Location
Colindale, Edgware, London with regular travel to Porton, Chilton, Leeds, and Glasgow

Hours
Full Time

Salary
£81,000 - £117,800 per annum

About the Role
The Deputy Director – Scientific Facilities is a senior leadership role within the UK Health Security Agency's Scientific Facilities and Performance Directorate. This role is responsible for the operational management, security, engineering services, media services, and other site services across UKHSA’s main scientific campuses at Colindale, Porton, Chilton, as well as sites in Leeds and Glasgow. The role holder will ensure these critical national infrastructures are safe, sustainable, compliant, and adaptable to meet UKHSA’s strategic priorities.

The role requires strategic leadership to inspire and support staff welfare while managing complex change. It involves close collaboration with scientific functional leads, corporate teams including Finance, HR, Health & Safety, Security, and other UKHSA groups. The Deputy Director will maintain frequent visibility across all campuses and ensure robust site governance, risk management, and business continuity planning.

Key responsibilities include maintaining site suitability and compliance, managing contracts for site support and facilities management, overseeing major capital and change projects, and driving continuous improvement. The role also involves active participation in the development and delivery of the new Health Security Campus programme.

This position offers hybrid working based at one of the scientific campuses, with an expectation to spend approximately 60% of working hours on-site. The role requires Security Check (SC) clearance and involves managing significant financial and human resources to deliver high-quality services aligned with government standards and best practices.

Experience
- Significant senior-level experience in building management, operations, and engineering of scientific estates or operational public health services.
- Proven leadership in managing science-focused or specialist campuses, including engineering, facilities management, health and safety, media production, and site security.
- Experience managing major revenue and capital projects, including tender negotiations and knowledge of government frameworks.
- Expertise in regulatory compliance, operational quality, and safe site management from policy development through to implementation.
- Desirable: Knowledge of regulations and standards for scientific campus operations and site/laboratory health & safety compliance.

About you
- Strong strategic leadership skills with the ability to inspire and motivate multidisciplinary teams.
- Skilled in managing major change and delivering complex projects successfully.
- Committed to fostering an inclusive culture that promotes equality of opportunity and good working relationships.
- Able to maintain effective communication and collaboration with diverse stakeholders.
- Demonstrates a performance insight-driven approach with the ability to develop and monitor KPIs for operational excellence.

Qualifications
- Essential: Degree in Engineering, Scientific, or comparable discipline with relevant professional registration or qualification.
- Evidence of continuing professional development.
- Desirable: PhD in Engineering, Scientific, Medical, or equivalent discipline.