Chief Information Officer (CIO)

Sutton or Chelsea, London, South East England, UK Reward: Highly competitive salary, plus USS pension

This is a transformative opportunity for a strategic, collaborative IT leader to help facilitate vital cancer research. The CIO will lead the Institute of Cancer Research (ICR)’s entire information systems and data capability including both scientific computing and corporate IT. We are seeking to develop a world leading Digital Services capability to enable our researchers to continue performing world-leading and impactful discovery, translational and clinical research. In the 2021 Research Excellence Framework (REF), the ICR was ranked first in Biological Sciences and is the UK’s second-ranked academic research centre overall. The ICR also ranked third in the UK for the impact of its research on society.

We are one of the world’s most influential cancer research institutes with an outstanding record of achievement dating back more than 100 years. We are world leaders in identifying cancer genes, discovering cancer drugs, and developing precision radiotherapy. Together with our hospital partner The Royal Marsden, we are rated in the top four centres for cancer research and treatment worldwide. Sophisticated and innovative use of technology plays a key part in our ability to continue delivering research. We recognise the potential role digital technology will play in enabling the effective groundbreaking research of the future.  We now need an innovative and influential senior IT leader to continue the efficient, effective and secure support of the Institute.

The Role

• n The CIO will deliver the aligned digital strategy which will provide the efficient, secure information systems suite to enable continued excellence in the ICR’s research. The CIO will craft and deliver a transformative portfolio of innovative digital projects to underpin the delivery of the Institute’s mission: to make the discoveries that defeat cancer.
• n Work closely with our own research population plus our external partners to build positive, collaborative relationships. Influence at the national level and build meaningful peer-to-peer relationships across higher education institutions and the clinical research sector to facilitate the transfer of best practice.
• n Shape a high-performing, effective digital services team which will deliver a seamless, robust and efficient digital customer experience operating to the highest levels of service and security.

The Person:

• n You should have held significant, high-level accountability for mission critical IT systems in a large and complex organisation, preferably in a research-intensive institution or industry. You will have the ability to work across a diverse organisation, plus have demonstrable experience of delivering improvements in service, efficiency, and the security of mission-critical IT systems.
• n Influential, impactful and politically-savvy, you will be an adept relationship-builder with gravitas and a collaborative approach to working across organisational boundaries.
• n An enthusing people leader, you will have the proven ability to inspire IT Teams and to build high-performance, service focused cultures. You should demonstrate clear experience in helping teams embrace contemporary IT industry disciplines and new ways of working.

The ICR has engaged the services of Odgers Berndtson to lead the search, to whom applications should be sent via this link: www.odgers.com/86284

Advert information