King's College London

THIS VACANCY IS OPEN TO INTERNAL APPLICANTS ONLY

About Us

The Department of Twin Research & Genetic Epidemiology is based within the School of Life Course and Population Sciences within the Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine. The department has a long history of high academic esteem and has contributed on an international level in genetic and ageing science. The Head of Research Programmes & Operations holds a critical leadership role, responsible for leading the overall management, operational leadership and core infrastructure of programmes within the Department. The role will be based at St Thomas’ Hospital campus at King’s.   

About the role

We are seeking an exceptional strategic leader to take on the pivotal role of Head of Research Programmes & Operations within the Department of Twin Research (DTR). This is a rare opportunity to lead one of the world’s most influential population research resources, driving the operational, scientific, and strategic vision behind the TwinsUK cohort and other longitudinal studies.

In this high-impact role, you will lead the full operational portfolio of DTR, including departmental administration, a team of high-performing operational managers, and the complex research infrastructure that underpins our scientific excellence. Your remit spans oversight of a biobank of more than 750,000 samples, high-performance computing systems, and a dedicated clinical research facility delivering around 1,000 participant visits each year. You will shape and deliver long-term programme strategy, ensure excellence in governance, and strengthen key partnerships across King’s College London, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, King’s Health Partners, and national and international cohort networks.

Working closely with academic leaders, you will define and drive ambitious strategic objectives for the Department, secure and maintain high-level core funding as a Co-Principal Investigator, and co-lead a diverse team of around 70 professional services, research staff and post graduate students. This includes providing strong leadership to a senior group of operational managers, ensuring cohesive, effective, and forward-looking operational delivery across all programmes. Your leadership will be part of the department’s major applications for funding opportunities and be involved in the upcoming Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) renewal and ensure DTR continues to deliver innovative, globally impactful research.

You will bring substantial experience in senior research operations, large-scale programme leadership, and managing complex multi-stakeholder environments. You will be an authoritative and inspiring leader, able to influence at senior levels across the University, NHS, and wider scientific research community. Most importantly, you will be motivated by the opportunity to accelerate scientific discovery and deliver research that improves health outcomes worldwide.

If you thrive on strategic challenge, operational excellence, and driving transformative research, this role offers a platform to make an enduring impact at the forefront of health science.

This is a full time post (35 hours per week), and you will be offered an indefinite contract.

About You

To be successful in this role, we are looking for candidates to have the following skills and experience:

Essential criteria

1. Postgraduate qualification (e.g. MSc, PhD) or equivalent experience in a relevant discipline such as biomedical research, population health, genetics, or health data science
2. Proven experience of leading complex research programmes and operational improvements at a strategic level, including development and implementation of impact frameworks, evaluation metrics, and systems for tracking performance and milestones
3. Significant leadership and line management experience, including responsibility for multi-disciplinary teams, organisational development, recruitment, performance management, and driving culture change in line with institutional goals
4. Excellent knowledge and demonstrable experience of research governance, including risk management, data protection, clinical data handling, and compliance with national and institutional research policies
5. Experience of managing large, multi-source budgets (~£5M+), including strategic financial planning, budget monitoring, and oversight of resource allocation for complex research infrastructure
6. Demonstrable ability to lead strategic planning and business operations within a research environment, including the development of sustainable funding models and delivery of high-impact outcomes; underpinned by advanced analytical skills, with experience in using data insights to inform strategic decisions, reporting, and continuous improvement
7. Experience overseeing access to large-scale research resources, such as biobanks, data repositories, or cohort studies, ensuring compliance, transparency, and equitable access
8. Outstanding communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills, with a track record of building trusted relationships across academia, NHS, industry, and external partners

Desirable criteria

1. Formal leadership or management qualification (e.g. ILM, MBA, PGCert)
2. Experience of delivering research programmes in epidemiology, genetics, precision medicine, or population health, particularly involving large cohort studies or longitudinal data
3. Understanding of digital infrastructure and data innovation, including the use of digital platforms, TREs (Trusted Research Environments), and cloud-based systems supporting research delivery 
4. Proactive, self-motivated leadership style, with a proven ability to manage competing priorities, lead change, and drive operational excellence in complex environments

Downloading a copy of our Job Description

Full details of the role and the skills, knowledge and experience required can be found in the Job Description document, provided at the bottom of the page. This document will provide information of what criteria will be assessed at each stage of the recruitment process.

Further Information

We pride ourselves on being inclusive and welcoming. We embrace diversity and want everyone to feel that they belong and are connected to others in our community. 

We are committed to working with our staff and unions on these and other issues, to continue to support our people and to develop a diverse and inclusive culture at King's.

As part of this commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion and through this appointment process, it is our aim to develop candidate pools that include applicants from all backgrounds and communities.

We ask all candidates to submit a copy of their CV, and a supporting statement, detailing how they meet the essential criteria listed in the advert. If we receive a strong field of candidates, we may use the desirable criteria to choose our final shortlist, so please include your evidence against these where possible.

To find out how our managers will review your application, please take a look at our ‘How we Recruit’ pages.

Interviews are due to be held on 14th/15th January.