Operations Director, UK Knowledge Exchange Hub for Mathematical Sciences
Are you looking to use your proven people skills and enthusiasm for knowledge exchange to deliver a high-profile, complex, national initiative? The UK's Knowledge Exchange Hub for Mathematical Sciences [KE Hub] is seeking a strategic, dynamic and experienced professional services leader to join our Management Team as Operations Director. The KE Hub is an outward facing, inclusive organisation bringing the most appropriate UK-wide mathematical sciences talent to bear on challenges arising in business, industry, and government (BIG) for the mutual benefit of all parties. It is funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).
About the role
As Operations Director of the KE Hub, you will play a pivotal leadership role in developing and delivering all KE Hub operations. This will involve engaging with a wide variety of senior stakeholders across the country, delivering an ambitious portfolio of events, activities, and initiatives, and managing a core professional services team. Your leadership will ensure that the KE Hub enables maximum national impact from the mathematical sciences.
The KE Hub grant is currently held by the Isaac Newton Institute at the University of Cambridge. However, it will move to a new host university, likely at the end of 2025. Therefore, as the Operations Director role is linked directly to specific grant funding, you will transfer to the new host institution along with the grant. Further information will be provided at interview.
It is expected that the Operations Director will work remotely.
The key responsibilities of the role include:
- Working collaboratively to develop and implement the strategic national vision for the KE Hub
- Leading the non-scientific aspects of the KE Hub's operation, and directing the core team
- Providing assurance of day-to-day operational activity and initiatives run under the KE Hub umbrella
- Developing and managing a strategic balanced programme of activities, events, and training aligned to realise KE Hub priorities and maximise impact. Evaluate impact to ensure enduring value
- Launching new national initiatives while supporting pre-existing ones, drawing on expertise from other parts of the national infrastructure, where appropriate, with the aim to scale up activity
- Growing multi-disciplinary engagement with BIG, establishing the KE Hub as the national broker of choice
- Developing and delivering a high-quality communications strategy
- Line managing the core team of KE Hub staff (KE Hub Coordinator and BIG Relationship Manager)
- Representing the KE Hub in stakeholder meetings and shaping the landscape
What you will have
The ideal candidate will have a first degree, level 6 vocational qualification, or equivalent level of practical experience, in the mathematical sciences or cognate discipline. They will have experience in, or demonstrable potential for, facilitating knowledge exchange across scientific areas between academia and business, industry, and government, as well as experience of managing projects, budgets and teams, contributing to strategy and thinking creatively. They will also have
- proven negotiating, influencing and problem-solving skills,
- the ability to work independently and manage workload with multiple competing factors,
- excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to build effective and lasting relationships,
- excellent planning, organisational, and document-writing skills,
- effective communication skills,
- self-motivation skills.
How to apply
We welcome applications from individuals who wish to be considered for part-time and/or flexible working arrangements.
We particularly welcome applications from candidates from a BME background for this vacancy as they are currently under-represented at this level within the Mathematical Sciences KE landscape.
Click the 'Apply' button below to register an account with our recruitment system (if you have not already) and apply online.
When applying, please upload your Curriculum Vitae and a cover letter which clearly sets out how you meet the criteria listed in the person specification along with relevant examples. Candidates will be shortlisted and invited to interview based upon these criteria.
Informal enquiries about the role are welcomed and should be directed to: Chris Breward, KE Hub Scientific Director Tel: 07540 677331 Email: breward@maths.ox.ac.uk
Enquiries about the application process can be directed to: Lianne Sallows Email: pasupport@newton.ac.uk.
Interviews will be conducted online and are expected to be held on 13 March 2025 (subject to confirmation).
Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available until 31 March 2029 in the first instance.
Please quote reference LN44703 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.
The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.
The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.