Research Operations Manager

In this role, you will help strengthen the operational leadership of the Research & Development function  role is intended to become the operational backbone of the research department, improving planning, visibility, accountability, communication, systems and delivery standards across research, grounds, laboratory and consultancy-linked activity. The research operation has grown in scale and complexity as operational management, client delivery, consultancy development and strategic projects have historically sat too closely together.

We now need a dedicated operational leader who can bring structure, consistency and resilience to research delivery. Overall, this is a role that sits across projects, reports, science quality and people development. It needs someone who can bring structure and leadership, but who also understands research delivery well enough to improve how we design, manage, deliver and communicate our work.

KEY

RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES:

• Be able to manage multiple projects and deal confidently with clients.
• Track progress against deadlines and make sure we have clear visibility of whether work is on track.
• Where deadlines, resources or delivery are at risk, they need to identify this early so we can put plans in place before things become a problem.
• Support planning across short-term, medium-term and longer-term research activity, improve project tracking, strengthen operational systems, support quality assurance and audit readiness, and help develop the team’s capability and ways of working.
• The right person needs to understand the full research delivery process: developing and writing protocols, managing project delivery, ensuring data and reporting standards are met, writing or reviewing reports, and making sure the science is delivered properly and professionally. They need to be able to connect the practical delivery of research with the quality of the final outputs.
• A key part of the role will also be developing people. We need someone who can educate, train and support the team, helping them understand not just what needs to be done, but why it matters.
• They should be able to improve capability across project management, protocol development, report writing, client communication, technical standards and research discipline.

PERSON SPECIFICATION:

• They do not need to come from turf or agronomy. We already have a lot of turf knowledge within the team, so that is not the key requirement for this role.
• A background in a contract research organisation would be ideal, particularly where they have been responsible for managing projects, clients, deadlines, quality standards and operational delivery.
• Lab experience would also be very valuable, but more from a commercial and operational management perspective rather than someone who has only worked hands-on in a lab. Someone who understands how a lab supports wider research delivery, client service, reporting, quality systems and commercial performance would be a very strong fit.
• This is not an admin or coordination role, and it is not simply a turf technical role. It is a leadership role for someone who can help build the operational foundations of a more scalable, professional and resilient research department.
• The right person needs to understand the full research delivery process: developing and writing protocols, managing project delivery, ensuring data and reporting standards are met, writing or reviewing reports, and making sure the science is delivered properly and professionally.
• They need to be able to connect the practical delivery of research with the quality of the final outputs.
• We need someone who is highly organised, proactive and confident working across teams.
• They need to be calm under pressure, practical, commercially aware and able to bring structure to a busy environment.
• They need to understand operational delivery, project management, client expectations, technical quality, team leadership and the importance of hitting deadlines.

Pay: £40,000.00-£50,000.00 per year

• Company events
• Company pension
• Cycle to work scheme
• Enhanced maternity leave
• Enhanced paternity leave
• Financial planning services
• Free parking
• Life insurance
• On-site parking
• Sick pay
• United Kingdom (required)

To apply, please send your CV to

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