Chief Science Officer

Chief Science Officer

Perrett Laver View all jobs

• Location: Didcot, Oxfordshire


• Type: Permanent


• Employment: Full-time

13 hours ago

Diamond Light Source is the UK's national synchrotron - a unique and world-class scientific facility enabling cutting-edge research across a range of sciences.

Established in 2002 as a joint venture between STFC/UKRI and the Wellcome Trust, Diamond provides national science infrastructure that is free at the point of use. Diamond now employs around 900 members of staff and hosts 33 cutting-edge synchrotron-based instruments and a range of advanced electron microscopes, utilised by over 14,000 academic and industrial researchers across a vast range of subject matter, from new medicines and treatments for disease to innovative engineering and cutting-edge technology. In 2023, Diamond secured over £500m in funding to upgrade the facility to a state-of-the-art 4th generation synchrotron.

As we enter this exciting new phase of growth, we are now inviting applications for an exceptional Chief Science Officer (CSO) to join Diamond's Executive Team and lead the development of Diamond's science strategy, while inspiring and leading a unified Science Division. This appointment represents a significant opportunity to shape the future scientific capabilities and impact of the facility, ensuring Diamond continues to deliver outstanding research and innovation for the UK and internationally.

The CSO will provide strategic scientific leadership across Diamond, working closely with the Chief Executive Officer, Directors and Board. They will lead the development and prioritisation of the scientific programme, oversee the in-house research programme and science grants, and ensure that Diamond's user programme delivers world-leading impact. The CSO will also lead Diamond's Innovation strategy, contribute to the development of its scientific computing and software strategy, and develop collaborations and scientific initiatives with other national and international facilities.

The successful candidate will be an important external ambassador for Diamond, developing strong relationships with the scientific community, users, partners and funders, working with advisory committees and external stakeholders to ensure that the facility's scientific priorities and capabilities maximise impact across the UK and internationally.

We are looking for an exceptional scientific leader with the credibility, vision and collaborative leadership skills to inspire a broad and highly talented Science Division and foster a culture of collaboration, innovation and excellence. The successful candidate will bring significant senior leadership experience within a major scientific organisation, with a proven track record of developing a scientific strategy, leading major research programmes or facility upgrades, building strong relationships with facility users and external stakeholders, and securing or developing significant funding.

This is a high-profile Executive Team position offering an exceptional opportunity to shape the future of one of the world's leading scientific facilities and to influence the UK's scientific and innovation landscape at a pivotal moment in Diamond's development.

Your application should consist of a full curriculum vitae and a covering letter (up to two pages).

For informal inquiries please contact Danielle Muller on (8609).

The deadline for applications is 9am BST on Monday 12th October.

If you require any reasonable adjustments to assist you in the selection process, please advise us of these so that we can make appropriate arrangements.

Diamond Light Source is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and welcomes applications from individuals of all backgrounds. We encourage candidates from underrepresented groups to apply.

If you are disabled and would like to be considered under the Disability Confident Scheme, please let us know via the online application process.

Protecting your personal data is of the utmost importance to Perrett Laver and we take this responsibility very seriously. Any information obtained by our trading divisions is held and processed in accordance with the relevant data protection legislation. The data you provide us with is securely stored on our computerised database and transferred to our clients for the purposes of presenting you as a candidate and/or considering your suitability for a role you have registered interest in.

As defined under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Perrett Laver is a Data Controller and a Data Processor, and our legal basis for processing your personal data is 'Legitimate Interests'. You have the right to object to us processing your data in this way. For more information about this, your rights, and our approach to Data Protection and Privacy, please visit our website.

#s1-Gen

Diamond Light Source is the UK's national synchrotron - a unique and world-class scientific facility enabling cutting-edge research across a range of sciences.
Established in 2002 as a joint venture between STFC/UKRI and the Wellcome Trust, Diamond provides national science infrastructure that is free at the point of use. Diamond now employs around 900 members of staff and hosts 33 cutting-edge synchrotron-based instruments and a range of advanced electron microscopes, utilised by over 14,000 academic and industrial researchers across a vast range of subject matter, from new medicines and treatments for disease to innovative engineering and cutting-edge technology. In 2023, Diamond secured over £500m in funding to upgrade the facility to a state-of-the-art 4th generation synchrotron.
As we enter this exciting new phase of growth, we are now inviting applications for an exceptional Chief Science Officer (CSO) to join Diamond's Executive Team and lead the development of Diamond's science strategy, while inspiring and leading a unified Science Division. This appointment represents a significant opportunity to shape the future scientific capabilities and impact of the facility, ensuring Diamond continues to deliver outstanding research and innovation for the UK and internationally.
The CSO will provide strategic scientific leadership across Diamond, working closely with the Chief Executive Officer, Directors and Board. They will lead the development and prioritisation of the scientific programme, oversee the in-house research programme and science grants, and ensure that Diamond's user programme delivers world-leading impact. The CSO will also lead Diamond's Innovation strategy, contribute to the development of its scientific computing and software strategy, and develop collaborations and scientific initiatives with other national and international facilities.
The successful candidate will be an important external ambassador for Diamond, developing strong relationships with the scientific community, users, partners and funders, working with advisory committees and external stakeholders to ensure that the facility's scientific priorities and capabilities maximise impact across the UK and internationally.
We are looking for an exceptional scientific leader with the credibility, vision and collaborative leadership skills to inspire a broad and highly talented Science Division and foster a culture of collaboration, innovation and excellence. The successful candidate will bring significant senior leadership experience within a major scientific organisation, with a proven track record of developing a scientific strategy, leading major research programmes or facility upgrades, building strong relationships with facility users and external stakeholders, and securing or developing significant funding.
This is a high-profile Executive Team position offering an exceptional opportunity to shape the future of one of the world's leading scientific facilities and to influence the UK's scientific and innovation landscape at a pivotal moment in Diamond's development.
Your application should consist of a full curriculum vitae and a covering letter (up to two pages).
For informal inquiries please contact Danielle Muller on (8609).
The deadline for applications is 9am BST on Monday 12th October.
If you require any reasonable adjustments to assist you in the selection process, please advise us of these so that we can make appropriate arrangements.
Diamond Light Source is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and welcomes applications from individuals of all backgrounds. We encourage candidates from underrepresented groups to apply.