Technical Operations Lead

Are you a strategic operations leader with strong technical expertise, ready to make a global impact? Join the Cambridge Impact Accelerator (CamIA), a University of Cambridge initiative driving transformative innovation across aviation, energy and other critical sustainability sectors. As Technical Operations Lead, you will oversee and evolve complex technical systems, manage high-performing teams and ensure operational excellence.

Reporting to the Whittle Laboratory Director, and based at the Whittle Laboratory in West Cambridge, you will combine hands¿on expertise in digital systems, software development, finance, HR and operations with the strategic leadership needed to coach and develop a multi¿disciplinary team in a leading academic and research environment.

Key elements of the role include:

• Technical and digital systems expertise;
• Software-literate leadership;
• Strategic leadership and continuity;
• External contractor oversight;
• Integration and academic context;

This is a high-responsibility position where technical credibility and experience in research-intensive environments are as important as strategic leadership.

What You'll Bring:

• Proven experience in senior technical operations within an academic, research, or innovation-focused environment.
• Advanced technical capability: skilled in advanced Excel, analytics platforms and hands¿on programming (Python or similar), with a strong understanding of software design and development processes for modelling, data¿driven tools and web applications.
• Track record in designing and integrating complex digital systems and software tools across organisations.
• Experience managing technical contractors and multi-stakeholder integrations in complex institutional environments.
• Strong leadership skills ¿ coaching, mentoring, and succession planning for technical teams and junior managers.
• Deep familiarity with research culture and academic governance, able to translate between technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Experience in HR and financial systems management in academia and/or industry.
• Experience applying Agile project management approaches to deliver complex technical and operational projects, with the ability to adapt methods to a research-focused environment.
• PhD or equivalent experience in research or technical leadership.
• Excellent communication, strategic thinking, and problem-solving skills, combined with a passion for sustainability and delivering real-world impact.

What We Offer:

• A leadership role with purpose in a high-impact initiative.
• The opportunity to shape technical systems and innovation that directly influence global sustainability.
• Access to University of Cambridge resources and collaboration with leading researchers, practitioners, and policymakers.
• A dynamic and supportive working environment with flexible working options.

Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available for 6 months in the first instance.

Applications are welcome from internal candidates who would like to apply for the role on the basis of a secondment from their current role in the University.

To apply online for this vacancy and to view further information about the role, please click the 'Apply' button above. 

Please ensure that you include both a CV and covering letter within your application which should detail how you feel you meet the criteria in the person specification.

The closing date for applications is Tuesday 26 August 2025.  If you have any questions about this vacancy or the application process, please contact the HR Office at the Department of Engineering (hr-office@eng.cam.ac.uk, +44 (0)1223 332615). 

Please quote reference NM46939 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.

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