UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) is the UK’s largest public funder of research and innovation. We invest more than £8 billion annually to advance our understanding of society and the world around us and deliver benefits for society, the economy and the environment.
Our organisation comprises nine councils – the UK’s innovation agency, Innovate UK, the seven disciplinary Research Councils and Research England. As a UK-wide organisation we work across the four UK nations and with the devolved funding bodies and governments to develop and support different priorities that span research and innovation around the UK.
Through our Councils and the critical national capabilities provided by our centres and institutes, we deliver, support and champion the creativity and vibrancy of research and innovation in the UK, for the benefit of society.
UKRI is a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT).
About (BBSRC)
BBSRC is the major funder of world-leading bioscience in the UK. Through our investments, we build and support a vibrant, dynamic and inclusive research and innovation community which delivers ground-breaking discoveries, innovative technologies and develops bio-based solutions that contribute to tackling global challenges, such as sustainable food production, climate change, and healthy ageing.
As part of UKRI, we not only play a pivotal role in fostering connections that enable the UK’s world-class research and innovation system to flourish – we also have a responsibility to enable the creation of a research and employee culture that is diverse, resilient, and engaged. At BBSRC, we firmly believe that by promoting an inclusive and equitable culture across bioscience research and innovation, our community and our discipline will thrive.
BBSRC proudly forges interdisciplinary collaborations, including internationally, where excellent bioscience and equitable partnerships have a fundamental role. We pioneer approaches that enhance the equality, diversity, and inclusion of talent by investing in people, programmes, infrastructure, technologies, and collaborations on a global scale.
BBSRC’s vision is to advance the frontiers of biology and drive towards a healthy, prosperous and sustainable future. We support curiosity-driven ideas and provide early investment in ground-breaking transformative technologies and the sharing of data.
Through our funding, stewardship and provision of national capabilities, including the institutes that receive our strategic support, we progress our knowledge and understanding of the complex processes that underpin life and we continue to seek exciting ideas with the potential to transform and advance bioscience.
We unleash innovation, capitalising on the unprecedented opportunities for biology to transform our lives by working with and supporting the creation of new businesses, advancing enterprise, and forging vibrant ecosystems across the UK. We enable researchers, innovators, entrepreneurs, and businesses to translate their fundamental understanding of biological systems into tangible societal and economic benefits with global impact.
Purpose of the role
The Chief Operating Officer for BBSRC is a significant role within our Executive Leadership Team, aligned to the UKRI strategy. enabling BBSRC to continue its influential roles in research and innovation within UKRI and beyond.
The Chief Operating Officer will command the confidence of the BBSRC Executive Chair and Council, as well as other members of the BBSRC Executive and UKRI senior leaders. They will need to be able to work proactively at the interface between professional, academic and government communities, and between staff at all levels in the organisation. As an effective communicator and empathic listener, they will operate effectively across organisational boundaries. As a creative thinker and influential collaborator, they will combine drive and political acumen with the highest standards of behaviour.
They will have an in-depth knowledge and proven track record of how to deliver and sustain 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, sponsor and productively work in partnership to deliver major projects that can secure return on investment.
The Chief Operating Officer has direct line management responsibility for several corporate functions across BBSRC. This includes, Governance and Risk Management, Business Planning, Performance Evaluation, Business Improvement and Funding Delivery, . 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.
Key responsibilities
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 projects governance, campus developments and other institute-related activities.
- Working across BBSRC with members of the Executive Leadership Team, 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 and manage risk 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 policies for BBSRC including pay and reward.
- Working closely with the UKRI Corporate Services and HR Business Partners to ensure BBSRC 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 (GARI) and 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 including 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 of 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 BBSRC.
- Working closely with the UKRI Corporate Services and Business Partners to deliver the environmental agenda
Projects, ad-hoc activities
- Lead and support major programmes, projects and other ad-hoc activities as required by the Executive Chair
- Lead on cross UKRI projects as required.
You will 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.
About you
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, Risk and Project Management.
You will have experience of working with boards at a senior level and with diverse internal and external stakeholders in Research Organisations, 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 including with partner organisations, and have 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.
- Proven track record of working with boards at a senior level and with diverse internal and external stakeholders in Research Organisations , Business and Government departments, and evidence of building effective cross functional working relationships.
- 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.
- 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.