Research IT Infrastructure Manager - Data Core

About VIB

VIB is a leading life sciences research institute with a unique collaborative model spanning nine research centers and four partner universities. Our mission is to advance life sciences for the benefit of society through scientific excellence, innovation, and collaboration.

VIB’s Data Core provides state‑of‑the‑art data and IT services that empower life sciences research across the institute. Scalable research IT platforms are designed, managed and continuously enhanced, enabling scientists to work securely and efficiently with large, complex datasets in a high‑performance environment.

To strengthen our infrastructure leadership, we are looking for a Research IT Infrastructure Manager to guide our infrastructure strategy and team.

As Research IT Infrastructure Manager, you will be responsible for the design, operation, and future evolution of VIB Data Core’s on‑premise and hybrid infrastructure that supports life sciences research. You will manage a team of infrastructure engineers and work closely with colleagues in the VIB Data Core and VIB ICT.

You combine strong technical expertise with people leadership, providing robust infrastructure solutions for research needs.

• Manage, mentor and supervise a team of infrastructure and data center engineers
• Define and drive the infrastructure roadmap in alignment with VIB Data Core strategy
• Oversee day‑to‑day operations of data center, compute, storage, networking, and core services
• Ensure high availability, performance, security, and compliance of infrastructure platforms
• Manage capacity planning, lifecycle management, and vendor relationships
• Work together with the Data Core and VIB ICT team to support research data services
• Make architectural decisions and continuous improvement of infrastructure practices
• Take ownership of incident management, change management, and operational excellence
• Ensure compliance with applicable regulations and standards (e.g. GDPR, NIS2, institutional policies), working towards certification (e.g. ISO 27001)

You are an experienced infrastructure leader who enjoys building both systems and teams.

You bring:

• Proven experience in people management, including coaching and team development
• Strong background in data center and IT infrastructure, including compute, storage, networking, and virtualization
• Experience with IT service management and compliance frameworks
• Solid understanding of Linux‑based systems and modern infrastructure practices (automation, monitoring, configuration management)
• Experience in capacity planning, high‑availability design, and operational processes
• A collaborative and service‑oriented mindset
• Affinity with research or academic environments
• Excellent communication skills

• A cutting‑edge IT environment with access to the latest technologies
• Work alongside a passionate, multidisciplinary team at the crossroads of life sciences and IT
• Contributing to the advancement of biotech science
• Ongoing training and professional development to keep your skills sharp and future‑proof
• A permanent contract with a competitive salary and benefits tailored to your experience
• A dynamic, international workplace in Ghent, with flexibility for remote work.

Join us if you are driven to shape and manage cutting‑edge IT infrastructure that empowers life sciences research, and if you enjoy leading teams in a collaborative and forward‑thinking environment.