The University of Glasgow is seeking a strategic leader to take on a pivotal senior management role as Head of MVLS Trusted Research Environment (TRE) Service within the College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences (MVLS). This is a unique opportunity to shape the direction and operational delivery of a key research infrastructure that supports world-leading data-driven research and commercial partnerships. The platform underpins several high-priority data science and AI initiatives across the College and is central to its strategic goals in health informatics, innovation, and research translation.

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About the Role

In this senior leadership role, you will be responsible for defining, delivering, and continuously developing the TRE Service. You will drive strategic initiatives, foster operational excellence, and promote collaborative engagement across the University and its partners.

You will lead a multidisciplinary technical team that draws on expertise from the Clinical Trials Unit, the Centre of Excellence for Trials Collaboration and Information Services, and other key stakeholders. Your work will ensure the TRE service supports cutting-edge research while aligning with the University’s long-term strategic vision.

Key responsibilities include:

• Providing clear, visible leadership for the TRE Service, setting its long-term strategic vision and driving stakeholder engagement.

• Establishing, maintaining, and championing continuous improvement of TRE operational capacity, leveraging local resources within the College as well as University-wide Information Services expertise.

• Facilitating collaborations across the Clinical Trials Unit, Information Services, and external partners to deliver an effective and risk-aware service.

To excel in this role, you will have proven and significant management experience within a growing and evolving organisation, demonstrating adaptability and strategic foresight, and an ability to shape and deliver strategic plans.

The successful candidate will have a track record of empowering and motivating others to foster a high-performance culture through inclusive, participative leadership, along with strong business focus, the ability to manage strategic relationships, understand organisational requirements, and deliver transformative outcomes with measurable success criteria.

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Job Purpose

This is a key senior management role responsible for the strategic direction and leadership of defining, delivering and developing the Trusted Research Environment (TRE) Service within the College of MVLS.  The role focuses on strategic direction, operational excellence, and collaborative engagement across the University of Glasgow and its partners.

The postholder will lead a multidisciplinary technical team, bringing together capabilities from the Clinical Trials Unit, Centre of Excellence for Trials Collaboration and Information Services, and beyond, to support world-leading research, data, and trial infrastructure.  The role involves shaping and managing the TRE service, building sustainable capacity, and ensuring alignment with the University’s strategic vision.

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Main Duties and Responsibilities

1. Provide strong, visible leadership for the MVLS TRE Service promoting its strategic vision, driving accountability for the Service’s engagement with key stakeholders.

2. Effectively lead and govern key processes that manage and mitigate risk of operational change ensuring compliance to live services including data management, access and collaboration support.

3. To establish and maintain operational TRE Service capability, utilising both local MVLS TRE Service resources and wider University of Glasgow Information Services expertise.

4. To effectively build and lead a high-performing team to deliver best practice TRE support service, aligning with the University and College objectives.

5. Provide leadership to the MVLS TRE support staff and align third party partnerships where needed, as well as managing and leveraging the MVLS TRE Service relationship with University Information Services to ensure service provision.

6. Champion continuous improvement in service engagement, operational readiness and service design through clear communication, effective governance, and process optimisation.

7. Be responsible for monitoring and enhancing quality, efficiency, and continuity of services through regular performance analysis and development of service improvements.

8. Oversee financial, contract and commercial management within the service, to deliver value for money across delivery and operational sustainability.

9. Provide expert advice and guidance to drive best practice, leveraging existing and new toolsets and processes to support MVLS TRE Service outcomes.

10. Provide senior level leadership in incident and risk management systems ensuring consistent and transparent communications to all stakeholders.

11. Facilitate effective collaborations across the CTU, University Information Services and third-party service providers to ensure that all change is delivered in a timely and cost-effective way, minimising risk and ensuring alignment with the future MVLS TRE Service Strategy.

12.  Be responsible for the management of issues, risks, audit and compliance obligations in line with institutional and regulatory frameworks.

13.  Act as a role model, embodying the University’s professional behaviours and values.

14.   Create an inclusive, empowered, and motivated work environment, that supports professional development and talent retention.

15.  Set clear goals and stretch objectives aligned with broader strategic aims.

16.  Mentor and support team members, fostering a culture of accountability and continuous learning.

17.  Promote an inclusive environment ensuring everyone feels valued and able to perform at their best.  Engage in continuing professional development activities as appropriate

18.  Undertake any other reasonable duties in line with the role

19.  To contribute to the enhancement of the University’s international profile in line with the University’s Strategic Plan, World Changers Together.

Knowledge, Qualifications, Skills and Experience
Knowledge/Qualifications

Essential:

A1 Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework  level 9, 10 or 11 (Ordinary Honours Degree, Post Graduate Qualification), or equivalent, including being professionally qualified in a relevant discipline, with a broad range of professional leadership experience in strategically important specialist areas,

OR

A2 Ability to demonstrate the necessary strategic competencies required to undertake the duties associated with this level of post having acquired the necessary professional knowledge and leadership experience in a similar or number of different specialist roles.

A3 A broad and in-depth understanding of best practice in applying ITIL based processes to support future-proofing, efficiency, and continual improvements.

A4 Extensive knowledge and experience of relevant industry standards, trends and practices to ensure the service maintains a clear and forward-thinking strategic vision.

A5 Highly developed expertise in managing risk, compliance, audit and security obligations, including the implementation of robust disaster recovery and business continuity procedures.

Skills

Essential:

C1 Demonstrable ability to provide strong, strategic leadership across a service environment to ensure the delivery of high-quality, customer focused, and efficient infrastructure and data services.

C2 Excellent interpersonal skills, with a proven ability to collaborate constructively with a diverse range of colleagues, navigating differing priorities and balancing competing interests effectively.

C3 Proven track record of empowering and motivating others to foster a high-performance culture through inclusive and participative leadership.

C4 Strong  communication skills, both written and verbal, with ability to tailor messaging to varied internal and external stakeholders.

C5 Strong business focus, with ability to manage strategic relationships; understand organisational requirements and  deliver  transformative outcomes  with measurable success criteria.

C6 Demonstratable ability to effectively balance and manage supply (resource capacity) against demand across a broad spectrum of service support, large scale investment projects, and small change requests.

C7 Proven track record of successful leadership in promoting employee engagement and maintaining motivation and productive workforce.

C8 Skilled in engaging at all levels including delivering briefings to senior leadership and representing the service at  University and Industry-wide engagement events

Experience

Essential:

E1 Proven leadership and management experience within a growing and evolving organisation, demonstrating adaptability and strategic foresight

E2 Direct experience of overseeing service budgetary planning, monitoring and financial management ensuring cost-effective delivery of services.

E3 Previous experience in a senior operational leadership role, with a demonstrated ability to shape, and deliver against strategic plans

E4 Substantial experience in developing and managing partner relationships and operational teams to maximise performance outcomes

E5 Proven experience of leading effective multi-disciplinary teams and embedding a strong and responsive customer service culture across an organisation

E6 A strong track record of implementing and transforming strategic operational change, driving continuous improvement and transformation

E7 Experience of working collaboratively with senior colleagues to formulate, develop and implement strategies and major projects

E8 Evidence of leading on projects with measurable outcomes with organisational implications beyond own teams or service area

E9 Experience of working in a federated or complex organisational structure, with an understanding of the associated dynamics and challenges

Informal Enquiries should be directed to Professor Sandosh Padmanabhan Sandosh.Padmanabhan@glasgow.ac.uk

Terms and Conditions

Salary will be Grade 9, £59,139 - £66,537 per annum.

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This post is full time (35 hours per week) and open ended.

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As a valued member of our team, you can expect:

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1 A warm welcoming and engaging organisational culture, where your talents are developed and nurtured, and success is celebrated and shared.

2 An excellent employment package with generous terms and conditions including 41 days of leave for full time staff, pension, benefits and discount packages.

3 A flexible approach to working.

4 A commitment to support your health and wellbeing, including a free 6-month UofG Sport membership for all new staff joining the University.

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We believe that we can only reach our full potential through the talents of all. Equality, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of our values. Applications are particularly welcome from across our communities and in particular people from the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) community, and other protected characteristics who are under-represented within the University. Read more on how the University promotes and embeds all aspects of equality and diversity within our community here.

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We endorse the principles of Athena Swan and hold bronze, silver and gold awards across the University.

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We are investing in our organisation, and we will invest in you too. Please visit our website https://www.jobs.gla.ac.uk/benefits-salary-and-flexible-working for more information.