SHORT DESCRIPTION

The purpose of the position is to manage and continuously develop the Institute’s building, facilities, laboratories and infrastructure services, ensuring operational continuity, safety, regulatory compliance, sustainability and effective support for research. The position defines priorities and policies within its remit, plans maintenance and investment, manages the assigned budget and suppliers, leads works and new installations, and coordinates the infrastructure team.


OTHER DETAILS

Ref. num. 2026-CR_ADM-ADM-359

Infrastructure manager


IMDEA Materials Institute is a public research organization founded in 2007 by Madrid’s regional government to carry out research of excellence in Material Science and Engineering by attracting talent from all over the world to work in an international and multidisciplinary environment. IMDEA Materials has grown rapidly since its foundation and currently includes more than 120 researchers from 22 nationalities and has become one of the leading research centers in materials in Europe which has received the María de Maeztu seal of excellence from the Spanish government. The research activities have been focused on the areas of materials for transport, energy, and health care and the Institute has state-of-the-art facilities for processing, characterization and simulation of advanced materials.

More information can be found at our webpage.


Description

The Infrastructure manager is expected to:

Infrastructure maintenance and services
• Plan, manage and oversee preventive, corrective and predictive maintenance for the building, facilities, infrastructure and laboratories.
• Define service priorities, maintenance plans, service levels and performance indicators.
• Coordinate and oversee maintenance, security, cleaning, gardening, reception/concierge, waste, laboratory furniture, industrial gases and other assigned services.

Energy, sustainability and compliance
• Define, implement and monitor energy-efficiency, saving and waste-management policies.
• Monitor electricity, water and gas consumption and approve improvement actions within delegated authority.
• Ensure application of relevant sector regulations and collaborate with Occupational Health and Safety on contractor coordination, risk control and emergency preparedness.

Infrastructure projects and research support
• Support Principal Investigators and research groups in scientific-equipment installation, new laboratories and adaptation of facilities to research needs.
• Plan and lead works, laboratory adaptations, new installations and infrastructure projects, validating technical design and coordinating stakeholders.

Leadership and management
• Prepare and manage the assigned budget, forecasts and investment proposals; monitor commitments and deviations.
• Maintain medium-term and multi-year maintenance and investment planning.
• Lead technical requirements, tender documentation, supplier selection support and contract performance within applicable procurement procedures.
• Manage and coordinate suppliers, contractors and technical assistance services and ensure adequate technical documentation and traceability.
• Lead and develop the infrastructure team, assign priorities and workload, and ensure appropriate functional coordination.
• Advise General Management on infrastructure condition, risks, priorities, investment needs and feasible technical solutions.


Requirements

Required experience:

  • Minimum 10 years of previous experience managing complex facilities, maintenance services, laboratories or comparable technical environments including:
    • HVAC, air conditioning and extraction systems
    • Mechanical, electrical (high and low voltage) and photovoltaic installations, energy efficiency and renewable energies.
    • Domestic hot water, plumbing and sanitation, prevention of legionellosis.
    • BMS (building management systems), lighting, UPS (uninterruptible power supply) and generators.
    • Fire protection (detection and extinction), compressed air and vacuum, industrial and flourinated gases, metallic and wooden carpentry, etc.
    • Demonstrable experience managing budgets and suppliers, leading works or installation projects, applying sector regulations, prioritising operational risks and coordinating personnel or multidisciplinary service teams.

Deserible experience:

  • Research centres, universities or public-sector organisations with laboratories.
  • Laboratory design and scientific-equipment installation.
  • Public procurement and technical tenders.
  • Architectural environments.
  • Using BMS, CMMS and ERP systems (ideally IDINET).
  • Energy audits and renewable-energy projects.
  • Multi-year maintenance and investment planning.
  • Data-processing centres (DPC).
  • Advanced AutoCAD capability.
  • CMMS systems.
  • DINET or comparable ERP systems.
  • English C1 CEFR.
  • Advanced Excel skills.

Required training:

  • Degree in Industrial Engineering or a closely related engineering discipline.
  • Training in energy efficiency, renewable energy and legionella prevention.

Desirable training:

  • Training in project management, procurement, occupational risk prevention or facilities management.

Technical and professional requirements:
Technical and professional experience in the following processes and programmes:

  • Advanced applied knowledge of complex building and laboratory installations.
  • Advanced applied knowledge of the sector regulations relevant to the facilities managed, including RITE, REBT, RAT, RIPCI, CTE and legionella-prevention requirements.
  • Knowledge of energy efficiency, sustainability and energy-management principles.
  • Knowledge of budget management, procurement, supplier and contract management.
  • Ability to plan and manage infrastructure works and installation projects.
  • Ability to lead a small technical team and coordinate multidisciplinary suppliers and contractors.
  • Spanish proficiency appropriate for regulatory, contractual and safety responsibilities.
  • Minimum English level B2 CEFR.

Required competencies

  • Analytical thinking and problem-solving.
  • Planning, prioritisation and decision-making.
  • Leadership and team coordination.
  • Accountability and risk-based decision-making.
  • Clear communication and stakeholder management.
  • Service orientation and collaboration with research teams.

Desirable competencies

  • Strategic and long-term thinking.
  • Adaptability and responsiveness to changing operational needs.
  • Negotiation and relationship-building.
  • Continuous improvement and sustainability orientation.
  • Ability to develop and guide technical staff.

Conditions

Contrato indefinido con cargo a la tasa de reposición para 2026 autorizada por la Consejería de Economía, Hacienda y Empleo de la Comunidad de Madrid.

Permanent contract under the 2026 replacement rate authorised by the Department of Economy, Finance and Employment of the Community of Madrid.


Applications are processed upon reception. The position might be closed once ten working days have passed since publication, so we encourage early application.

The working language of the Institute is English. Full command of the English language is required in all positions.

WHAT YOU WILL FIND AT IMDEA:

Stimulating environment where you can grow professionally.

IMDEA Materials Institute is committed to equal opportunities, diversity and the promotion of a healthy work environment and work-life balance. Female applicants are encouraged to apply to our research and technical positions. See our Gender Equality Plan here and our Code of Ethics here.

Besides on-the-job technical training, IMDEA Materials Institute is committed to training the Institute’s scientists and staff in “soft” or transversal skills. See the available training here.

Meet some of our alumni to see what it is like to work with us.