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Head of Operations - Centre for Advanced Instrumentation (CfAI) - Job Opportunity at Durham University

Durham, United Kingdom
Full-time, Fixed term
Senior
Posted: April 7, 2025
On-site
GBP 59,139-60,907 per year

Benefits

Generous 42 days annual leave including holidays
Premium USS pension scheme with employer contributions
Comprehensive professional development programs
On-site nursery and family support services
State-of-the-art sports facilities with discounted access
Extensive health and wellbeing package including 24/7 EAP
Relocation assistance and visa support for international hires
Flexible commuting options with parking and cycle schemes

Key Responsibilities

Strategic leadership of CfAI's technical projects and operations
Development and execution of organizational strategic plans
Resource management and team development across multiple technical projects
Stakeholder management with internal and external partners
Technical oversight and quality assurance of instrumentation projects
Budget and resource allocation optimization
Proposal development and project costing
Process improvement and operational efficiency enhancement

Requirements

Education

Masters/PhD in Project Management (or equivalent experience)

Experience

Extensive experience leading technical projects in educational or industrial settings

Required Skills

Advanced project management expertise Technical leadership capabilities Strategic planning and execution Team management and development Stakeholder communication and influence Digital competency including MS Project Problem-solving and decision-making Regulatory compliance management

Certifications

Relevant industry and professional certifications
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Sauge AI Market Intelligence

Industry Trends

Growing emphasis on industry-academia collaboration in advanced instrumentation Increasing demand for specialized project management in research institutions Shift towards more complex, multi-stakeholder research projects requiring sophisticated management approaches

Salary Evaluation

The offered salary range of £59,139-60,907 is competitive for a senior operations role in UK academia, though potentially 10-15% below equivalent private sector positions. The comprehensive benefits package adds significant value.

Role Significance

Likely managing a technical team of 10-20 specialists across multiple projects
Senior leadership position with strategic influence on institutional research capabilities and project delivery

Key Projects

Large-scale astronomical instrumentation development International research collaborations Technical facility management Cross-institutional partnerships

Success Factors

Ability to bridge academic and operational requirements Strong stakeholder management across diverse groups Technical credibility combined with strategic vision Experience with complex project management in research settings

Market Demand

High demand for technical operations leaders in research institutions, particularly those with both academic and industrial experience

Important Skills

Critical Skills

Project management expertise in research context Technical understanding of instrumentation Stakeholder management across academic and industrial partners

Beneficial Skills

International collaboration experience Research funding mechanisms knowledge Commercial partnership development

Unique Aspects

Rare combination of technical leadership and strategic management in research context
Opportunity to work with world-class research facilities
Balance of academic and operational responsibilities

Career Growth

2-4 years typical progression timeline given role scope and institutional structure

Potential Next Roles

Research Institute Director Technical Operations Director Senior Research Program Manager

Company Overview

Durham University

Durham University is a world-top 100 university with particular strength in Physics and Astronomy

Leading UK research institution with strong international reputation
Major employer and research center in Northeast England
Collegiate atmosphere balancing academic excellence with professional management
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