Chief Operating Officer, STFC

Chief Operating Officer, STFC

£91,943 - £99,500 per annum (depending on skills and experience)

Full time, Open Ended

Based in Harwell, Didcot; with regular travel to UKRI locations and occasional international travel

Closing 20th January 2025 (23:59)

Interviews are expected to be held in person on Monday 10 February 2025

Are you an inspiring leader with a drive for innovation and a commitment to operational excellence? STFC invites you to help shape the future of research and innovation as Chief Operating Officer (COO).

About STFC

The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) is one of Europe’s largest multidisciplinary research organisations with a budget of over £700m per annum. We combine world-class facilities including the ISIS pulsed neutron and muon source and the Vulcan Petawatt Laser, with support for major high-profile international science activities, such as the UK’s participation in CERN and the Diamond Light Source.

With sites including the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (RAL) at the Harwell campus in Oxfordshire, the Daresbury Laboratory at the Sci-Tech Daresbury campus in Cheshire, and the UK Astronomy Technology Centre in Edinburgh, STFC is positioned to deliver advanced scientific understanding and generate a remarkable variety of real-world benefits which shape societies and transform lives.

STFC is one of nine organisations that have been brought together to create UK Research and Innovation (UKRI); formed in 2018 to ensure the UK maintains its world-leading position in research and innovation.

The Role

As COO, you will report directly to the STFC Executive Chair and play a pivotal role in delivering STFC’s mission within UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). This executive leadership position oversees key corporate functions, including:

• Business Continuity & Risk Management
• Digital Infrastructure
• Environmental Sustainability
• Estates, which include 123 buildings and covers 180 acres over 5 sites
• Health and Safety
• Continuous Improvement

You will serve as a trusted partner to UKRI corporate functions such as Finance, HR, Legal, and Procurement, ensuring STFC receives high-quality support while leading the strategic alignment of operations to the UKRI strategy.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic oversight of support services - Direct management of Business Continuity, Digital Infrastructure, Environmental Sustainability, Estates, Health & Safety, and Continuous Improvement.
• Indirect oversight of core functions - Indirect responsibility for HR, Finance, Governance/Legal, Assurance, Risk, Information (GARI), and Procurement.
• Leadership and governance - Act as a visible leader within the STFC Executive Board, champion corporate governance, and ensure alignment with UKRI strategy and statutory obligations.
• Transformation and strategy alignment - Support the Executive Chair in transforming STFC to align with UKRI's strategic vision.
• Corporate collaboration - Work with Executive Directors to drive people performance, strengthen strategic relationships, and maximise science and industry impact.
• Continuous improvement - Champion organisational design, simplification, and harmonisation to enhance delivery capability and efficiency.
• Finance and procurement - Ensure financial controls and significant procurement processes align with UKRI policies and public finance standards.
• Safety, health, and environment - Lead SHE initiatives to maintain a safe working environment and drive sustainability goals, including achieving Net Zero by 2040.
• Estates and facilities management - Oversee strategic planning for estates services, infrastructure, and space management to ensure fit-for-purpose facilities.
• Stakeholder engagement - Build strong relationships across STFC, UKRI, and external stakeholders to support organisational goals through influence and collaboration.

What we’re looking for:

• An experienced and inspirational leader, with:
• A degree in Business or equivalent significant experience (professional qualifications in financial or project management are desirable).
• Proven experience of working with Boards at a senior level with diverse internal and external stakeholders.
• Proven success in delivering organisational change and leading corporate services at a senior level.
• Strategic vision with the ability to translate goals into actionable outcomes.
• First-class communication, collaboration, and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience in the research and innovation sector or public sector is desirable.

This role requires a blend of strategic thinking, operational expertise, and the ability to lead diverse, multidisciplinary teams. You must be able to travel within the UK and occasionally abroad.

Benefits

Choosing to come to work at STFC means that you will have access to a whole host of benefits from a defined benefit pension scheme, excellent holiday entitlement, access to employee shopping/travel discounts and salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme. For more details, visit Benefits of working at STFC.

How to Apply

This role attracts a National Security Vetting clearance (SC), there are further eligibility requirements. For further details visit: UK Government Security Vetting.

Applicants are required to provide an up-to-date CV and a statement of suitability outlining their suitability for the role against the required criteria. Please click ‘apply’ for further information and to visit our careers page.

UKRI is committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion. We encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds and are open to flexible working arrangements, including job share and secondment opportunities.