Head of Operations, Lancet Countdown

The UCL Institute for Global Health (IGH) is at the heart of UCL's Grand Challenge of Global Health. The Institute's vision is for a world where international policy on global health is informed by world-class research. IGH aims to support the development of robust solutions to aspects of the world's major global health challenges through scholarly outputs, education, public engagement, translational research, and ultimately by influencing public policy and professional practice.

We are seeking a Head of Operations to help lead the Lancet Countdown: Tracking Progress on Health and Climate Change through the delivery of its strategic objectives across its global and six regional centres.

The Lancet Countdown: Tracking Progress on Health and Climate Change is an independent, international research collaboration that works to track the evolving links between health and climate change globally, regionally, and nationally, in partnership with The Lancet and the World Health Organization. Its aim is to inform a robust response to climate change that protects and promotes human health.

About the role

The Head of Operations will help lead the Lancet Countdown: Tracking Progress on Health and Climate Change through the delivery of its strategic objectives across its global and six regional centres. They will join the Executive of the Lancet Countdown, an independent and multi-disciplinary collaboration based out of IGH, and work in close collaboration with the executive leadership of the collaboration's international centres.

The postholder will work with the Executive Director to deliver the operational programme of work, refine the programme's strategy, and support the management of key staff members. They will also support the collaboration's high-level governance bodies, including its board, chaired by the Rt Hon Helen Clark. This post will be key to the success of the next phase of Lancet Countdown and will provide the successful candidate with opportunities to develop their career.

This is a full-time role (i.e. 36.5 hours per week) and it is available immediately until April 2029 in the first instance.

Salary range: £66,711 to £72,370 per annum (including London Allowance), depending on experience.

About you

It is essential that the successful candidate has a Bachelor's degree in business administration, management, public health, or a related field.

Proven experience in a senior operational role, preferably within an international organisation; experience in strategic planning and implementation of complex programmes of work and significant experience of project managing major projects, preferably operating across more than one organisation are also essential criteria for this role.

The successful candidate must have strong leadership skills with the ability to guide, mentor, and support high-performing teams and excellent organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to oversee multiple projects and tasks simultaneously. The successful candidate must also have strong strategic thinking skills with the ability to support long-term planning and implementation.

The role requires that the post holder is willing to travel around three times per year and to participate in meetings outside of normal working hours.

What we offer

As well as the exciting opportunities this role presents, we also offer some great benefits, some of which are below:

1. 41 Days holiday (27 days annual leave, 8 bank holidays, and 6 closure days)
2. Additional 5 days' annual leave purchase scheme
3. Defined benefit career average revalued earnings pension scheme (CARE)
4. Cycle to work scheme and season ticket loan
5. Relocation scheme for certain posts
6. Enhanced maternity, paternity, and adoption pay
7. Employee assistance programme: Staff Support Service
8. Discounted medical insurance

Visit here to find out more.

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

As London's Global University, we know diversity fosters creativity and innovation, and we want our community to represent the diversity of the world's talent. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where we all belong.

We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented in UCL's workforce.

These include people from Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds; disabled people; LGBTQI+ people; and for our Grade 9 and 10 roles, women.

Our department holds an Athena SWAN Silver award, in recognition of our commitment and demonstrable impact in advancing gender equality.