Head of Research Operations (1.0FTE)

Glasgow Caledonian University is proudly one of the UK’s most dynamic and forward-thinking institutions. Recognised as a top modern university in Scotland across multiple national league tables, we’re making bold strides in education, research, and sustainability.

We’re not just climbing the rankings—we’re redefining what a modern university can achieve. With a strong commitment to social impact and the UN Sustainable Development Goals, GCU is expanding its research and knowledge exchange activities to deliver real-world change locally and globally.

This is an exciting time to join us. You’ll be part of a university that’s investing in its people, infrastructure, and partnerships to grow its research profile and deepen its engagement with industry, communities, and policymakers. If you’re passionate about making a difference through your work, GCU offers the platform and support to help you thrive.

You’ll be joining Research and Knowledge Exchange Services (RKES) – a newly established directorate that brings together expertise from across research operations, researcher development, and knowledge exchange. This integrated team is central to delivering GCU’s ambitious research and innovation agenda, supporting academic excellence and real-world impact.

As Research Operations Manager, you’ll lead a dedicated team at the heart of this transformation. Your role will be pivotal in shaping and delivering a high-quality, customer-focused research operations service that supports researchers across the university. You’ll work closely with academic and professional services colleagues, as well as external partners, to ensure our systems, policies and processes are fit for the future.

This is a strategic and hands-on role, offering the opportunity to influence how GCU responds to a fast-evolving research landscape. You’ll help steer preparations for major sector-wide exercises, ensure compliance and quality across our research portfolio, and foster a culture of continuous improvement. With a strong focus on collaboration, innovation and service excellence, you’ll play a key role in shaping the operational backbone of research and knowledge exchange at GCU.

You’ll be part of a supportive and ambitious environment, where your leadership, strategic thinking and ability to manage complex operations will be highly valued. If you bring senior-level experience in research operations, a strong grasp of the evolving research and knowledge exchange landscape, and a passion for leading high-performing teams, this is your opportunity to make a real impact. We’re looking for someone who thrives on collaboration, communicates with clarity, and brings a proactive, solutions-focused mindset to everything they do. If this sounds like you, we’d love to hear from you.

Please ensure your application demonstrates how you meet the essential criteria outlined in the job description which can be found here: https://myjobscotland.gov.uk/education/glasgow-caledonian-university/jobs/head-student-wellbeing-10-fte-435881.  If you’d like an informal chat about the role or want to learn more, please contact Dr Alison McIntosh, Director of Research and Knowledge Exchange Services (RKES) at alison.mcintosh@gcu.ac.uk

You can apply for this role by clicking on the apply button above.

Advert information