- Salary: Band G – £60,026 – £75,417 (subject to experience)
- Location – RAL, Oxford
Background Information
As part of the UK’s National Quantum Technologies Programme, UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) is leading a programme to establish a National Quantum Computing Centre, which includes a commitment of £93m over 5 years, dedicated to drive development in the field of Quantum Computing and to place the UK at the forefront of the field. The Centre is a joint initiative of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC).
A purpose-built National Quantum Computing Centre will be built and operated by UKRI at the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) campus in Oxfordshire. The Centre will be open and operational by December 2022. Until then, the NQCC’s activities are taking place in other facilities on the Harwell Campus or at partnering institutions. The NQCC will sit alongside other departments within the STFC National Laboratories and will be part of the broader National Quantum Technologies Programme (NQTP).
Position overview
The Deputy Director for Innovation will have primary responsibility for the Centre’s innovation strategy and related programmes, ensuring alignment with other academic, industrial and governmental bodies in order to maximise the Centre’s impact on the wider UK landscape. This will entail contributing to the Centre’s broader strategic vision, its capabilities (e.g. experimental, on-site) and its partnership agreements. Additionally, the role will have primary responsibility for establishing a framework to monitor and evaluate the progress and delivery of the programme, in terms of both innovation goals and other impacts.
The main activities and outputs will include:
- Lead activities, including relevant programmes, to accelerate the commercialisation of quantum computing technologies, in order to deliver the related social and economic benefits, working with stakeholders across government, academia and industry, including:
- Ensuring that the Centre’s activities support a vibrant UK industry in quantum computing;
- Identifying opportunities for the development of enabling technologies and building capabilities to address gaps in the supply chain; ensuring intellectual property.
- Working alongside the Deputy Director for Research to identify requirements and support the commissioning and procurement of hardware and services for the Centre;
- Working with the Deputy Director for Operations to devise mechanisms that enable access to the Centre’s capabilities, including world-leading emerging quantum computing hardware, for UK government, industry and academia;
- Identifying mechanisms to support international collaborations, where relevant.
- Engage with tech developers and potential end users from business and industry and build mutually beneficial partnerships.
- Manage the Centre’s commercialisation strategy and provide oversight of the management of its IP portfolio, ensuring policies are in place such that IP, generated by the Centre and contributed by third parties, is appropriately recorded, managed, exploited and treated confidentially.
- Together with the Deputy Director for Research, design and deliver the work programmes; specifically, provide oversight to ensure that the necessary equipment, facilities and infrastructure are in place to ensure successful delivery.
- Implement a framework to monitor and evaluate the progress and delivery of the programme, including the assessment of wider impacts.
- Working with the Deputy Director for Research, contribute to designing and implementing the processes for benchmarking and evaluating emerging quantum computing platforms, focussed on applications of the technology.
- With input from the Director and Deputy Directors for Research and Operations, implement and oversee a Responsible Research and Innovation programme that will inform the Centre’s work programmes and operations.
Person Specification
- Degree in Management OR a relevant computing science or other science or engineering discipline or demonstrate significant experience
- Proven track record of leading, coordinating and delivering research and innovation programmes, drawing support from, for example, universities, business, other government agencies
- An ability to turn vision and strategic plans into reality, achieving buy-in at an organisational level, including the ability to develop and sustain high performing teams, which deliver priority outcomes whilst meeting financial objectives
- Experience of developing and maintaining strategic relationships and partnerships and gaining the respect of stakeholders
- An ability to develop operational solutions within the context of an existing, high-level framework (i.e. to implement the NQCC in line with the approved business case)
- Experience in implementing or operating corporate/institutional governance structures and processes, or demonstrable understanding of the issues involved
- Demonstrable commitment to safe working practices and the well-being of facility users and visitors
- Significant experience in a senior management position within a hi-tech or science and technology organisation
- An appreciation of governance and risk management
- Demonstrable experience of financial planning and analysis
- Understanding of Intellectual Property Rights
How To Apply
Click here to apply on the recruitment site.
For more information, or to request a full copy of the job description please contact seniorrecruitment@ukri.org.
Online applications only preferred for this role. Please submit your CV and a covering letter that clearly outlines how you fulfil the criteria specified along with your motivation to join STFC and the role you’re applying for. Ensure that the job reference number is included in the file name description of each document uploaded. Note that failure to address the above criteria or submit your application without a covering letter may result in your application not being considered. You will only be assessed on the content of your CV and covering letter and not the ‘experience’ section of the application.
The closing date for applications is 5th March 2021.
Benefits
STFC offers a benefits package designed to provide an excellent work/life balance including 30 days’ annual leave, flexible working hours, a workplace nursery, exceptional pension scheme and social and sporting activities and societies.
About STFC
The Science and Technology Facilities Council is a world-leading multi-disciplinary science organisation where curiosity-driven, blue-skies thinking meets practical, application-led science and engineering. Our goal is to deliver economic, societal, scientific and international benefits to the UK and its people – and more broadly to the world.
One of Europe’s largest research organisations, we’re trusted to support, enable and undertake cutting-edge projects in an amazing diversity of fields. Through world-class facilities and people, we’re driving ground-breaking advances in science, engineering, computing and technology. Our research seeks to understand the Universe from the largest astronomical scales to the tiniest constituents of matter, yet creates an impact on a very tangible, human scale.
For more information about STFC please visit https://stfc.ukri.org/
You can also visit our careers site https://www.stfccareers.co.uk/
About UKRI
Launched in April 2018, UKRI is a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). Our organisation brings together the seven disciplinary research councils, Research England, which is responsible for supporting research and knowledge exchange at higher education institutions in England, and the UK’s innovation agency, Innovate UK to create an independent organisation with a strong voice for research and innovation, and a vision to ensure the UK maintains its world-leading position in research and innovation. More information can be found at www.ukri.org.
How we support EDI in the workforce
At UKRI we believe that everyone has a right to be treated with dignity and respect, and to be provided with equal opportunities to flourish and succeed in an environment that enables them to do so. We also value diversity of thought and experience within inclusive groups, organisations and the wider community. For further information, please visit ‘How we support EDI in the workforce’
Disability Confident Employer
As a Disability Confident employer, UKRI will offer an interview to a fair and proportionate number of disabled applicants that meet the minimum criteria for the job (this is the description of the job as set by the employer). To enable us to do this we ask the appropriate questions within the candidate application.
For more information on this scheme, click here.
Additional Information
Organisation: Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)
Contract Type: Open Ended
External Closing Date: March 5, 2021
Minimum Salary: Pound Sterling (GBP) 60,026
Hours: Full-time