At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead research and innovation operations to drive impactful academic excellence.
- Company: UCL, a top-ranked global research university with a vibrant community.
- Benefits: 41 days holiday, pension scheme, gym access, and flexible working options.
- Other info: Encourages diverse applicants to foster creativity and innovation.
- Why this job: Make a meaningful difference in a stimulating research environment.
- Qualifications: Proven leadership in research operations and strong collaboration skills.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
UCL is a world-leading research-intensive university, often ranked in the top ten in the world, with an annual turnover of around £1.8bn. Our research and innovation continue to grow in scale and complexity, with record levels of research income and impact achieved last year. UCL is working to better integrate and connect support for the portfolio, including the formation of faculty-level research and innovation operations teams, to provide excellent end-to-end service to researchers, bolster compliance and improve development opportunities for research and innovation professionals.
The Faculty of Population Health Sciences is a global leader in public and population health, tackling urgent health challenges through world-class research and education. Our work spans the lifecourse and diverse communities, with a strong focus on health inequalities, climate impacts, and major conditions like cancer, heart disease and mental health. Our students are part of a vibrant, research-led community, learning alongside experts across eight institutes and schools. Together, we are shaping a healthier, fairer future for all.
The Head of Research and Innovation Operations enables research and innovation excellence that delivers meaningful impact. By leading comprehensive research and innovation operations across the faculty, the post holder creates the conditions for academic colleagues to pursue ambitious research agendas and translate discoveries into real-world benefit. The role drives service excellence, leading a team of professionals to deliver a core University service. The postholder will lead the faculty service on behalf of UCL departments, institutes and researchers, with a matrix reporting line into Research and Innovation Services to co-create standards, smoother ways of working and continuous improvement.
This is a chance to make a meaningful difference to UCL’s academic mission in an intensive and stimulating research and innovation environment.
Role specific details:
This is an Internal recruitment advert, available to eligible UCL workers only.
Flexible Working Statement: ‘We will consider applications to work on a part-time, flexible and job share basis wherever possible’. This role is eligible for hybrid working.
You are an experienced and credible leader in research and innovation operations, able to deliver high-quality, compliant and efficient services within a complex, research-intensive environment. You will lead a high-performing team and work in close partnership with academic and professional services colleagues to translate strategy into delivery, strengthening the research pipeline, optimising income and ensuring effective management of the faculty’s research and innovation portfolio. You will be expected to drive service excellence and continuous improvement, enhance financial sustainability and cost recovery, and provide trusted, insight-led advice to senior stakeholders and Principal Investigators. Collaborative and solutions-focused, you will build strong relationships across UCL, enabling consistent, high-quality support that allows researchers to deliver impactful, world-leading research.
What we offer:
- 41 days holiday (27 days annual leave, 8 bank holidays and 6 closure days)
- Additional 5 days’ annual leave purchase scheme
- Defined benefit career average revalued earnings pension scheme (CARE)
- Cycle to work scheme and season ticket loan
- Relocation scheme for certain posts
- On-site gym
- Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay
- Employee assistance programme: Staff Support Service
Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion:
As London’s Global University, we know diversity fosters creativity and innovation, and we want our community to represent the diversity of the world’s talent. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where we all belong. We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented in UCL’s workforce. These include people from Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds; disabled people; LGBTQI+ people; and for our Grade 9 and 10 roles, women.
Head of Research and Innovation Operations employer: UK Dementia Research Institute
At the UCL Institute for Materials Discovery, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that fosters a collaborative and innovative work culture. Our commitment to employee growth is evident through ample networking opportunities with leading experts in academia and industry, as well as our generous benefits package, including 41 days of holiday and a defined benefit pension scheme. Join us in our mission to advance materials research and make a meaningful impact in the field of biosensing technology, all while enjoying the vibrant atmosphere of London.
Contact Details:
UK Dementia Research Institute Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Research and Innovation Operations
✨Leverage Innovation Hubs
Tap into local innovation hubs and research centres. These places often host events and workshops where you can meet like-minded people and industry leaders. Plus, they might have job openings that aren't widely advertised, so keep your ears open!
✨Showcase Your Projects
Turn your past innovation projects into compelling stories. Create a portfolio showcasing your creativity and problem-solving skills. This can give hiring managers a real flavour of what you can bring to the table at companies like UK Dementia Research Institute.
✨Connect at Industry Conferences
Make it a point to attend industry conferences and seminars focused on R&D and innovation management. These events are fantastic for networking and often have job boards or career fairs where you can connect directly with firms looking for talent.
✨Use Your University’s Resources
If you're fresh out of university, don't forget to tap into your institution's career services. They often have exclusive partnerships with companies seeking new talent in R&D, especially for full-time roles. It's a good shortcut to landing a gig at places like UK Dementia Research Institute.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Research and Innovation Operations
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Creative Thinking:In innovation and R&D management, it's all about thinking outside the box. Make sure your CV highlights any projects or experiences that showcase your creative problem-solving skills. Use specific examples to illustrate how you've developed and implemented innovative ideas in previous roles.
Tailor Your Experience to R&D:When you're crafting your CV, focus on your experience in research and development. Highlight any relevant projects you've worked on, including methodologies used and results achieved. This will show us at UK Dementia Research Institute that you understand the R&D process and can contribute meaningfully to our projects.
Let Your Passion Shine in the Cover Letter:For a full-time role like this, your cover letter should reflect your genuine passion for innovation and development. Share your excitement about the opportunity to work at UK Dementia Research Institute and touch on how your goals align with our mission. This helps us see your motivation for wanting to join our team!
Quantify Your Achievements:Numbers speak volumes in R&D! Whenever possible, quantify your achievements in your CV. Whether it’s a percentage improvement in project outcomes, the budget size you’ve managed, or the number of successful products you've launched, these figures will help paint a clearer picture of your impact and capabilities.
How to prepare for a job interview at UK Dementia Research Institute
✨Show Off Your Innovative Thinking
In an Innovation R&D Management role at UK Dementia Research Institute, they're going to want to see how you approach problem-solving. Be ready to discuss previous projects where you introduced a new idea or process. Highlight your ability to think outside the box and provide examples where your innovations drove significant results.
✨Familiarity with Tools and Technologies
Make sure you're clued up on the latest tools and technologies related to innovation management, such as project management software and data analysis platforms. Being able to discuss specific tools you’ve used or have experience with will show UK Dementia Research Institute that you’re ready to hit the ground running.
✨Demonstrate Collaboration Skills
Since this is a full-time gig, emphasising your teamwork skills will be essential. In innovation, collaboration often sparks the best ideas, so be ready to talk about how you've worked effectively within cross-functional teams in your past roles. Have concrete examples at the ready!
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect some scenario-based questions in your interview that reflect real challenges you might face in the role. £At UK Dementia Research Institute, they might want to see how you handle tight deadlines or manage conflicting ideas within a team. Prepare some responses that demonstrate your critical thinking and decisiveness in high-pressure situations.
