Chief Operating Officer

The School of Informatics, University of Edinburgh invites applications for the role of Chief Operating Officer in the newly established Centre for AI for Assistive Autonomy.

We are looking for an exceptional individual to help establish and manage all aspect of daily operations for the Centre. This wide-ranging role has responsibility for delivering the strategy of the Centre, both within the long-term vision and on a daily basis.

The Opportunity:

The post holder will work closely with the Director to achieve the Centre’s research, innovation and translation objectives and outputs, and to develop and deliver the Centre’s strategic and operational plans to ensure continuity and success of the Centre beyond the initial 5-year period of UKRI funding, ensuring a demonstrable increase in research and innovation activity, income, outputs, and impact.. This role will assume responsibility for all aspects of daily operations, including workforce planning, line management, budget management, reporting, stakeholder management and translational/commercialisation activities.

A key part of the role will be strategically positioning the Centre to capitalise on new sources of future research and industry funding opportunities, horizon-scanning and supporting development of large-scale multi-partner funding bids both at the national and international funding level. 

This post is advertised as full-time (35 hours per week). We are also open to considering requests for hybrid working (on a non-contractual basis) that combines a mix of remote and regular on-campus working.

The salary for this post is £62,098 to £76,398 per annum and is fixed term until 30th September 2029.

Your skills and attributes for success: 

• Experience with working in industry or engaging with industry stakeholders.
• Strong commercial and technical expertise and good examples of financial acumen.
• Experience of developing strategic and operational plans and business operating models and/or experience in successful delivery of complex and ambitious strategic plans.
• Experience of large budget management including monitoring income and expenditure; and allocating resources appropriately across multiple projects. 
• Experience of providing managerial and administrative support to multi-partner and international programmes.
• Knowledge of the academic funding environment in the UK.
• Experience of managing large projects and evidence of contribution towards strategic planning.

As a valued member of our team you can expect: 

• A competitive salary.
• An exciting, positive, creative, challenging and rewarding place to work. 
• To be part of a diverse and vibrant international community
• Comprehensive Staff Benefits, such as a generous holiday entitlement, competitive pension schemes, staff discounts, and family-friendly initiatives.

Grade UE09: £62,098 to £76,398 per annum

CSE/School of Informatics

Full-time: 35 hours per week

Fixed-term: until 30th September 2029