Chief Executive Officer – Edinburgh Research & Innovation

Edinburgh Research & Innovation Ltd (ERI) is a wholly-owned subsidiary company of the University of Edinburgh with responsibility for managing technology transfer, company formation industry engagement and consultancy services.  The University of Edinburgh has a worldwide reputation for its excellence in research and is a leader in innovation.  The University is a research intensive, diverse, multi-disciplinary institution distributed across three Colleges and 20 Schools.  It employs 13,000 staff and hosts 35,000 students on campus.

At an exciting time of change in the organisation, The Board of ERI is now seeking to appoint an exceptionally strong CEO who can lead from the front in developing a clear vision and a strong commercial culture within the organisation.  The 2016-2021 strategic plan focusses on three key development pillars of Talent, Skills & Employability, Research & Development and Innovation & Enterprise and ERI is critically important in delivering on the University’s goals in these areas.  The CEO will be building on a strong foundation of success and will be expected to deliver on ambitious milestones in terms of new opportunities for industry engagement and commercialisation of the University’s world class research base.

The CEO will be responsible for:

• building critical mass and capitalising on growth opportunities for ERI in large thematic areas including Digital/Informatics, Energy, Technology, Infrastructure, Healthcare, Agritech, and Cultural and Creative Industries.
• identifying and building value propositions in order to realise the huge growth potential for ERI in these areas
• creating vision and strategy at a senior level, both within the University and with key external stakeholders, with overall accountability for performance and improvement, financial stewardship and the support, recognition and reward of achievement, ensuring a highly capable and motivated workforce that exceeds expectations
• shaping and managing a senior team to achieve against a set of demanding objectives within a multi stakeholder, highly visible context
• prioritising the opportunities to be gained from engaging with industry and the commercialisation of research and technology

We are looking for individuals who display leadership, credibility, gravitas and diplomacy and who have an excellent track record of commercialisation success within large corporate, academia, investment or research institute environments.

To apply and to receive a full job description, please send your CV with details of current remuneration to Ailsa Sutherland, Director, FWB Park Brown at fwb@fwbparkbrown.com.