Operations Director (Federated Telecoms Hubs)

We are seeking a highly experienced and strategic Operations Director to function as the primary administrative and operational leader for the Federated Telecoms Hubs. This is a pivotal role that ensures the FTH operates with maximum efficiency, integrity, and compliance across its multi-institutional structure. 

Reporting directly to the chair of the FTH Management and Governance Board and based at one of the Department's sites in West Cambridge, you will be responsible for the FTH's operational budget, governance frameworks, and administrative teams. You will translate the strategic vision for promoting technology transfer and commercialisation (including major initiatives such as the FTH Proof-of-Concept fund and the FTH IPR Pipeline) into flawless day-to-day execution. 

Key responsibilities of the role include: 

• Financial stewardship: Overseeing the entire multi-million-pound grant budget, managing complex inter-institutional resource allocation, financial forecasting, and sophisticated reporting to ensure all expenditures align with funder requirements and strategic goals.
• Governance: Establish and maintain robust, scalable governance structures, including collaboration agreements, Terms of Reference, and Confidentiality agreements. Ensuring comprehensive regulatory compliance in line with the funder's expectations and requirements.
• Strategic sustainability planning: Lead the critical internal preparations (including legal, IP, and financial structuring) required to successfully establish the FTH as an independent, enduring entity.
• Performance monitoring and assessment: Drive the collection and analysis of data quantifying the FTH's economic and technological contribution to date and informing future strategic decisions.

The successful candidate will be a pragmatic, results-driven leader with a proven track record in large-scale, complex, and collaborative R and D environments and will be able to demonstrate the following: 

• Experience of leading a high-impact research programme in academia or another major organisation.
• Experience of operating at a senior level within a business or academic organisation, with a proven track record of strategic planning, high-value partnerships, financial management and team leadership.
• A track record of business development, working at the most senior levels and demonstrating high-level negotiation and relationship management skills.
• In-depth awareness of the academic and industry context within which FTH operates.
• Knowledge of core areas of FTH's work, including the challenges of telecommunications innovation, technology transfer, early-stage research and development.
• Experience working with senior leaders in the public and private sectors as well as academia.
• Experience of presenting to and facilitating dialogue with senior industry audiences as well as presenting complex information in an accessible way to a broad audience.
• Experience of leading cross-functional teams and managing people. 

Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available until 31 March 2026 in the first instance.

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

Please ensure that you upload your Curriculum Vitae (CV) and a covering letter in the Upload section of the online application. If you upload any additional documents which have not been requested, we will not be able to consider these as part of your application.

The closing date for applications is Thursday 27 November 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, (0)1223 332615).

Interviews for the post will take place during the morning of Monday 15 December 2025.

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

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

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