Director of Research Infrastructure & Facilities (interim) in Bath

About The Role

We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced senior leader to join the University of Bath on a six-month fixed‑term basis as Director of Research Infrastructure & Facilities. Reporting directly to the Pro‑Vice‑Chancellor Research, you will provide strategic leadership across the University's research infrastructure and facilities estate, connecting our research ambitions to the physical, technical and financial foundations that make them possible. This is a role where your impact will be immediate and visible. You will work closely with Deans, the Executive Director of Innovation and Enterprise, and key professional services colleagues to ensure research infrastructure is coherent, sustainable, and fit for the future. You will also engage with national research networks and major funders to position Bath competitively for capital investment. Alongside strategic oversight, you will lead on a number of live, complex operational projects, including the careful management of facility transitions and campus consolidation, where sound judgement, stakeholder sensitivity and the ability to deliver are essential.

About Your Ideal Candidate

You are an experienced Director‑level leader who understands how universities work and knows how to get things done within them. You do not need to be a technical research specialist, but you do need to genuinely understand why research infrastructure and facilities matter and how to champion them effectively.

You Will Bring

• Proven Director‑level experience, as this role requires someone who has already operated at this level rather than someone stepping into it for the first time.
• A strong understanding of the higher education environment, so you can navigate institutional complexity, build trust quickly, and influence without direct authority.
• Operational delivery capability, meaning you are comfortable rolling up your sleeves and leading complex, sensitive processes to a successful conclusion.
• Experience managing facilities, estates or infrastructure in a large, multi‑stakeholder organisation.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to work across academic, professional services and external partner communities with credibility and confidence.

This is a six-month fixed‑term position. We are looking for someone who can make an early impact and provide stability and leadership during a period of significant activity.

Diversity & Inclusion

We consider ourselves to be a university where difference is celebrated, respected and encouraged. We have an excellent international reputation with staff from over 60 different nations and have made a positive commitment towards gender equity and intersectionality receiving a Silver Athena SWAN award. We truly believe that diversity of experience, perspectives, and backgrounds will lead to a better environment for our employees and students and encourage applications from all genders, backgrounds, and communities, particularly from under‑represented groups, and value the positive impact that will have on the university.

We are committed to maintaining a safe and secure environment for our students, staff, and community by reinforcing our Safer Recruitment commitment. We're very proud to be a signatory of the Armed Forces Covenant, an accredited Disability Confident Leader; autism friendly university, committed to building disability confidence and supporting disabled staff.

Benefits

• Free counselling services through Health Assured.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Electric vehicle salary sacrifice scheme.
• Staff discount at Team Bath gym.
• Staff discounts on postgraduate tuition fees.
• Staff discount on language courses.
• Generous employer contributory pension schemes.
• Generous annual leave allowance with an additional 5 discretionary days so that you can enjoy a positive work life balance.
• A wide range of personal and professional development opportunities including Apprenticeships, LinkedIn Learning and more.
• Free entry to the Holburne Museum in Bath.
• Local discounts and more.
• A family‑friendly workplace.
• An excellent reward package that recognises the talents of our diverse workforce.
• Relocation allowance.
• Visa reimbursement and Interest‑Free Loan to help with the cost of some immigration expenses.

Notice about Right to Work in the UK: We do not assess immigration or right to work status until offer stage. Being invited to interview does not guarantee you are eligible for visa sponsorship and all offers are conditional on meeting right to work requirements. Further information is available on our application support webpage.

Anonymous shortlisting

We are constantly seeking to reduce the unconscious bias that enters any assessment process, with the goal of creating an inclusive and equal assessment process. To support this, personal details such as your name, may be removed from application forms at the initial shortlisting stage.