Board and Executive Operations Manager (Maternity Cover 12 month FTC)

The UK Dementia Research Institute (UK DRI) is a globally leading multidisciplinary research institute with a community of c. 1000 researchers investigating the spectrum of neurodegenerative conditions causing dementia, driving a step change in our understanding of neurodegeneration, and accelerating the discovery, development and delivery of interventions that will help diagnose, treat, and ultimately prevent dementia. Based at our office in London, we are looking for an experienced Board and Executive Operations Manager to provide first class operational and board level support including main board and executive meeting administration, governance management, and CEO support.

About You

We are looking for someone who'll have:

• Demonstrable high degree of initiative and drive to get things done in a professional manner identifying key issues and opportunities
• The ability to build good collaborative working relationships at all levels of the organisation and third party suppliers influencing and adapting styles to individuals
• Excellent organisational and planning skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, with the ability to communicate effectively to colleagues and guests
• The ability to deal with sensitive and confidential information professionally as well as an understanding of when to escape issues so that they are handled appropriately within the agreed policies and procedures
• Good attention to detail to ensure accuracy of information
• The ability to work autonomously, pro‑actively and be self‑motivated
• Excellent problem‑solving skills and use of solutions focused approaches to drive continuous improvement
• The ability to thrive in a changeable environment, whilst maintaining good attention to detail while meeting deadlines

You’ll also have relevant experience in:

• Business administration with evidence of ongoing learning and upskilling within operational, risk and governance
• Supporting senior management in their day‑to‑day activities
• Conflict management and business negotiation processes
• The use of project and business management tools including Salesforce

What we offer

We believe in rewarding our team with more than just a competitive base salary and an opportunity to make a difference. Here’s what you can look forward to:

• Salary: £50,000 - £60,000 – depending on skills and experience.
• Work‑Life Balance: Generous holiday allowance – 27 days of annual leave (plus UK Bank Holidays) to recharge and explore.
• Flexible holiday scheme: Buy or sell up to 5 days of annual leave to suit your lifestyle.
• Business closure days: Enjoy up to 6 additional days off each year.
• Health & Wellbeing. Private medical cover: Single medical insurance to support your health and peace of mind.
• Group Life Assurance: Protection for your loved ones with coverage up to 4x your base salary.
• Income Protection & Critical Illness Cover: Financial security when you need it most.
• Employee Assistance Programme: Confidential support for your mental and emotional wellbeing.
• Enhanced maternity, paternity, neonatal and adoption pay: Because family matters.
• Season Ticket Loan: Save on your commute with an interest‑free loan.
• Generous pension scheme: Contribute 6.1% as an employee, with an employer contribution of 15.9% helping you build a secure future.
• Voluntary benefits programme: Access a wide range of discounts and perks tailored to your lifestyle.
• Hybrid working: We embrace a hybrid working model, with the majority of your time spent in our collaborative modern office environment in London. We offer the flexibility to work remotely for up to 1‑2 days per week.

About the UK DRI

Today, over 1M people in the UK are living with dementia and related neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and motor neuron disease (MND). The impact of these incurable and progressive conditions on individuals and their families is devastating. Societal costs are staggering and growing as the population ages. Due to major advances in our understanding of the biology of these disorders the field is at an inflection point with the next decade promising to deliver transformative breakthroughs in therapies and a new era of predictive, preventative, and precision medicine. The UK is well placed to play a leading role in this revolution due to its strengths in science required for discovery and delivery, led by the UK DRI working with our world‑class university‑based centres.

To apply please submit your CV and covering letter telling us why you wish to join the UK DRI, availability and your experience for this role. We are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role. No agencies please. By applying to this role, you understand and agree that your information will be shared within the UK DRI People & Culture team and/or any team members who will be part of the hiring process. UK DRI is committed to equal opportunities. The UK DRI embraces diversity, inclusion and accessibility for all of our people. We are committed to building a diverse organisation that represents the communities we serve and ensuring inclusion in everything we do. This means ensuring our recruitment processes are barrier‑free and as inclusive as possible to everyone. We will make adjustments for people who have a disability or long‑term condition.