Deputy Director for Digital Research

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Deputy Director for Digital Research

Science and Technology Facilities Council
Salary: £80,001 per annum - Band H
Hours: Full time
Contract Type: Open Ended
Location: Science and Technology Facilities Council, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (Harwell, Oxfordshire)

About us

Together, our scientists, technologists, engineers, technicians and business support team explore the unknown and turn what they find into work that changes the world around us. Whether it's sending probes into space or finding new ways to treat cancer, everyone here plays a vital role in making a positive difference to society.

Come and discover how much you can achieve when you're surrounded by world-leading experts, encouraged to constantly learn and empowered to explore your curiosity.

About the role

This is a new role reporting to the Executive Director National Labs Science & Technology. You will be providing cross-STFC leadership for a major research theme constituting ca. £300m per annum and 600 FTE.

You will be a member of National Laboratories Directorate senior management team, working peer-to-peer with department directors, programme managers, and other strategic leads. You will also be interaction with external stakeholders in government, UKRI, academic communities, and industry.

Purpose

Digital Research (DR) is a key aspect of STFC's mission and strategy, and underlies all our activities across the science programme, facilities, and laboratories. The importance of using large-scale computing and data storage capability to facilitate improved research outcomes and impacts, leveraging modern and advanced techniques at all layers of the hardware / firmware / software stack, has been recognised by government in its recent Future of Compute Review. STFC is a key delivery partner for the UK's national capability in this area, supporting both our own directly funded facilities and projects and the UK research community broadly. This is a complex and rapidly developing area, in which STFC will continue to grow its activities and capabilities.

As a Deputy Director for Digital Research, you will:

• Lead development and execution of the delivery plan for STFC's digital research strategy, working with national laboratories directors and programme managers
• Facilitate oversight of STFC's digital research programme by our Computing Advisory Panel and Science Boards
• Further develop STFC's long-term digital research strategy, working within STFC and with a wide range of external stakeholders including government sponsors
• Contribute to the national and international coordination of digital research, representing STFC at senior level, and with a near-term focus on establishment of the UK's AI Research Resource
• Provide expertise in all aspects of digital research in support of decision-making by senior management, and as an input to proposal and business case development across STFC and UKRI
• Develop a network of connections digital research organisation including within the US and European funding systems.

Person Specification
The criteria below will be assessed at Shortlisting (S), Interview (I) or both (S&I)

• Degree or PhD in a computing area or compensating experience (S)
• Experience of public sector programme management at a senior level (S&I)
• Career background enabling analysis and resolution of complex issues in software, computing, and AI research (S&I)
• Leadership skills, with a track record of influencing and coordinating diverse teams of experts and stakeholders (S&I)
• Familiarity with the structure and mechanisms of research funding and oversight in the UK (I)

Please note that interviews will be held on the 28th and or the 29th May 2024.

This role will be based at RAL, however, both hybrid and flexible working are fully supported. Some travel, both within the UK and internationally, will be required.

To apply for this position, please submit a CV, and a covering letter in which you describe your motivations for applying and how you meet the criteria in the person specification. Applications without a covering letter will be excluded from shortlisting.

We ask some of the biggest questions in the universe, to answer some of the biggest challenges in the world. Whatever our role, we have the freedom to explore, learn and connect, as part of a community that loves to share knowledge and support one another.

As one of Europe's largest research organisations, this is a place where there's always something new to learn - about the world around us, about your career, but most of all, about yourself.

About The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)

As one of Europe's largest research organisations, we ask the biggest questions in the universe to find answers that change the world around us. We seek understanding. We're proud of the impact we make. And we're committed to helping build a globally competitive, knowledge-based UK economy. Being part of all this means contributing to work that pushes boundaries and creates possibilities. You'll work with, and learn from, true experts. Whatever your role, you'll be free to question, and encouraged to share ideas. And, in a positive and supportive culture, you'll discover just what a difference you can make when you're equipped and inspired to excel.

We're a place where curious minds thrive. Not bound by profit, we explore ideas that others don't, ask questions that others won't, and discover answers that others are not equipped to find. And, alongside Mars landings and black holes, we also explore diverse, international projects in everything from science and engineering to computing and technology. Whether it's at the cutting edge or behind the scenes, our work is intellectually challenging. It's very often ground-breaking. And it's endlessly, irresistibly fascinating.

For more information about STFC please visit https://stfc.ukri.org/

You can also visit our careers site https://www.stfccareers.co.uk/

About UK Research Innovation (UKRI)

UKRI is an organisation that brings together the seven disciplinary research councils, Research England and Innovate UK. Together, we build an independent organisation with a strong voice and vision ensuring the UK maintains its world-leading position in research and innovation.

Supporting some of the world's most exciting and challenging research projects, we develop and operate some of the most remarkable scientific facilities in the world. We are pushing the frontiers of human knowledge through fundamental research and delivering benefits for UK society and the economy through world-class research, skills and business-led innovation.

More information can be found at www.ukri.org .

Choosing to come to work at UKRI means that you will have access to a whole host of benefits from a defined benefit pension scheme, excellent holiday entitlement, access to employee shopping/travel discounts and salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme. For more details, visit benefits of working for UKRI .

How we support EDI in the workforce

At UKRI, we believe that everyone has a right to be treated with dignity and respect, and to be provided with equal opportunities to thrive and succeed in an environment that enables them to do so. We also value diversity of thought and experience within inclusive groups, organisations and the wider community. For further information, please visit 'How we support EDI in the workforce' .

Disability Confident Employer

As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy/ies. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

How to apply

Online applications only preferred for this role. Please submit a CV and covering letter which clearly outlines how you fulfil the criteria specified along with your motivation for UKRI and the role. Ensure that the job reference number is included in the filename description of each document uploaded. Note that failure to address the above criteria or submit an application without a covering letter may result in the application not being considered. Assessment will only be based upon the content of your submitted covering letter and CV and not the 'experience' section of the application.

UKRI seeks to ensure it creates and maintains a system of openness, fairness and inclusion - a collaborative, trusted environment, which is attractive to and accessible to everyone who is interested in developing their career with us.