Main Purpose of the Job

The Senior Operations Manager (SOM) (Deputy COO) will play a key role in ensuring the smooth operational running of the Institute. They will be first point of call for all enquiries from staff, students, and other external stakeholders across all operations at the Earlham Institute (EI) from operational support and laboratory management through to internal processes at the Institute. They will support the Chief Operating Officer (COO) with the management of the Division, from Business Development, Communications, Advanced Training and the Laboratory and Business Support Groups who provide building and support services to the Institute. They will also assist the COO to oversee services provided to the Institute via the shared services (Norwich Bioscience Institute Partnership (NBIP)) providing Estates, Health and Safety, Human Resources, Quality Assurance, Finance, Purchasing and Computing services.

The SOM will be responsible for the safe operations of the Research Faculty, Transformative Genomics and Biofoundry Laboratories reporting to the COO as required. They will play a key role in ensuring that EI operate safely and efficiently, coordinating all aspects of support, including health and safety, and asset management.

They will consult with external contacts such as contractors, suppliers, auditors, the Health and Safety Executive, and the wider park Heads of Functions within the shared service centre (NBIP).

The SOM will represent EI on capital projects and cross Norwich Research Park working groups, represent EI on Committees and deputise for the COO when appropriate at meetings such as the NBI Health & Safety, Anglia Innovation Partnership Boards, Enterprise committees etc.

The SOM will focus on day-to-day operational decision making, delegated to them by the COO, and take full responsibility for their own areas of responsibility and key projects at EI. They will draft Operational policies and ensure our compliance with them. They will be responsible for the leadership and line management of the Communications and Operational and Laboratory Management and Business Support Groups, and support the other members of the Operational Division, working closely with the EA to the COO, and the Project Operations Officer. They will provide support to the Head of Business Development and Advanced Training.

They will assist the COO with all Company Secretary duties for the EI Corporate Governance. Drafting EI Board papers, for the EI Trustee Board, Earlham Enterprise Ltd Board and EI Board H&S Committee. They will join the EI SMT and prepare all Operational updates for the Committee. They will also take the leading role in risk management for EI, running the risk register on a day-to-day basis and briefing the executive team as required.

Key Relationships

Internal: The post holder will work very closely with the Chief Operating Officer (COO), and all Group Research and Operational Group Leaders in EI. They will have contact with the EI Director and wider members of the Executive. They will line manage the Head of Communications and Operational and Laboratory Manager. They will also provide support to the Head of Business Development and Impact and Advanced Training. They may also have direct contact with the Board of Trustee Directors. Students working at EI.

External: NBIP Heads of Functions (providing shared services including Finance, HR, facilities and health and safety support), EI tenants, Health and Safety coordinators, suppliers, and contractors, visiting collaborators and students, staff on the Norwich Research Park, regulatory agencies.

Main Activities & Responsibilities

Percentage

Operational Delivery: Day-to-day first contact for operational enquiries, and deliver an independent response, trouble shooting and problem solving to find good solutions that support EI and the wider site.

25

Capital Project Delivery:Lead the delivery of capital projects as directed by the COO, working closely with the Operational and Laboratory Manager.

10

Corporate Governance: Draft EI Board pack and briefing papers, for both EI and EEL, and the EI Health and Safety Working Group.

10

Infrastructure Strategic Management: Strategically manage the operations of the EI buildings, infrastructure, and operations, working with the Group Leaders and Operational and Laboratory manager and Head of Research Faculty Office, and Head of Facilities, to ensure the proper functioning and use of the EI facilities. Ensuring EI follows good practice, and that we meet our regulatory and legal requirements. Draft a strategy for a programme of continuous improvement at EI.

10

Strategic Management of Operations: Strategic management of two of the Operational groups, subject to the occupants’ skills and experience – Communications and the Operational and Business Support Team.

10

Capital Funding and Facility Management: Assisting with drafting of Capital cases and projects. Consulting with the Head of Facility & Risk Management (FM) on all estates support and H&S management. Ensuring good delivery of FM services. Responsible for the asset management system; managing operational aspects of equipment/asset disposal maximising returns on disposal. Review and update the Strategic Asset Management Plan for EI. Working closely with the Operational and Laboratory Manager and Business Support Group.

10

Strategic Policy Drafting: Strategic drafting of policies and projects such as: Review EI’s Business Continuity Plans, and other Policies working closely with the Operational Officer Policy and Projects.

10

Budget Management: Be responsible for a range of EI budgets, both operational, staff and capital budgets. Budgets range up to £1m on capital projects and up to £500k on operational and staff budgets.

5

Collaboration on the NRP Representing EI Executive: Member of the EI SMT, and cross site working groups and committees on behalf of EI, such as H&S Committee, AIP Enterprise Committee, and AIP Strategy.

5

Other Tasks as required: As agreed with line manager, any other duties commensurate with the nature of the role.

5

Education & Qualifications

Requirement

Importance

Degree in relevant financial, legal, project management or operational areas of expertise or equivalent qualificationn

Essential

HR Qualification

Desirable

Project Management Qualification/FM Qualification

Desirable

Legal Qualification

Desirable

Professional accountant

Desirable

Specialist Knowledge & Skills

Requirement

Importance

Working knowledge of the impact of Health and Safety legislation in the workplace.

Essential

Strong ability and enjoyment of troubleshooting and problem solving independently without supervision.

Essential

Familiarity and demonstrated confidence in use of Microsoft Office programs, especially Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

Essential

Experience of Company Security role or preparing briefing papers for committees/Boards.

Essential

Demonstrated organisational skills, including ability to prioritise own workload.

Essential

Demonstrated rigorous and methodical approach to work.

Essential

Relevant Experience

Requirement

Importance

Extensive experience working at Senior Management level, or working in an active busy multidisciplined organisation, with involvement in the management of operational activities.

Essential

Demonstrable experience in developing, implementing, and managing Strategy.

Essential

Experience of Facilities and Building Management, capital project delivery

Desirable

Experience of Communication Management

Desirable

Experience of software, IT, CRM, and Laboratory Management Information Systems (LIMS)

Desirable

Experience in quality assurance certifications schemes

Desirable

Interpersonal & Communication Skills

Requirement

Importance

Excellent written and oral communication skills with the ability to express self clearly to colleagues and communicate complex concepts efficiently.

Essential

Proven ability to work collaboratively with multiple internal stakeholders and a range of external contacts, effectively influencing and negotiating to achieve common goals.

Essential

Good Negotiation skills, proven experience of negotiating contracts and or agreements.

Essential

Ability to engage with staff at all levels and an effective Team Member.

Essential

Excellent communication and diplomacy skills.

Essential

Additional Requirements

Requirement

Importance

Promotes equality and values diversity.

Essential

Willingness to travel and work a non-conventional work pattern at times and attend work in response to occasional callouts.

Essential

Able to present a positive of self and the institute, promoting both the international reputation and public aims of the institute.

Essential

Willingness to embrace the expected values and behaviour of all staff at the Institute, ensuring it is a great place to work

Essential

Attention to detail

Essential

Earlham Institute

About the Earlham Institute
The Earlham Institute is a hub of life science research, training, and innovation focused on understanding the natural world through the lens of genomics.

We are building a future where the biology of any organism can be understood by analysing its genome. Our mission is to decode the scale and complexity of living systems so we can understand, benefit from, and protect life on Earth.

The Earlham Institute is based on the Norwich Research Park and is one of eight institutes that receive strategic funding from the UKRI Biotechnology and Biological Science Research Council (BBSRC).

Our Science
Earlham Institute scientists specialise in developing and testing the latest tools and approaches needed to decode living systems and make predictions about biology.

We are home to state-of-the-art facilities and technology, creating a unique combination of expertise and infrastructure. We have dedicated laboratories for genome sequencing, single-cell analysis, engineering biology, and large-scale automation; as well as one of the largest supercomputing facilities for life science research in Europe. Our Advanced Training team also provides access to specialised scientific training to upskill the next generation of research and technical staff.

Our Culture
The Earlham Institute champions 'team science'. Our collegiate and innovative research environment comes with significant support, including a commitment to your professional development, research and administrative assistance, and opportunities to build collaborations with scientists and industry on the Norwich Research Park, across the UK, and internationally.

The Institute is also home to talented technical and operational staff, whose invaluable contributions enable our science to have the maximum impact. We aim to recognise, reward, and develop all staff and students so that every individual feels able to achieve their best with us.

We work hard to nurture an engaged and positive workplace, centred on core values that include openness, technical excellence, and collaboration. We attract staff from around the world who contribute to - and benefit from - an environment that enables them to deliver world-class science alongside a supportive and social community.

For more information about working at the Earlham Institute, please click here.

Further Information:

Our Vision and Mission

Our Strategy

Our Culture

Life at Earlham Institute

Department

Operations

Group Details

The Operations Division provides support across all our main activities and infrastructure, allowing us to deliver world-class science. 
Keeping everything running smoothly, Operations brings together specialists from four groups to ensure we are well placed and supported to stay at the forefront of the life sciences.

Living in Norfolk

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Senior Operations Manager (Deputy Chief Operating Officer (COO))

Applications are invited for a Senior Operations Manager (Deputy COO) to join the Operations Group at the Earlham Institute, based in Norwich, UK.

Are you good at solving operational problems, and motivated by helping others deliver front line services or projects? Do you have a proactive can-do approach and see your career being one where you can progress onto a lead operational role in a multidisciplinary organisation? If so, this role may be for you.

The Operations Division provides support across all our main activities and infrastructure, allowing us to deliver world-class science. Keeping everything running smoothly, Operations brings together specialists from multidisciplined groups to ensure we are well placed and supported to stay at the forefront of the life sciences.

The role:

The Senior Operations Manager (SOM) (Deputy COO) will play a key role in ensuring the smooth operational running of the Institute. They will be first point of call for all enquiries from staff, students, and other external stakeholders across all operations at the Earlham Institute (EI) crossing all areas of operational activity from corporate services to laboratory management.

They will support the Chief Operating Officer (COO) with the management of the Division, with line management of the Communications and Operational and Laboratory Management Groups which including building management and capital projects, as well as the Business Support Team. They will also assist with preparing briefing documents for senior Board and Committees and deputise for the COO on committees when needed. 

The Senior Operations Manager is a busy and varied role, no two days are the same. The post holder will also assist the COO to oversee services provided to the Institute via the shared services (Norwich Bioscience Institute Partnership (NBIP)) providing Estates, Health and Safety, Human Resources, Quality Assurance, Finance, Purchasing and Computing services ensuring they are aligned to the needs of the Institute.

The ideal candidate:

The Senior Operations Manager will have a degree in relevant financial, legal, project management or operational areas of expertise or equivalent qualification.

They will have extensive experience working at Senior Management level, or working in a busy multidisciplined organisation, with involvement in the management of operational activities. They will need excellent leadership and problem-solving skills, with the ability to work effectively in a fast-paced changing environment, they will need a strong understanding of health and safety legislation in the workplace, if the post holder has experience in project management it will also be beneficial.

It is critical that the post holder has a natural interest in what makes an organisation successful in its delivery, can see solutions to barriers to success and wants to help others achieve their goals. They also need to be happy to be the front-line support for a variety of enquiries that need to be solved quickly. If you would like to find out more and want to speak to the Institutes COO, please contact nbi.recruitment@nbi.ac.uk to arrange a call.

Applicants must submit their CV as part of their application, along with a covering letter explaining why you are suitable for this role.

Salary on appointment will be within the range £55,500 to £69,250 per annum depending on qualifications and experience, a higher salary may be offered for an exceptional candidate.  This is a full-time post for a contract of 54 months.

Interviews will be held on 7 February 2025.

Please note, this post does not meet UKVI requirements to provide visa sponsorship.

As a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee to offer an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for this vacancy.

The closing date for applications will be 24 January 2025.