UK Horizons Delivery Lead

Renaissance Philanthropy; London; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a UK Horizons Delivery Lead to oversee impactful initiatives in the UK. This role involves operational leadership, strategic guidance, and fostering collaboration among teams to enhance the R&D ecosystem. The ideal candidate will have a strong management background, excellent communication skills, and a passion for driving innovation. You will play a vital role in unlocking the potential of scientific initiatives and ensuring their successful implementation. Join a dynamic team committed to making a significant difference in the research landscape and enjoy a comprehensive benefits package including health insurance and unlimited paid time off.

Benefits

Health insurance (medical, dental, and vision)

Retirement plan options with employer matching

Unlimited paid time off

Stipends for wellness

Transportation stipends

Telecommunications stipends

Qualifications

• 5+ years in management, preferably in philanthropy or impact-driven organizations.
• Strong background in operations and project management with success in optimizing processes.

Responsibilities

• Oversee delivery and operations of initiatives under the UK Horizons programme.
• Support programme leads in developing and monitoring programme results and impact.

Skills

Management experience

Operations management

Project management

Excellent communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Strategic thinking

Creative problem-solving

Team collaboration

Familiarity with UK research landscape

Education

Bachelor's degree in a scientific or technical field

Master's degree or higher

Job description

As the UK Horizons, Delivery Lead you will play a key role in overseeing the delivery and operations of initiatives under this programme, and identifying new opportunities to deliver impact in the UK. You will ensure the successful roll-out of the entire programme and coordination amongst team members to maximise impact across the portfolio of initiatives.

The UK is home to world-class universities and is recognised for its strength in fundamental research. However, to ultimately lead in science and technology, the UK needs to bolster its translational capabilities – pathways for the most exceptional scientists to translate their ambitious ideas into real-world impact.

As an Activation Partner to the Advanced Research + Invention Agency (ARIA) , Renaissance Philanthropy is leveraging its expertise in raising the ambition of scientists, innovators, and philanthropists to strengthen the UK's R&D ecosystem and unlock breakthroughs through the UK Horizons Program.

The UK Horizons Programme is a portfolio of ambitious initiatives working to build networks of exceptional scientists and increase their ambition, expand the diversity of science translation mechanisms, attract flexible and patient capital for scientists in the UK by strengthening the philanthropic ecosystem, and build research translation strategies.

• The Higgs Community which seeks to be home to the most exceptional scientists and innovators in the UK, interested in turning ambitious science into real-world impact.
• Translational Strategies: Efforts to support research programs to develop Progress Coalitions (forward-looking cross-sector coalitions of civil society, industry, academia, philanthropy, and government) and philanthropic funds that can scale the impact of existing coordinated R&D programmes.
• A fellowship programme to support early-career scientists with big if true ideas
• An initiative to incubate BBN-model start-ups (i.e. new translation engines) in the UK.
• A study group to convene researchers and conduct “horizon scans” to support governments and philanthropists to identify opportunities to unlock translational R&D.
• Efforts to strengthen the philanthropic ecosystem in the UK by building a community of philanthropists and funders with an interest in supporting the UK R&D ecosystem

As the UK Horizons, Delivery Lead you will play a key role in overseeing the delivery and operations of initiatives under this programme, and identifying new opportunities to deliver impact in the UK. You will ensure the successful roll-out of the entire programme and coordination amongst team members to maximise impact across the portfolio of initiatives.

This position is based in King’s Cross, London, with in-office work required 3 days per week on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Roles and Responsibilities:

Operational Leadership & Coordination:

• Design, implement, and oversee processes, systems, and strategies that deliver operational excellence across the UK Horizons programme
• Ensure coordination across team members and initiatives to maximise impact across the portfolio of efforts
• Oversee budgets and ensure efficient use of resources across initiatives.

Programme Delivery and Implementation Support:

• Support programme leads to develop and monitor programme results and impact (OKRs/KPIs), ensuring goals and objectives are met for each initiative
• Provide ongoing support to programme leads, assisting with their needs to launch, implement, and scale initiatives effectively. This includes providing surge support to accelerate timelines and surfacing and tackling bottlenecks to execution.
• Strengthen co-ordination and collaboration across the team, including organising team structure maximising efficiency and efficacy of the team
  Facilitate cross-programme learning and ensure that best practices are shared among team members.

Strategy Development and Special Projects:

• Provide strategic guidance to programme leads, aligning their efforts with the mission and goals of Renaissance Philanthropy and the UK Horizons Programme.
• Identify and incubate new opportunities to develop and launch initiatives that bolster the UK’s R&D ecosystem, enhancing the impact of existing efforts.
• Develop and lead special projects and strategic initiatives that drive innovation and address emerging challenges in the R&D landscape.

Outcomes:

If you are successful in this role, in three years' time, you will have helped to unlock the potential of all the initiatives under the UK Horizons programme by enabling coordination and operational excellence across teams, identifying new opportunities for growth and impact, and ensuring that the team delivers the impact it set out to achieve. This will have ultimately advanced the UK’s R&D ecosystem and advanced critical R&D technologies that can create a brighter future for all.

Key Qualifications:

• Proven experience (5+ years) in a management role, preferably within philanthropy, research, or impact-driven organisations
• Strong background in operations, project management, or programme coordination with demonstrated success in optimising processes and managing complex portfolios.
• Exceptionally fast learner. You enjoy (and have experience) quickly ramping up on new technical and organisational topics.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and public speaking skills.
• Can get to the crux of an issue and quickly sort signal from noise.
• Creative and attached to outcomes, not process – you’re constantly looking for new paths to the destination and excited to switch gears if there’s a faster, better way to get something done.
• Team player with a proven track record of working well across teams and with external partners.
• A passion for addressing hard challenges with difficult odds.
• Overall, this position requires a high level of technical expertise, strategic acumen, and effective communication skills.
• Familiarity with the UK research and innovation landscape, including within advanced R&D sectors.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a scientific or technical degree; Master’s degree or higher preferred.
• First-hand experience helping build/scale new initiatives from the ground up. R&D programmes are even better.
• A strong network you can turn to for advice and support when immediate answers and options are unclear.

Values:

You will thrive within our team, if you:

• Have strong mission and vision alignment: You believe in the power of science, innovation, and technology to create a brighter future for all.
• Exhibit high agency: You can move mountains and break perceived constraints.
• Inspire others and are highly collaborative: You can motivate others to join your mission and goals. You understand the value of going further by working with others.
• Value exceptional talent and the power of networks: You can spot or nurture exceptional talent and believe in the value of building networks and the power law of talent.
• Are comfortable working in fast-moving and ambitious teams: You are not afraid of ambiguity and enjoy working at pace.

We offer a comprehensive benefits package, including competitive salary, health insurance (medical, dental, and vision), retirement plan options with employer matching, unlimited paid time off, and additional stipends for wellness, transportation, and telecommunications. Benefits may vary based on location and employment status.

Next Steps:

To apply, please fill out an application. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.