At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and shape the technology strategy of a nationally significant organisation.
- Company: The Alan Turing Institute, a leader in AI and data science.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, 30 days' holiday, private medical insurance, and a pension scheme.
- Other info: Join a dynamic team at the forefront of AI innovation in London.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by turning world-class research into practical solutions for national challenges.
- Qualifications: Proven technology leadership and experience in engineering and research integration.
The predicted salary is between 81000 - 99000 £ per year.
The Alan Turing Institute is seeking an outstanding technology leader to become its Chief Technology Officer. This is a rare opportunity to shape the strategic and technical direction of a nationally significant organisation, and to build the engineering capability that turns world-class research into practical impact. The CTO will lead a first-class engineering organisation, bringing together research insight and engineering excellence to advance the state of the art, develop new capabilities and deploy them against important real-world challenges.
ROLE PURPOSE
The Chief Technology Officer will be one of the Institute's senior strategic leaders, helping to shape its overall direction as well as defining and delivering its technology and engineering strategy. They will ensure that the Institute combines outstanding research with outstanding engineering, strengthening the route from research questions and experimental systems through to robust, deployable capabilities and measurable impact. They will have direct influence over institutional strategy, research and technology priorities, technical investment, senior partnerships and routes to national impact. Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer and working as a member of the Executive Leadership Team, the CTO will provide strategic leadership across the Institute, working closely with scientific, engineering and delivery leaders.
HOW YOU WILL MAKE AN IMPACT
- Help shape and drive the Institute's overall strategy as a member of the Executive Leadership Team, bringing deep technological insight to decisions about its priorities, investments and future direction.
- Define and deliver an ambitious technology and engineering strategy aligned with the Institute's mission and research ambitions.
- Build, lead and develop a world-class engineering organisation, creating a culture that attracts exceptional technical talent and enables people to do their best work.
- Forge a genuinely integrated partnership between research and engineering, enabling multidisciplinary teams to advance research, develop ambitious new technical capabilities and translate them into practical impact.
- Develop the engineering capability required to take promising research from prototype to secure, scalable and sustainable deployment.
- Lead the development of environments for AI model training, evaluation and deployment, including compute, data pipelines, distributed systems and MLOps.
- Set clear engineering, architecture and technical assurance standards.
- Guide investment and build, buy or partner decisions across compute, data, platforms and tooling.
- Strengthen delivery disciplines while addressing technical debt and unnecessary complexity.
- Build, lead and develop high-performing engineering and research engineering teams, and create the organisational conditions for them to work effectively alongside world-leading researchers.
- Embed security, privacy, responsible technology and resilience into technology design and delivery.
- Develop influential partnerships that expand access to infrastructure, expertise and routes to impact.
- Advise the Board and Executive Leadership Team on technology opportunities, investment choices, dependencies and risks.
ABOUT YOU
We are seeking a technology leader who combines technical credibility with the ability to shape institutions, lead people and deliver results through others. The successful candidate will be equally comfortable setting long-term direction, making difficult prioritisation decisions and creating the practical conditions for multidisciplinary teams to deliver. They will value scientific excellence while bringing the engineering discipline needed to turn promising work into secure, scalable and sustainable capability. They will understand that training advanced AI models is not only a research challenge, but an engineering challenge involving data, compute, software, reliability, security, evaluation, cost and energy. Most importantly, they will be ambitious and motivated by public purpose and by the opportunity to ensure that advances in AI and data science deliver meaningful benefit for the UK.
Reward and benefits
- Salary: Competitive, with details available on application
- Location: King's Cross, London
- Contract: Permanent
- Benefits: 30 days' holiday, private medical insurance and a 10% contributory pension
Application process
To apply, candidates should submit: A full and current Curriculum Vitae. A cover letter of no more than one page outlining their interest in the opportunity, how their experience aligns with the role, and the contribution they believe they could make as Chief Technology Officer.
Chief Technology Officer employer: The Alan Turing Institute
The Alan Turing Institute is an exceptional employer, offering a unique opportunity to lead cutting-edge research in AI for Physical Systems within a collaborative and multidisciplinary environment. With a strong commitment to employee growth, flexible working arrangements, and a focus on diversity and inclusion, the Institute fosters a culture where innovative ideas thrive and impactful projects are realised. Join us in shaping the future of national research while enjoying a supportive workplace that values your contributions and aspirations.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Chief Technology Officer
✨Get Involved in Tech Transfer Events
Tech transfer is all about networking, so make sure you're attending industry conferences and seminars related to technology commercialization. Events like the AUTM Annual Meeting or local innovation workshops are clutch for meeting key players and learning what's trending—plus, you might just bump into someone from The Alan Turing Institute!
✨Showcase Your Projects
Having a solid portfolio can really make you stand out. Highlight any projects where you successfully brought a technology to market or improved a process. Sharing case studies or insights on platforms like LinkedIn can catch the eye of recruiters at The Alan Turing Institute, showing them you’ve got the chops for the job.
✨Leverage University Connections
Many universities have strong tech transfer offices—connect with them! They often have ties to industry and can help you get your foot in the door. Plus, you might find openings or internship opportunities that lead to this full-time role at places like The Alan Turing Institute.
✨Engage with Online Communities
Join forums or online communities focused on tech transfer and commercialization. Platforms like ResearchGate or industry-specific Slack channels are great for connecting with professionals, discussing trends, and possibly learning about job openings before they hit the mainstream. Remember, your next opportunity could be just a message away!
We think you need these skills to ace Chief Technology Officer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Tech Transfer Know-How:In the tech transfer and commercialization world, it's crucial to highlight your understanding of intellectual property, patents, and market analysis. Make sure your CV includes relevant projects or experiences where you successfully navigated these areas. Any certifications in commercialisation would also give you a serious edge!
Tailor Your Documents for the Role:Your cover letter should reflect not just your enthusiasm for the position at The Alan Turing Institute, but also your knowledge of current trends in technology-transfer. Discuss specific cases where you've contributed to commercialising innovations or enhancing research outcomes—this will show you’re ready to tackle challenges head-on!
Quantify Your Achievements:In this field, numbers count! Whether it's successful licensing deals, funding acquired for projects, or percentage increases in collaboration outcomes, include these metrics in your CV. They not only make your accomplishments more tangible but also demonstrate your impact in previous roles.
Demonstrate Your Business Acumen:Understanding the business side is just as crucial as the tech side! When writing your application, weave in examples that illustrate your strategic thinking and your role in negotiations or partnerships. This balance of skills is what will set you apart for a full-time role at The Alan Turing Institute.
How to prepare for a job interview at The Alan Turing Institute
✨Demonstrate Your Tech Knowledge
Brush up on key technologies and trends in technology transfer and commercialization. Be ready to showcase your understanding of licensing agreements and the innovation lifecycle, as well as any specific tools or software used in the field.
✨Show Your Business Acumen
This role isn't just about tech; it's also about understanding the market. Be prepared to discuss how you would approach bringing a technology to market, including strategies for assessing commercial viability and potential partnerships.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect case studies or hypothetical scenarios during the interview. Think about how you'd approach real-world challenges in technology transfer, like negotiating a deal or handling stakeholder concerns—this can help us get a sense of your critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
✨Highlight Your Teamwork Skills
In a full-time role, collaboration is key. Be ready to share examples of how you've worked with cross-functional teams in the past, particularly in scenarios that involved tech developers and business strategists coming together.