Head of Strategy and Chief of Staff

1 week ago

Oxford, United Kingdom UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology Full time

UKCEH is looking for a combined Head of Strategy and Chief of Staff to join our team of talented individuals, contributing to scientific discovery and making the world a better place through generating the data, insights and solutions that researchers, businesses and governments need.

Working at UKCEH is rewarding. Our science makes a real difference, enabling people and the environment to prosper, and enriching society. We are the custodians of a wealth of environmental data, collected by UKCEH and its predecessors over the course of more than 60 years.

As a valued member of our team, you’ll get:

  • 27 days annual leave, rising to 29 days after five years, plus 3 days for our Christmas closure 
  • 10% employer pension contribution
  • Enhanced maternity and paternity leave (subject to qualifying requirements)
  • 24 hour, 365-day access to support with physical, mental, social, health or financial issues plus access to our trained Welfare Officers
  • Flexible working opportunities

At UKCEH, we are dedicated to continuous evolution and growth. That’s why we’re excited to announce a transformative new role, offering the right individual a unique opportunity to  shape the future direction and operation of the UK’s leading environmental research institute and help ensure we use our science to make the world a better place. This is an exceptional opportunity for a passionate and visionary leader to make a profound difference in an organisation at the forefront of environmental science.

As our Head of Strategy and Chief of Staff, you will play a crucial role in advancing our mission and ambitions, leading strategic initiatives, and ensuring the continued success of our organisation. This is your chance to make a significant impact on the future of environmental science, policy and operations. In this role, you will address our most pressing challenges by coordinating complex programmes and ensuring we stay ahead of emerging issues through decisive leadership and agile management. You will bring a strong strategic vision and thought leadership, demonstrating the ability to lead and motivate teams and individuals to deliver impactful results.

As a trusted partner to the CEO, Finance Director, and Senior Leadership Team, you will provide strategic guidance, foster collaboration, and energise teams across the organisation, ensuring our objectives are met with precision and impact. You will help bridge critical gaps in our organisation, driving its evolution by overseeing the strategic delivery of key initiatives, from pioneering climate security efforts to streamlining internal governance. The role seeks to ensure excellence and impact in all that we do through driving delivery of our strategy including leading delivery of major impact areas. 

Your main responsibilities will include:  

Head of Strategy: 

  • Ensure the strategy is delivered by the organisation and leads to real impact  
  • Lead multi-year business planning such that we maintain a ‘golden thread’ from strategy down to organisational, team, and individuals’ objectives 
  • Provide strategic leadership and vision on key areas of the strategy where multiple teams across the organisation have interests and where coordination and thought-leadership are needed e.g. how to inspire the wider world, climate security. 
  • Ensure the strategy adapts to major changes in the wider world. 
  • Strategic oversight of UKCEH’s governance to ensure it is being used to support delivery of the strategy, including the role of both the Executive team and the Board 

Chief of Staff:

  • Act as a trusted advisor to the CEO and Senior Leadership team  
  • Management of the CEOs office, leading and overseeing the smooth running of the function, resolving problems and making the most appropriate decisions in complex situations
  • Representing the organisation at key internal and external engagements in place of the CEO as needed; exhibiting a high level of integrity, professionalism and discretion
  • Leadership of business-critical projects – leading cross-functional teams to drive complex projects to successful completion.  

The Head of Strategy and Chief of Staff at UKCEH is a critical leadership role that demands both vision and dynamism. This role is instrumental in shaping and executing the institute’s strategic direction, ensuring our efforts align seamlessly with our mission to drive environmental research and influence global policy for a sustainable future.

We are looking for a proactive and self-assured individual with strong leadership qualities, who can quickly take initiative and communicate effectively. You should be rapid, responsive, and resilient, with the ability to reprioritise tasks as needed and work comfortably under instruction. The ideal candidate will have the flexibility to adapt to the CEO's requirements, demonstrating a willingness to be led while maintaining a senior presence. You should be self-sufficient, discerning, and confident in your interactions with others.

As the right hand to the CEO, effective communication and strong interpersonal skills are crucial, enabling you to build and maintain positive relationships across the organisation. You will need to understand the organisational context, possess influential negotiation skills, and have the confidence to assert yourself, challenge when necessary, and navigate complex demands pragmatically.

For the role of Head of Strategy and Chief of Staff, we’re looking for somebody who has: 

  • Excellent strategic thinking and vision, with the ability to translate high-level strategy into actionable objectives across all levels of the organisation.
  • Strong leadership and coordination skills, particularly in areas requiring collaboration and thought leadership across multiple teams.
  • Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and inspire both internal and external stakeholders.
  • Adaptability and foresight to ensure the strategy evolves in response to significant changes in the external environment.
  • A scientific degree, ideally with a PhD and relevant work experience, OR has substantial experience in the fields of research, policy, or science communication, with a strong understanding of how science impacts and benefits society
  • Demonstrable experience in the science-policy context, including the management and application of scientific knowledge in real-world settings such as government, large corporations, NGOs, or universities, particularly in roles involving the translation of research into practice

If we’ve just described you, we’d love to meet. Apply now. 

Regrettably, we are unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position at this time.

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