Director of Operations

Advanced Research + Invention Agency (ARIA); London; Hybrid; GBP 128,000; Full time

Job summary

An innovative agency is seeking a Director of Operations to lead its internal operations strategy. This pivotal role involves optimizing processes, overseeing systems-focused teams, and driving agility and efficiency across the organization. The ideal candidate will possess strong leadership skills, exceptional stakeholder management abilities, and a passion for creating high-performance environments. Join a forward-thinking team dedicated to addressing societal challenges through cutting-edge research and technology. This is an exciting opportunity to shape the future of R&D funding and operational excellence.

Benefits

27 days annual leave

Discretionary Bonus

Hybrid working arrangements

Learning and development opportunities

Enhanced family leave arrangements

24/7 employee assistance programme

Life Assurance

Paid volunteer days

5% pension scheme

Cycle to Work scheme

Qualifications

• Proven experience as a strategic operational leader in complex organizations.
• Expertise in systems implementation and cutting-edge software/tools.

Responsibilities

• Lead ARIA's internal operations strategy and drive operational excellence.
• Oversee cross-functional collaboration and efficiency across teams.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder Management

Process Design

Strategic Operations

Agility

Information Security

Job description

Join to apply for the Director of Operations role at Advanced Research + Invention Agency (ARIA)

Join to apply for the Director of Operations role at Advanced Research + Invention Agency (ARIA)

Salary: £127,050

Bonus: Discretionary

Location: Kings X, London - Tues - Thurs (3 days) at HQ, Monday + Friday, anywhere

Employment Type: Permanent, full time

Closing Date For Applications: Tuesday 6 May 2025 23:59

About ARIA

ARIA is a new kind of R&D funding agency. We fund scientists and engineers to pursue research at the edge of the possible. From climate change to AI, society faces enormous challenges and opportunities that can be uniquely addressed by science and technology. ARIA was created to activate the UK’s world-class R&D in new ways, so we can meet these head on.

We are growing our team to develop bold new approaches that can scale – from programmes to systems, processes and everything in between. If that sounds fun, come and build ARIA with us.

Role Summary

Learn more about how we work here.

This is ARIA’s inaugural Director of Operations. Reporting to the Chief Finance and Operations Officer, you will lead on ARIA’s internal operations strategy and drive operational excellence across all our systems and processes, in close collaboration with our functional leads. You will have an entrepreneurial mindset, be willing to take calculated risks and have a passion for scaling an organisation intentionally.

What You’ll Do

The scope of the role will evolve as ARIA continues to grow, but will broadly involve the following:

Manage and optimise the internal 'machine' of the organisation:

• Deliver a user-focussed, expert and responsive service to the organisation, balancing ARIA’s values with an understanding of efficient processes and delivery priorities.
• ‘Connect the dots’ between teams by owning ARIA's internal, cross-functional collaboration and efficiency. You’ll be a passionate strategist - carrying out process mapping, looking for system bottlenecks, pressure points and opportunities across all our functions, and acting as point person for cross-functional alignments.
• Own the ‘operational cadence’ of the organisation, overseeing delivery timelines and pace of output, ensuring we are delivering on our strategic goals.
  
  

Lead our systems focused teams:

• Oversee the Information, Data and Insights team, responsible for information security, our outsourced IT managed service provider, ensuring quality of service for our team, and building strategy on the evolution of the systems and operating procedures of the organisation for optimal efficiency.
• Oversee our Project Management Office - implementing clear programme delivery timelines and streamlining efficiency in our programmatic delivery and project reporting.
  
  

Drive agility and efficiency:

• Work closely with the Executive team, making recommendations on ARIA’s internal operational strategy, implementing best practices and driving the outcomes needed to succeed in our strategic goals.
• Lead on our technology roadmap design and implementation.
• Ensure ARIA maximises the use of advanced technologies, AI-enabled tools and robust data and knowledge management practices.
• Gain buy-in from internal stakeholders to ensure the smooth adoption of and transition between new processes and systems.
• Implement effective and timely project pivoting on internal projects (change requests, early terminations and closures).
• Ensure that periods of increased demand are anticipated and planned.
  
  

Who You Are

A successful candidate will bring many of the following skills/experience to the role:

Key Skills

• A bold, authentic and intentional leadership skillset with a clear ability to create highly engaged and high performing teams.
• Strong communicator and exceptional stakeholder management skills with the ability to bring others into shared vision.
• Confidence and expertise in process design and implementation.
• Enthusiastic, motivated, adaptable and proactive with the ability to work flexibly in a changing environment.
• Highly resilient, ability to deliver at pace whilst ensuring others execute agreed plans.
• Passionate about creating a high-performance operating environment.
• Calm and authoritative under pressure and able to act quickly and decisively when required.
  
  

Experience

Essential:

• Success as a strategic operational leader of scaling and/or complex organisation/s with a strong product or technical focus.
• Evidenced experience in understanding and implementing systems across an organisation, and comfort with cutting-edge software/productivity tools.
• Experience of implementing information security, governance and risk management principles which optimise for risk and pace.
• Significant cross-functional stakeholder management experience.
  
  

Application

Please upload your most recent CV and a cover letter. In your cover letter, please detail your experience and skills relevant to this role, as well as your reasons for applying.

Benefits

• 27 days annual leave provision, with the option to buy/sell additional days
• Discretionary Bonus
• Hybrid working arrangements; 60% in office / 40% at home
• Supportive environment for learning and development opportunities
• Enhanced family leave arrangements
• A free and confidential 24/7 employee assistance programme
• Life Assurance
• 2 days of paid volunteer days
• 5% defined contribution pension scheme with Smart Pension
• Cycle to Work scheme
• An excellent office location in Kings X, London
  
  

Not sure you meet 100% of our criteria? Don’t worry! If you believe that you could excel in this role, we encourage you to apply. We want to attract the broadest array of candidates, including those with diverse workplace experiences and backgrounds. Whether you’re new to the field, returning to work after a gap in employment, simply looking to transition, or taking the next step in your career path, we will be glad to have you on our radar. Please use your cover letter to tell us about your interests and what you hope to bring to this role.

If you require any reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process, please notify us and we will make every effort to accommodate you. Disclosing any requests are intended to provide ARIA with the best opportunity to support candidates and will have no negative impact on your recruitment process.

ARIA adopts a highly considered approach to ethical and social responsibility. You can read our policy here. Our research and development activity will abide by the 3Rs principle. You can read about those here.

Seniority level

• Seniority level

  Director

Employment type

• Employment type

  Full-time

Job function

• Job function

  Management and Manufacturing

• Industries

  Research Services

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