Director of E-Infrastructure

Swindon, Oxfordshire or London

Salary £72,353 - £80,392 dependent upon qualifications and experience and inclusive of annual allowance

Full time/Flexible hours considered

Initial 2 Years fixed term

About Us

The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) is one of Europe’s largest multidisciplinary research organisations. We’re trusted to support, enable and undertake pioneering projects in an amazing diversity of fields. Through world-class facilities and people, we’re driving ground-breaking advances in science and technology.

STFC is one of nine partner organisations that have been brought together to create UK Research and Innovation (UKRI); a new organisation with a vision to ensure the UK maintains its world-leading position in research and innovation. UKRI will lead the overall strategic direction of research and innovation funding in the UK, maximising value from the UK Government’s investment of over £8bn per annum by 2020.

About The Role

We now have an exceptional new opportunity for a highly skilled and experienced individual to take up the role of Director of E-Infrastructure on an initial 2 year fixed term basis. The role will be based in either Swindon, Harwell (Oxfordshire) or London, depending on the successful candidate’s preference.

UKRI is currently developing the UK Research and Innovation Infrastructure Roadmap, the first of its kind in the UK, which is being led on behalf of UKRI by the Executive Chair of STFC. The roadmap will set out a forward look for the UK’s research and innovation infrastructure needs to approximately 2030. The e-Infrastructure sector covers High-Performance Computing, High-Throughput Computing, the storage and networking infrastructure for data-intensive science, and the required skill base.

The nine councils within UKRI have made significant investments in e-Infrastructure in the past decade, with funding from the Science Infrastructure Budget of £1.2 billion per annum, including the Archer computer system and significant investments in both universities and in the STFC facilities at Harwell and Daresbury.

This role provides a unique opportunity to work collaboratively and confidently at a senior level with the councils of UKRI, academia, industry and professional stakeholders.

Responsibilities will include:

• Developing a compelling and exciting e-Infrastructure strategy that will lead to a step change in the efficiency and effectiveness of the UK’s scientific and innovation system
• Ensuring that the e-Infrastructure strategy meets the future requirements for research and innovation
• Ensuring that the strategy is built on expertise, opportunities and discussion with challenges for external stakeholders; securing support from internal and external stakeholders for the strategy
• Ensuring that the strategy development is based on a thorough understanding of latest technological developments, commercial opportunities and high quality analysis, thus providing a magnet for strategic investment
  • Developing excellent relationships with a wide range of stakeholders across the research and innovation community, academia and Whitehall; ensuring that the UKRI approach is integrated into the overall UK position, to foresee future demands on UKRI’s e-Infrastructure capability, and to ensure that UKRI fully understands the potential for future technology.

About You

You will hold an honours degree in a science, technology or mathematical discipline, with a relevant PhD desirable.

You will demonstrate experience of e-Infrastructure strategy development and its delivery in a large and complex organisation and for a diverse user base.

You will have leadership experience in, or a very strong understanding of, working with high level e-Infrastructure programmes in the research and innovation sector, with the ability to strategically lead e-Infrastructure investments that secure a positive return on investment.

You will display experience of working at a senior level with diverse internal and external stakeholders, with experience of building and influencing effective cross functional working relationships and of cultivating commercial relationships into significant collaborations.

You will demonstrate excellent leadership skills and behaviours and a clear ability to use these to create highly engaged, highly performing teams.

You will have exceptional communication and interpersonal skills and the ability to influence, build and maintain strong working relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, along with the ability to effectively challenge the status quo.

Benefits

STFC offers a benefits package designed to provide an excellent work/life balance including 30 days’ annual leave, 10.5 public and privilege days, Christmas closure, flexible working hours and an exceptional pension scheme. A relocation allowance may also be available where applicable.

To Apply

Applicants are required to include a cover letter outlining their suitability for this role. Please also state where you saw this role advertised.

Applications are handled by UK SBS; to apply please click the apply button. Applicants who are unable to apply online should contact us by telephone on +44 (0)1793 867000.

The closing date for applications is 21^st July 2019