Chief Technology Officer, ARIA
3 Year Fixed-Term Contract
£155-225k
More information about location
3 days a week in office (Kings Cross, London)
Science-focused R&D funding agency
Job no longer available
Science-focused R&D funding agency
21-100 employees
Job no longer available
£155-225k
More information about location
3 days a week in office (Kings Cross, London)
21-100 employees
Company mission
To fund scientists and engineers so they can pursue research at the edge of the possible.
Role
Who you are
- Deep scientific foundations with comfort crossing domains and credibility across disciplines
- Significant R&D experience beyond a purely academic context
- Deep exposure to a diverse set of R&D projects at the proof of concept or technology demonstration stages
- A willingness to think differently and push traditional boundaries
- A track record of innovation and successful implementation of new ideas
- An ability to identify and connect with top talent and ideas
- A willingness to go deep and a strong commitment to excellence
- An ability to elevate the performance of those around them
- A flexible and resourceful approach to problem solving
- Track record and commitment developing and mentoring scientists and engineers (at any stage of their career)
- An ability to listen, build trust, and put curiosity before criticism
Desirable
- Strong technical network spanning disciplines/sectors
- Significant experience managing people and portfolios
- Exposure to the ARPA model or equivalent
What the job involves
- 3 years fixed-term with the possibility of extension - we are looking for a full-time commitment, but will consider flexible arrangements (for example; secondment, 80% FTE) if necessary
- As our inaugural CTO, you’ll be responsible for ensuring that ARIA is the best place in the world for passionate technical leaders to develop, thrive and make lasting contributions to society
- This is a rare opportunity to set the archetype of this role and shape ARIA’s impact for years to come
- Equipped with a dedicated budget and unburdened by administrative responsibilities, your focus will be on guiding and mentoring our Programme Directors, nurturing our technical culture, and attracting bold new talent and ideas to ARIA
- You’ll be a force multiplier for our team as they develop, launch, and manage world-changing programmes
- The CTO will serve as an executive member of ARIA’s Board of Directors, reporting to the CEO
- We’ll look to you to be a strategic and influential leader both internally and externally
- Challenge and enhance Programme Directors thinking across all stages of programme development and management
- Leverage your technical expertise, experience, and network to support strategy and decision-making across the agency
- Mentor Programme Directors, Technical Specialists, and Frontier Specialists, positioning them for success as global innovation leaders
- Manage our frontier specialist and seed funding programmes, designed to spark new technical insights and programme opportunities
- Cultivate a strong base of technical resources that programme teams can draw upon to do more, better, faster
- Recruit and evaluate technical talent across all levels of the agency
- Foster a deeply technical culture, encouraging bold and innovative thinking that challenges conventional wisdom
- Drive org-level strategy and management as a member of executive leadership team and board of directors
- Represent ARIA and all of our programmes across media, events, and strategic engagement with academic, industry and government partners
Application process
- The first wave of applications will be reviewed on 1st December. After this initial review, we will transition to rolling applications until the position is filled
Salary benchmarks
Our take
ARIA, also known as the Advanced Research and Invention Agency, is an investment agency that supports ambitious, cutting-edge science and technology projects with the hope to “transcend conventional limits”.
For innovation to keep moving at the pace we've become accustomed to, a lot of organisation, research and funding is required. ARIA, which is government funded, sets out to find projects that will have the most public benefit and impact. It's backed by an £800mn budget and is targeting areas such as artificial intelligence, neuroscience and materials.
Drawing inspiration from successful US counterparts like Darpa and Arpa-E, ARIA aims to act outside of traditional bureaucratic constraints. Despite facing criticism for its delayed launch, the initiative reflects a refreshing departure from the norm and we’re excited to see what the company's future holds.
Freddie
Company Specialist at Welcome to the Jungle
Company
Company benefits
- Discretionary performance related pay arrangements
- 25 days annual leave provision, with the option to buy/sell an additional 5 days
- Hybrid working arrangements; 60% in office / 40% at home
- Supportive environment for learning and development opportunities
- Enhanced family leave arrangements
- A free and confidential 24/7 employee assistance programme
- 2 days of paid volunteer days
- 5% defined contribution pension scheme with Smart Pension
- An excellent office location in Kings X, London
Company values
- Bold: We are comfortable in uncharted territory, actively seeking out and embracing the unknown. In practice, this means we focus on the opportunity and upside in our work, striving to raise the creative ambition of those around us and cultivating an environment that welcomes outside voices and outlier ideas.
- Authentic: We debate openly, with passion and respect, ensuring everyone feels empowered to show up as themselves and unlock their full potential. We value brilliance without pretension. Crucially, we embrace the understanding that failure is an acceptable and necessary step along the way to real progress.
- Intentional: We are driven by a deep commitment to improving the world through science and technology, pursuing these breakthroughs responsibly. This is at the heart of how all our teams work, starting from principles, not simply following precedent. This means we are always questioning, learning, and evolving our approaches to problems.
Company HQ
London, UK
Leadership
Ilan Gur
(CEO)Schmidt Futures Innovation Fellow. Previously Founder and CEO of Activate.org, and Founder of Cyclotron Road through Berkeley Lab.
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