- 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 Operations will take the lead in driving the establishment of the Centre’s key operational policies such as facilities access and management. The post holder will drive the establishment of the centre’s building design, jointly with the Deputy Directors for Research and Innovation, and governance, ensuring the centre complies with current legislative frameworks.
Jointly with the Director, this role will have responsibility for ensuring the centre has a high-level profile in the community and with stakeholders to pave the way for future partnerships.
The main activities and outputs will include:
- Strategy development for the Centre’s operations to enable the mission of the Centre.
- Analysis and use of evidence to identify and evaluate the best processes and systems to support the work of the Centre and to enable efficient operations.
- Communications and influence to build influential networks and communicate and engage with others effectively to successfully integrate the Centre into UKRI
- Programme Management to lead and deliver on streams of work in complex environments.
- People Management to support the design of the target operating model for the Centre, ensuring it creates an attractive and positive working environment.
- Financial Management to oversee the Centre’s budget at an operational level, demonstrating efficiency, effectiveness and value for money.
- Health and Safety responsibility to ensure the Centre is operated within the necessary H&S parameters, and for secruing the centre including the specific requirements of a secure laboratory.
- Responsibility for the formulation of such as the quality management system (such as iso9001 type standard).
- Corporate Governance working effectively within UKRI to support the ambitions of the National Quantum Technologies Programme through the NQCC
- Representational to represent the Centre across UKRI’s corporate functions.
- Working Relationships to build effective relationships with key stakeholders internally and externally
Person Specification
- Business Degree/MBA OR Degree/MSc in Computer Science or other Science or engineering related topic or demonstrate significant experience
- Proven track record of organisational development and delivery within a research and innovation context, where it is important to draw support from universities, business, other government agencies and elsewhere
- 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)
- Demonstrable commitment to safe working practices and the well-being of facility users and visitors
- Experience in implementing or operating corporate/institutional governance structures and processes, or demonstrable understanding of the issues involved, including data protection and delivery on regulatory and reporting requirements
- Demonstrated experience in management and leadership of people and related policies, including employee relations and the inclusion, diversity and equality agenda
- Previous experience in leading large research and development activities, institutes or facilities
- Significant experience in a senior management position within a hi-tech or science and technology organisation
- Ability to ensure programmes are delivered within agreed timescales, within budget and to a high calibre
- An appreciation of governance and risk management principles
- Demonstrable experience of financial planning and analysis
- Quality Management and Project management experience
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.
To Apply
For more information, or to request a full copy of the job description please contact seniorrecruitment@ukri.org.
Applicants must include a CV and cover letter outlining their suitability for this role. The closing date for applications is 5th March 2021, with interviews taking place on W/C 29th March 2021.
Additional security clearance will be needed for this role – SC Level Clearance.
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 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/
How to Apply
Online applications only preferred for this role. Please submit your CV and a covering letter which 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 filename 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.
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: Mar 05, 2021
Minimum Salary: Pound Sterling (GBP) 60,026
Hours: Full-time