Director of Operations

Reporting to the Institute Director/Chief Executive Officer (CEO), this key role is responsible for the design, operation and delivery of operations and scientific services that will ensure delivery of excellent support to QIB. The postholder is the principal advisor to the CEO and the Board on all operational matters.

The postholder will work closely with the Institute Director, QIB Executive Board, and QIB Board of Trustees to plan and implement the operational strategy, ensuring the success of the institute as it enters the next stage of development.

The Director of Operations will lead a range of management activities to ensure QIB can effectively deliver its scientific vision. Leading, coordinating, and efficiently delivering operational activities are key requirements of this role. As part of the senior Executive team, you will support cultural change and institute sustainability.

To be successful in this role, the postholder must be able to manage a substantial and varied workload; deliver projects and reports; and negotiate, resolve problems, mediate, and manage complex and sensitive issues with confidence and professionalism.

Key Relationships

Internal

• QIB Board of Trustees
• QIB Executive Board including NI2SP and Pillar Leads
• Laboratory operations, Health and Safety, and Scientific services teams
• NBI Partnership and partner organisations who provide support services including Human Resources; IT/Computing; Finance; Health and Safety; and Risk Management
• Facilities Management team, and Intelligent Client for QI

External

• QI Partners Board of Trustees
• QI Executive Group
• Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)
• Anglian Innovation Partnership LLP, and the Norwich Research Park
• The John Innes Centre, Earlham Institute, The Sainsbury Laboratory, the University of East Anglia and the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital
• Other research institutes, universities, schools, commercial organisations and funding agencies in the UK, EU and internationally

Main Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership & Governance (40%)
  • Translate high‑level scientific and organisational strategies into actionable operational plans.
  • Support the Institute Director/CEO as part of the senior executive team.
  • Lead implementation and monitoring of institutional strategic or impact frameworks.
  • Provide leadership and oversight of corporate governance, risk management, internal controls, and organisational assurance frameworks.
  • Identify and assess operational risks, ensuring they are clearly articulated and accompanied by appropriate mitigation strategies, solution options, and assurance actions.
  • Ensure regulatory and compliance requirements are met and drive continuous improvement in operational assurance.
• Operational Delivery, Performance, and Service Excellence (40%)
  • Direct, administer, and coordinate all operational activities of the institute.
  • Facilitate the effective delivery of research activities by ensuring the provision of high‑quality research infrastructure, laboratory, and support services.
  • Coordinate crisis management; oversee the care for staff and personnel on site, protection of the environment, protection of QIB reputation and maintenance of business continuity.
  • Provide strategic oversight of incident command structures and operational risk.
• Financial Leadership (15%)
  • Work closely with finance teams to achieve financial sustainability and support strategic goals.
  • Prepare, monitor, and report on business plans and budgets.
  • Build and sustain organisational capabilities and systems to support accurate forecasting, strategic workforce planning, and efficient operational resource allocation.
• People & Talent Management (10%)
  • Work closely with the People and Talent Pillar Leads to achieve a positive research culture in terms of Career Development and EDI.
  • Promote a high‑performance culture that supports scientific excellence.
  • Foster and champion an organisational culture that promotes continuous improvement, innovation, and collaborative ways of working.
• Research Enablement & Scientific Support (10%)
  • Lead the optimisation of research operations by improving workflows, overseeing enabling tools and platforms; acting as a critical bridge between research, technology, and operations.
  • Coordinate with internal and external stakeholders, including universities, hospitals, funding agencies, and research partners.
  • Oversee governance, ethics, and compliance measures for research operations.
• Stakeholder & External Engagement (10%)
  • Build and maintain strong relationships with government agencies, funders, industry partners, and academic collaborators.
  • Represent the institute in external forums, supporting partnership development and scientific outreach.
• Any other duties and activities commensurate with the nature and grade of the role (5%).

Education & Qualifications

• Professionally qualified with a relevant degree/postgraduate qualification (Essential).
• Health and Safety qualification (UK based) (Essential).
• Financial/accountancy qualification (Desirable).
• PhD or equivalent experience (Desirable).

Specialist Knowledge & Skills

• Significant knowledge and understanding of scientific research and scientific research management (Essential).
• Knowledge of UK based Health and Safety regulations and procedures (Essential).
• Understanding of financial management, budgetary management and grant funding (Essential).
• Experience in budget, asset, people and risk management in a results‑focussed organisation (Essential).
• Committed to delivering projects and services in a cost effective and timely manner (Essential).
• Senior leadership experience within a similar organisation and role (Essential).
• Experience in managing complex multifunctional and organisational relationships (Essential).
• Experience in facilities management and related requirements, including capital planning, policies and procedures, compliance and legislation (Essential).
• Experience of managing Health and Safety (including policies and procedures) preferably in a UK based research sector / institution (Essential).
• Desirable: Experience in Project Management and/or Change Management.
• Desirable: Significant experience in a senior leadership role in a public or private research institution.

Management and Leadership

• Establishes and communicates clear performance standards ensuring performance measures are achieved to deliver the organisational vision (KPIs) (Essential).
• Continuously reviews operational effectiveness and manages under performance in a timely manner ensuring value for money (VFM) (Essential).
• Demonstrable ability to manage, support and motivate teams ensuring the highest levels of performance are achieved (Essential).

Interpersonal & Communication Skills

• Resilient and innovative in addressing complex problems (Essential).
• Commercial acumen (Essential).
• Good interpersonal skills, with the ability to work well as part of a team (Essential).
• Demonstrates discretion and sound judgment in dealing with confidential, sensitive, and controversial issues (Essential).
• Excellent written and oral communication skills with the ability to articulate complex information to different audiences (Essential).
• Engages staff at all levels and enthusiastically promotes the vision (Essential).
• Highly developed emotional and political intelligence (Essential).

Additional Requirements

• Attention to detail (Essential).
• Promotes equality and values diversity (Essential).
• Willingness to embrace the expected values and behaviours of all staff at the Institute, ensuring it is a great place to work (Essential).
• Able to present a positive image of self and the Institute, promoting both the international reputation and public engagement aims of the Institute (Essential).
• Willingness to work outside standard working hours when required (Essential).

Equal Employment Opportunity

We are committed to equity, diversity and inclusion, and welcome applications from all sectors of society. The institute values People‑Centred Impact, Inclusive Excellence, Trusted Integrity, Collaborative Spirit and Agile Innovation. We guarantee an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for this vacancy.

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