UK Research and Innovation

Chief Operating Officer

UK Research and Innovation

full-time

Posted on:

Location Type: Hybrid

Location: Swindon • United Kingdom

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Salary

💰 £94,931 - £117,800 per year

Job Level

Lead

About the role

  • Act to support the Executive Chair, and fellow members of the Executive Leadership Team, to ensure the smooth running of BBSRC
  • As a member of the broader BBSRC leadership team, role model and champion organisational values and behaviours and equality, diversity and inclusion principles
  • Working with the Executive Chair and across BBSRC to lead and support organisational transformation and its alignment with UKRI transformation
  • Working with fellow COOs across other parts of UKRI to ensure consistency in working practices and to ensure the smooth running of UKRI as a whole.
  • Working with the Heads of Function to support the design, transformation and effective delivery of Council services within budget and ensuring efficiency and value for money
  • Inspiring, empowering and developing the BBSRC team
  • In relation to BBSRC strategically funded institutes (overall an annual BBSRC investment in the region of £135M), lead on matters covering estates, major projects governance, campus developments and other institute-related activities.
  • Working across BBSRC with members of the Executive Leadership Team, subject matter experts and BBSRC observers as required
  • Act as the key point of contact for BBSRC input to UKRI Corporate Services plans; ensuring that BBSRC requirements are appropriately reflected and that BBSRC can deliver agreed outcomes
  • Working collaboratively to identify and deliver simplification and harmonisation
  • Oversight of operational planning and programme support and manage risk within BBSRC – ensuring sufficient support is provided to key areas of activity
  • Supporting the effective organisation design and delivery capability
  • Acting as the change agent in BBSRC for Corporate Services in support of the UKRI transformation plan
  • Work closely, via ‘dotted line’ engagement approach, with the UKRI Corporate Services Finance Business Partner to ensure BBSRC and UKRI have the necessary financial controls, planning, monitoring and reporting (reflecting Managing Public Money) to enable BBSRC to deliver its strategy
  • Oversee significant procurements in conjunction with the UKRI Corporate Services Procurement Business Partner
  • Act as the key point of contact for the NERC/BBSRC joint estates team, hosted by NERC, including on Health, Safety and Biosafety
  • Act as the key contact for major BBSRC capital programmes
  • Lead on employee policies for BBSRC including pay and reward.
  • Work closely with the UKRI Corporate Services and HR Business Partners to ensure BBSRC has the right people, in the right place, doing the right things, developing their skills and maximising their productivity in alignment within Council and UKRI strategy.
  • Leading on staff and Trade Union relations where required
  • Work closely, via ‘dotted line’ engagement approach, with UKRI Corporate Services GARI Business Partner to provide the BBSRC Executive Chair and Council with appropriate governance structures and assurance as to the integrity of activities, that risks are identified and mitigated (as far as reasonable), that information is accurate and secure (reflecting GDPR), with specific reference to the UKRI assets managed by BBSRC including at BBSRC strategically-funded institutes. Accountable for ensuring reporting is carried out.
  • Manage BBSRC’s need for legal advice, working with UKRI Head of Legal
  • Act as the key point of contact for GIAA
  • Managing corporate compliance and statutory liability
  • Manage the provision of business IT to BBSRC, working with internal and external suppliers
  • Ensure that office space is of appropriate quality and used flexibly and effectively
  • Ensure that employees have the tools to do the job
  • Working closely with the UKRI Corporate Services and Business Partners to provide a safe and healthy working environment for all staff, workers and visitors to BBSRC.
  • Working closely with the UKRI Corporate Services and Business Partners to deliver the environmental agenda
  • Lead and support major programmes, projects and other ad-hoc activities as required by the Executive Chair
  • Lead on cross UKRI projects as required.

Requirements

  • Significant experience of managing operations of comparable scale and complexity to BBSRC, all while working at pace.
  • Significant experience of leading and driving organisational change and managing operations, drawing on and integrating the support of professional functions, including HR, Finance and Project Management.
  • Proven track record of working with boards at a senior level and with diverse internal and external stakeholders in Research Organisations, Business and Government departments, and evidence of building effective cross functional working relationships.
  • A motivational and inspirational leader with experience of successfully leading and developing high-performing teams to deliver high-quality outcomes and resilient high-quality operations.
  • Ability to operate successfully at strategic level, working collaboratively with partner organisations with a record of translating organisational vision and strategy into operational requirements.
  • Effective communication, interpersonal, relationship building, collaboration, customer relations and influencing skills.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of governance and risk management principles, and of handling complex HR issues, based on close management experience.
Benefits
  • An outstanding defined benefit pension scheme
  • 30 days’ annual leave in addition to 10.5 public and privilege days (full time equivalent)
  • Employee discounts and offers on retail and leisure activities
  • Employee assistance programme, providing confidential help and advice
  • Flexible working options
Applicant Tracking System Keywords

Tip: use these terms in your resume and cover letter to boost ATS matches.

Hard Skills & Tools
operations managementorganisational change managementproject managementfinancial planningrisk managementgovernanceHR managementprocurementcompliance managementbusiness IT management
Soft Skills
leadershipteam developmentcommunicationinterpersonal skillsrelationship buildingcollaborationcustomer relationsinfluencing skillsstrategic thinkingproblem-solving