Main Purpose of the Job

Reporting to the Institute Director/Chief Executive Officer (CEO), this key role is responsible for the design, operation and delivery of operations and scientific services that will ensure delivery of excellent support to QIB. The postholder is the principal advisor to the CEO and the Board on all operational matters.

The post holder will work closely with the Institute Director, QIB Executive Board, and QIB Board of Trustees to plan and implement the operational strategy, to ensure the success of the institute as it enters the next stage of development.

The Director of Operations will lead on a range of management activities to ensure that QIB can effectively deliver its scientific vision. Leading, coordinating and efficiently delivering the operational activities are key requirements of this role. As part of the senior Executive team, you will support cultural change and institute sustainability.

To be successful in this role, the postholder must be able to manage a substantial and varied workload; deliver projects and reports; and negotiate, resolve problems, mediate, and manage complex and sensitive issues with confidence and professionalism.

Key Relationships

Internal
QIB Board of Trustees
QIB Executive Board including NI2SP and Pillar Leads
Laboratory operations, Health and Safety, and Scientific services teams
NBI Partnership and partner organisations who provide support services including Human Resources; IT/Computing; Finance; Health and Safety; and Risk Management
Facilities Management team, and Intelligent Client for QI

External
QI Partners Board of Trustees
QI Executive Group
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)
Anglian Innovation Partnership LLP, and the Norwich Research Park
The John Innes Centre, Earlham Institute, The Sainsbury Laboratory, the University of East Anglia and the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital
Other research institutes, universities, schools, commercial organisations and funding agencies in the UK, EU and internationally

Main Activities & Responsibilities

Percentage

Strategic Leadership & Governance
• Translate high‑level scientific and organisational strategies into actionable operational plans.
• Support the Institute Director/Chief Executive as part of the senior executive team.
• Lead implementation and monitoring of institutional strategic or impact frameworks.
• Provide leadership and oversight of corporate governance, risk management, internal controls, and organisational assurance frameworks.
• Identify and assess operational risks, ensuring they are clearly articulated and accompanied by appropriate mitigation strategies, solution options, and assurance actions.
• Ensure regulatory and compliance requirements are met and drive continuous improvement in operational assurance.

40

Operational Delivery, Performance, and Service Excellence
• Direct, administer, and coordinate all operational activities of the institute.
• Facilitate the effective delivery of research activities by ensuring the provision of high‑quality research infrastructure, laboratory, and support services.
• Coordinator for crisis management; overseeing the care for staff and personnel on site, protection of the environment, protection of QIB reputation and maintenance of business continuity.
• Provide strategic oversight of incident command structures and operational risk.

15

Financial Leadership
• Work closely with finance teams to achieve financial sustainability and support strategic goals.
• Prepare, monitor, and report on business plans and budgets.
• Build and sustain organisational capabilities and systems to support accurate forecasting, strategic workforce planning, and efficient operational resource allocation.

10

People & Talent Management
• Work closely with the People and Talent Pillar Leads to achieve a positive research culture in terms of Career Development and EDI.
• Promote a high‑performance culture that supports scientific excellence.
• Foster and champion, an organisational culture that promotes continuous improvement, innovation, and collaborative ways of working.

10

Research Enablement & Scientific Support
• Lead the optimisation of research operations by improving workflows, overseeing enabling tools and platforms; acting as a critical bridge between research, technology, and operations.
• Coordinate with internal and external stakeholders, including universities, hospitals, funding agencies, and research partners.
• Oversee governance, ethics, and compliance measures for research operations.

10

Stakeholder & External Engagement
• Build and maintain strong relationships with government agencies, funders, industry partners, and academic collaborators.
• Represent the institute in external forums, supporting partnership development and scientific outreach.

10

Any other duties and activities commensurate with the nature and grade of the role.

5

Education & Qualifications

Requirement

Importance

Professionally qualified with a relevant degree/postgraduate qualification.

Essential

Health and Safety qualification (UK based).

Desirable

Financial / accountancy qualification.

Desirable

PhD or equivalent experience.

Desirable

Specialist Knowledge & Skills

Requirement

Importance

Significant knowledge and understanding of scientific research and scientific research management.

Essential

Knowledge of UK based Health and Safety regulations and procedures.

Essential

Understanding of financial management, budgetary management and grant funding.

Essential

Relevant Experience

Requirement

Importance

Experience in budget, asset, people and risk management in a results-focussed organisation.

Essential

Committed to delivering projects and services in a cost effective and timely manner.

Essential

Senior leadership experience within a similar organisation and role.

Essential

Experience in managing complex multifunctional and organisational relationships.

Essential

Experience in facilities management and related requirements, including capital planning, related policies and procedures, including compliance and legislation.

Essential

Experience of managing Health and Safety (including policies and procedures) preferably in a UK based research sector / institution.

Desirable

Experience in Project Management and/or Change Management.

Desirable

Significant experience in a senior leadership role in a public or private research institution.

Desirable

Management and Leadership

Requirement

Importance

Establishes and communicates clear performance standards ensuring performance measures are achieved to deliver the organisational vision (KPIs).

Essential

Continuously reviews operational effectiveness and manages under performance in a timely manner ensuring value for money (VFM).

Essential

Demonstrable ability to manage, support and motivate teams ensuring the highest levels of performance are achieved.

Essential

Interpersonal & Communication Skills

Requirement

Importance

Resilient and innovative in addressing complex problems.

Essential

Commercial acumen

Essential

Good interpersonal skills, with the ability to work well as part of a team.

Essential

Demonstrates discretion and sound judgment in dealing with confidential, sensitive, and controversial issues.

Essential

Excellent written and oral communication skills with the ability to articulate complex information to different audiences.

Essential

Engages staff at all levels and enthusiastically promotes the vision.

Essential

Highly developed emotional and political intelligence.

Essential

Additional Requirements

Requirement

Importance

Attention to detail

Essential

Promotes equality and values diversity

Essential

Attention to detail.

Essential

Promotes equality and values diversity.

Essential

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

Essential

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

Essential

Willingness to work outside standard working hours when required.

Essential

Quadram Institute Bioscience

The Quadram Institute is at the forefront of a new interface between food science, gut biology and health, developing solutions to worldwide challenges in food-related disease and human health.

We are engaged in fundamental and translational food and health research, alongside clinical studies, endoscopy and industry, working together to become a leading international hub for food and health research, combining scientific excellence and clinical expertise, delivering impacts on patient care and accelerating innovation.

The Quadram Institute is a diverse and multicultural scientific community. We thrive on our international and European links, appointing staff from across the world. Any candidate who would like further information on current or anticipated immigration requirements can contact the HR Team on +44 (0)1603 450888 or nbi.recruitment@nbi.ac.uk.

For more information about working at Quadram Institute Bioscience, please click here.

Department

Directorate

Living in Norfolk

• Visit Norfolk
• Schools in Norfolk
• Childcare in Norfolk

Director of Operations

Applications are invited for a Director of Operations to join the Directorate Department at Quadram Institute Bioscience, based in Norwich, UK.

Background:

Quadram Institute Bioscience (QIB) was established with a clear vision — to understand how food and microbes interact to promote health and prevent disease. Today, QIB is entering a new and exciting phase of growth. Our focus is now defined through our impact-driven framework, Healthy Living by Design, which aims to promote lifelong health by decoding the complex relationships between food, nutrition, microbes, microbiomes, and human biology — and translating this into practical, innovative solutions in partnership with clinicians, industry, and policy leaders.

QIB’s research responds directly to the UK’s most pressing challenges:
• Rising rates of obesity and diet-related disease
• Increasing pressures on food systems from climate change, antimicrobial resistance, and global supply-chain fragility

QIB, the research institute, operates as part of the broader Quadram Institute (QI), a partnership that manages the building, the clinical research facility and the biorepository. QIB, in close collaboration with University of East Anglia, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), brings together scientists and clinicians within a state-of-the-art facility on the Norwich Research Park. This co-location enables integration of fundamental research, clinical translation, and innovation.

This is a really exciting time to join the institute following the recent appointment of Prof Daniel Figeys as Director. Reporting to the Director, the Director of Operations is responsible for the design, operation and delivery of QIB/QI operations and scientific services. The post holder will work closely with the Director and the QIB/QI Management Boards to deliver the operational strategy which is critical to the success of the Institute.

The role:

The Director of Operations is a key member of the leadership team and will lead a range of management activities supporting the delivery of our scientific vision.

Leading, coordinating and ensuring efficient delivery of the operational activities are key requirements of this role. The post holder will be responsible for ensuring the smooth running of the Institute. With experience in Facilities Management, Lab Management, and Health and Safety, they will be used to operating in a complex environment with multiple stakeholders.  

The successful candidate will have knowledge and understanding of scientific research and senior leadership experience in a relevant setting. The post holder will have demonstrable ability to manage, support and motivate teams ensuring the highest levels of performance are achieved.

The ideal candidate:

The Director of Operations will be responsible for ensuring the smooth running of the Institute. With experience in Facilities Management, Lab Management, and Health and Safety, they will be used to operating in a complex environment with multiple stakeholders.  The ability to manage a substantial and varied workload, deliver projects, negotiate, and resolve problems, will be needed to ensure success in this role.

The successful candidate will have knowledge and understanding of scientific research and senior leadership experience in a relevant setting. The post holder will have demonstrable ability to manage, support and motivate teams ensuring the highest levels of performance are achieved.

Additional information:

To view our recruitment pack click here.

This role is based in Norwich, Norfolk. A competitive remuneration and benefits package is available commensurate with the successful applicant’s experience. This is a full-time post for an indefinite period.

This role meets the criteria for a visa application, and we encourage all qualified candidates to apply.  Please contact the Human Resources Team if you have any questions regarding your application or visa options.

We are committed to equity, diversity and inclusion, and welcome applications from all sectors of society. The institute values of People-Centred Impact, Inclusive Excellence, Trusted Integrity, Collaborative Spirit and Agile Innovation are at the heart of all we do, and we expect all employees to share and display these values. To support our commitment, we have a range of family, faith and diversity friendly working arrangements to help all staff achieve excellence in their area of work.

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

About the Quadram Institute:

The Quadram Institute is an interdisciplinary research institute dedicated to understanding how food and microbes interact to promote health and prevent disease. Our vision is Healthy living by design: promoting lifelong health by decoding the interactions between food science, nutrition, microbes, microbiomes and human physiology, and transforming this knowledge into innovative solutions for society.

A partnership between Quadram Institute Bioscience, the University of East Anglia, the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital and BBSRC, The Quadram Institute brings together scientists and clinicians in a state-of-the-art building on the Norwich Research Park. This is one of Europe’s largest centres of life sciences and home of the John Innes Centre and The Earlham Institute. (https://quadram.ac.uk/).

The closing date for applications will be 4 June 2026.