Chief Operating Officer

The European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) is a non-profit, Intergovernmental Organisation funded by 29 member states and 1 associate member state. Each nation has representatives on it’s main governing body, the EMBL Council. EMBL has around 1,900 members of personnel from over 80 nations based across its six sites: the headquarters in Heidelberg (Germany), the EMBL-European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI) in Hinxton near Cambridge (UK), Grenoble (France), Hamburg (Germany), Rome (Italy) and Barcelona (Spain).

EMBL is seeking to recruit a Chief Operating Officer (COO) who will be responsible for ensuring the operational effectiveness of EMBL.

Your Role

This is an exciting role, with a diverse remit within a fast-moving, complex international organisation. Reporting directly to the Director General, the Chief Operating Officer (COO) will have significant delegated authority and autonomy in the context of EMBL’s matrix management structure to lead EMBL’s administration and operations across all of its six sites to ensure the integration and operational effectiveness of the Laboratory’s research support and administration to meet its innovative scientific needs. The COO will be a key member of the Directorate, EMBL’s senior leadership and management team.

Outside the Laboratory the appointee will ensure, together with the International Relations Office, close working relationships with national and local authorities at EMBL’s host sites in Germany, UK, France, Italy and Spain.

A critical working relationship is with the governing EMBL Council of member states and in particular its Finance Committee, which determines the Laboratory’s financial policies, budgets and terms and conditions of service. The COO will be required to maintain and further develop close working contacts with the Council delegates and to take responsibility for developing and presenting administrative and operational policies, updates and papers to the formal six-monthly meetings of Council and Finance Committee.

The role has responsibility for the following areas in partnership with the Deputy COO:

• Human Resources
• Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
• Finance and purchasing
• Grants Office
• Legal, Data protection and Compliance offices
• Sustainability
• Campus and facilities infrastructures
• Information technology
• Health and safety
• Operational management (change and improvement programme)
  
  

You Have

The successful candidate could come from a range of backgrounds, such as the commercial, not for profit, or academic sectors. Previous experience of a research academic environment and an international intergovernmental organisation would be important.

You will have a strong background in Administrative and Operational leadership coupled with delivering effective support services in a research or similar establishment of comparable size and complexity to EMBL. You will need to be financially competent and have an ability to oversee high-level complex budgetary information across the organisation and be able to contribute to developing the organization's five year strategic and financial plans. Experience of leading Pension Funds will be essential along with an understanding of the unique legal framework in which EMBL operates as an International Intergovernmental Organisation.

The post requires excellent people skills, emotional intelligence and an ability to work constructively, collaboratively and productively with colleagues from a range of disciplines and nationalities at all levels across all sites. We are looking for an effective diplomatic communicator who is politically astute and who can operate comfortably within both scientific and administrative contexts at the strategic and operational level. Furthermore, you should be fluent in English and German.

If you enjoy a challenge and want the opportunity to be part of a dynamic, innovative world leading scientific organisation we would like to hear from you.

You might also have

Experience of leading change and driving modernisation would be advantageous.

Why join us

EMBL is curiosity-driven, community-oriented and international. As an inclusive, equal opportunity employer, we believe that diversity enables us to collaborate more effectively and be innovative in our approaches. We are, therefore, committed to creating an inclusive and flexible culture - one where everyone can realise their full potential and make a positive contribution to our organisation.

We encourage applications from individuals who can complement our existing team – we believe that success is built on having teams whose backgrounds and personal experiences reflect the diversity of the populations that our science serves. We actively encourage applications from all genders and cultures, ethnic groups and all demographics to help us avoid perpetuating biases and oversights at this transformational point in our people strategy.

EMBL offers attractive conditions and benefits appropriate to an international research organisation with a very collegial and family-friendly working environment. Competitive salary and social security benefits, financial support for relocation, a relaxed culture, professional development, an on-site nursery, canteen and other staff facilities make EMBL a great place to work.

What Else You Need To Know

Our mission is to offer vital services in training scientists, students and visitors at all levels; to develop new instruments and methods in the life sciences and actively engage in technology transfer activities, and to integrate European life science research. The working language of the institute is English.

This role is based in Heidelberg, Germany.

To apply please submit a covering letter and CV in English through our online system.

If you would like more information or to talk about this role please email recruitment@embl.org.

Please note that appointments on fixed-term contracts can be renewed, depending on circumstances at the time of the review, up to a maximum of 9 years.

EMBL is a signatory of DORA. Find out how we implement best practices in research assessment in our recruitment processes here.