Chief Operating Officer Full Time

The Chief Operating Officer for BBSRC is a significant role within our Executive Leadership Team, with responsibility for strengthening our leadership capability and organisational effectiveness, therefore enabling BBSRC to continue its influential role across UKRI.

The Chief Operating Officer will command the confidence of the BBSRC Executive Chair and Council, as well as other UKRI senior leaders. They will need to be able to work at the interface between professional, academic and government communities, and between staff at all levels in the organisation.

They will have an in-depth knowledge and proven track record of how to deliver complex, strategic change at both an organisational and system level in the public and / or private sectors. They will have the ability to strategically lead and sponsor major cross cutting projects that have high levels of impact and can secure return on investment.

As an efficient communicator and empathic listener, they will operate effectively across organisational boundaries. A creative thinker and influential collaborator, they will combine drive and political acumen with the highest standards of behaviour.

The Chief Operating Officer has direct line management responsibility for several corporate functions across BBSRC, that includes, Governance and Risk Management, Business Planning, Performance Evaluation, Business Improvement and Strategic Business Development. In addition, they will lead partnering relationships with UKRI corporate functions that include Finance; Human Resources; Governance, Assurance, Risk and Information; Digital, Data and Technology; Security; Project Delivery & Improvement; Health and Safety, Estates and Procurement.

As a member of the Executive Team, supporting the Executive Chair in the transformation of BBSRC aligned to the UKRI strategy, the Chief Operating Officer will lead and support strategic planning and decision making, and will lead on a number of collaborative activities that underpin BBSRC’s Strategic Delivery Plan, such as evaluation and improvement of corporate performance, workforce and financial planning and management, efficiency, change management, project portfolio assurance and environmental sustainability strategy.

Job description

Leadership

• 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

BBSRC strategically-funded Institutes

• In relation to BBSRC strategically-funded institutes (overall an annual BBSRC investment in the region of £135M), lead on matters covering estates, major programmes, governance, campus developments and other institute-related activities

• Working across BBSRC with subject matter experts and BBSRC observers as required

Planning and Programme support

• 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 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

Finance and Commercial

• 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

Human Resources

• Lead on employee engagement for BBSRC

• Working closely with the UKRI Corporate Services and HR Business Partners to ensure your Council 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

Governance, Assurance, Risk, Information, Legal

• 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 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

Information Technology, Facilities, Administration

• Manage the provision of business IT to BBSRC, working with internal and external suppliers

• Ensure that office space is appropriate quality and used flexibly and effectively

• Ensure that employees have the tools to do the job

Safety, Health and Environment

• 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 all sites.

• Working closely with the UKRI Corporate Services and Business Partners to deliver the environmental agenda

Projects, ad-hoc activities

• Under take project leadership or support and other ad-hoc activities as required by the Executive Chair

• Lead on any cross UKRI projects as required.

You will Chair the BBSRC Office Management Group and be a member of: the BBSRC Executive Leadership Team, the UKRI People, Finance and Operations Committee, the UKRI Transformation Board and the monthly UKRI Chief Operating Officers Meeting.

Person specification

You will demonstrate significant experience of managing operations of comparable scale and complexity to BBSRC. In addition, you will be qualified to degree level in a business discipline or demonstrate significant equivalent experience. Qualifications in financial management and/or project management are desirable, as is professional membership of a relevant business institution.

You will demonstrate significant experience of leading and driving organisational change and managing operations, drawing on and integrating professional functions, including HR, Finance, and Project Management.

You will have experience of working with boards at a senior level and with diverse internal and external stakeholders in Universities, Business and Government, with evidence of building effective cross-functional working relationships.

You will be 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.

You will demonstrate an understanding of governance and risk management, and of handling complex HR issues, based on close management experience.

Experience from the research and innovation sector and experience of the public sector are desirable.

You will demonstrate a record of operating at strategic level, working collaboratively with partner organisations with a record of translating organisational vision and strategy into operational requirements.

You will display first class communication, interpersonal, relationship building, collaboration, customer relations and influencing skills.

Essential Criteria

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

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

Proven track record of working with boards at a senior level and with diverse internal and external stakeholders in Universities, Business and Government departments, and evidence of building effective cross functional working relationships

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

Alongside your salary of £87,565, Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council contributes £25,367 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

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