast extrusion, film blowing, extrusion blow moulding and injection moulding as main techniques. The Lab Manager is in charge of ensuring the smooth running of the lab, which is used by our PhD students. Because we are a research environment, there is a lot of variation in the project topics and materials. We are looking for a person who can work autonomously when it comes to making decisions, but also functions well within a diverse team. The Lab Manager has a more senior position within the team and reports directly to the professorial staff. We would look to you not just for day-to-day operations but also discussions and advice on how to build experimental setups or perform certain experiments.

As Lab Manager you would:

• Manage the smooth running of all our processing machines: plan and execute maintenance, make small adjustments, maintain the moulds and dies
• Ensure a safe and smooth running of the lab: put in place protocols for proper use of machines, maintain safety procedures, organize materials stock and machine reservation system
• Support our PhD students using these machines: advise them on settings, troubleshoot challenges with them, help them with mould/die changes, etc
• Participate actively in development of new experimental setups when needed
• Support teaching activities to BSc and MSc students in the lab

Job Requirements

Our Lab Manager is the true master of the lab: they have final say in daily operations, but must also be able to work well with within the team. Therefore, you are a good (sometimes firm, sometimes patient) communicator, who enjoys teaching interested young people how they can run their own experiments. You need to have good organizational skills. Given that we work on mechanical recycling of plastics, a passion for sustainability is a bonus.

We are looking for someone with significant experience in polymer processing. Our Lab Manager is not just an operator, he/she has a good understanding of what happens to thermoplastic polymers in a screw and mould/die. This means the Lab Manager is able to troubleshoot easily and knows what processing parameters are advisable for a certain technique/polymer combination. This type of understanding is more important to us than having experience on all the machines mentioned below.

Your specified skills include:

• Significant experience with and knowledge of at least 2 of these polymer processing techniques: compounding, cast extrusion, film blowing, extrusion blow moulding or injection moulding
• Knowledge of technical lab management skills: how to effect mould/die changes and (dis)assembly, screw maintenance, material flushing, etc.
• Sufficient English language knowledge to communicate with the non-Dutch speaking researchers. Knowledge of the Dutch language is a plus but not required.
• Skills in technical drawing (Autocad, NX, SolidWorks,…) are a plus.

Your educational profile preferable is a technical one, including a focus like Mechanics or Materials.

What we offer

As Lab Manager at Faculty of Science & Engineering, you will be employed by the most international university in the Netherlands, located in the beautiful city of Maastricht. In addition, we offer you:

• Good employment conditions. The position is graded in scale 7 - 8 according to UFO profile Education-/Research Officer, with corresponding salary based on experience ranging from €2693,00 and €4103,00 gross per month (based on a full-time employment of 38 hours per week). In addition to the monthly salary, an 8.0% holiday allowance and an 8.3% year-end bonus apply.
• An employment contract for a period of 12 months with a scope of 1,0 FTE. Upon proven suitability, the employment contract will be converted to an indefinite contract.
• At Maastricht University, the well-being of our employees is of utmost importance, we offer flexible working hours and the possibility to work partly from home if the nature of your position allows it. You will receive a monthly commuting and internet allowance for this. If you work full-time, you will be entitled to 29 vacation days and 4 additional public holidays per year, namely carnival Monday, carnival Tuesday, Good Friday, and Liberation Day. If you choose to accumulate compensation hours, an additional 12 days will be added. Furthermore, you can personalize your employment conditions through a collective labor agreement (CAO) choice model.
• As Maastricht University, we offer various other excellent secondary employment conditions. These include a good pension scheme with the ABP and the opportunity for UM employees to participate in company fitness and make use of the extensive sports facilities that we also offer to our students.
• Last but certainly not least, we provide the space and facilities for your personal and professional development. We facilitate this by offering a wide range of training programs and supporting various well-established initiatives such as 'acknowledge and appreciate'.
  
  The terms of employment at Maastricht University are largely set out in the collective labor agreement of Dutch Universities. In addition, local provisions specific to UM apply. For more information, click here

Maastricht University

Why work at Maastricht University?

At Maastricht University (UM), everything revolves around the future. The future of our students, as we work to equip them with a solid, broad-based foundation for the rest of their lives. And the future of society, as we seek solutions through our research to issues from all around the world. Our six faculties combined provide a comprehensive package of study programmes and research.

In our teaching, we use the Problem-Based Learning (PBL) method. Students work in small groups, looking for solutions to problems themselves. By discussing issues and working together to draw conclusions, formulate answers and present them to their peers, students develop essential skills for their future careers.

With over 22,300 students and more than 5,000 employees from all over the world, UM is home to a vibrant and inspiring international community.

Are you drawn to an international setting focused on education, science and scholarship? Are you keen to contribute however your skills and qualities allow? Our door is open to you! As a young European university, we value your talent and look forward to creating the future together.

Click here for more information about UM.

Faculty of Science and Engineering

At the Faculty of Science and Engineering (FSE), we focus on themes such as circularity and sustainability, future farming, digitisation and (scientific) instrument development.??FSE's leading projects, like the Einstein Telescope Pathfinder, are sure to grab anyone's attention.??The faculty is a vibrant hub of education and research in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) and Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS).??At FSE, over 450 staff members and 3700 students gather to explore e exciting interdisciplinary research and educational programmes. Feel welcome, be part of our team and put your brilliant mind to work!

FSE at the Brightlands Campuses

Maastricht, Sittard-Geleen, Heerlen, and Venlo, the home of four creative Brightlands campuses, are bustling with 30,000 entrepreneurs, researchers, and students working diligently to solve global challenges. The Faculty of Science and Engineering is active on all four Brightlands campuses, and this is where our impact reaches its peak. To give you an idea of what is happening at each campus: Sittard-Geleen is home to the largest chemical site in the Euregion, while Venlo is a large hub for agri-food innovation. Maastricht is the site of the Health Campus, and Heerlen is the place to be for Smart Services.

Curious?

Are you interested in this exciting position but still have questions? Feel free to contact prof. Kim Ragaert at k.ragaert@maastrichtuniversity.nl for more information.

Applying?

Or are you already convinced and ready to become our new Lab Manager? Apply now, no later than March 15th, for this position.

The first interviews preferably take place on March 27th . We aim to start the contract May 1st.

An orientation day can be part of the application procedure.

The vacancy is open for internal and external candidates. In case of equal qualifications, internal candidates will be prioritized.

Maastricht University is committed to promoting and nurturing a diverse and inclusive community. We believe that diversity in our staff and student population contributes to the quality of research and education at UM, and strive to enable this through inclusive policies and innovative projects led by teams of staff and students. We encourage you to apply for this position.