About Us
The School of Life Course & Population Sciences is one of six Schools that make up the Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine at King’s College London. The School unites over 400 experts in women and children’s health, nutritional sciences, population health and the molecular genetics of human disease. Our research links the causes of common health problems to life’s landmark stages, treating life, disease and healthcare as a continuum. We are interdisciplinary by nature and this innovative approach works: 91 per cent of our research submitted to the Subjects Allied to Medicine (Pharmacy, Nutritional Sciences and Women's Health cluster) for REF was rated as world-leading or internationally excellent. We use this expertise to teach the next generation of health professionals and research scientists. Based across King’s Denmark Hill, Guy’s, St Thomas’ and Waterloo campuses, our academic programme of teaching, research and clinical practice is embedded across five Departments
About the role
The EMBRACE Chief Operating Officer is the operational and partnership lead for the Inkfish EMBRACE (Enhanced Maternal and Baby Results with AI-supported Care and Empowerment) programme, setting up and managing the operations across the multi-partner, multiple country consortium. The post holder is required to be a highly experienced, strategic leader with expertise in artificial intelligence in the context of personalised health.
EMBRACE is a visionary, multicomponent international research programme, the first of its kind in the world, supported by Inkfish with £35M core funds over six years, starting in April 2025. It is a global study of 60,000 participants, including 20,000 mothers, 20,000 infants and up to 20,000 partners. It brings together world-leading clinician scientists across six distinguished Healthcare organisations, world-leading AI & technology companies, together with premier biotech companies, with the overarching aim to fast-track major scientific breakthroughs, revolutionise maternal and early childhood health through precision-personalised interventions, powered by a groundbreaking symbiosis of cutting-edge AI combined with human support.
The post holder is responsible for establishing and managing the EMBRACE programme working closely with the study Director and lead PI, Professor Josip Car (King’s College London), Senior Advisors, other members of the research leadership team and Industry partner organisations. The EMBRACE Chief Operating Officer will manage all parties within the global consortium and key stakeholders to set up and maintain an operational framework that meets the regulatory requirements of each partner country and organisation to meet EMBRACE’s ambitious goals. They will oversee day-to-day execution of decisions and contracts, including the oversight of the research teams and business operations. This includes the consortium’s financial management, project management – meeting key milestones, writing and presenting reports, establishing and overseeing the programme’s governance, ethical and regulatory compliance, and maintaining internal and external relationships including with industry partners, funders and collaborators. The EMBRACE Chief Operating Officer will provide strategic leadership, foster interdisciplinary collaboration, and ensure delivery of high-impact research outcomes.
This is a full time (35 hours per week), and you will be offered a fixed term contract until 01/10/2030.
Please note that you will be expected to come into the office a minimum of 4 days a week.
About You
To be successful in this role, we are looking for candidates to have the following skills and experience:
Essential criteria
* PhD in a STEM discipline
* Advanced financial management and analytical skills to underpin strategic decisions and procedures
* Significant experience of managing a multi-site international scientific programme including governance, regulatory and clinical operations
* Extensive experience working in a leadership role in either a higher education or research institution, a large research funder or a biomedical or other active research company in the private sector, with responsibility for delivering operational partnership between commercial, clinical and university organisations using negotiation and influencing skills
* Detailed understanding and experience of setting up and project managing/ leading a complex multi-partner programme similar to the EMBRACE programme
* Proven excellent written and spoken communication skills, translating scientific concepts and findings into understandable presentations and written reports
* High level of work organisation, self-motivation, drive for performance and improvement, and flexibility in approach and attitude to deliver agreed outputs on time and within budget
* Significant experience in managing clinical research and clinical trials in partnership with commercial organisations
Desirable criteria
* Proven experience in managing complex teams both with line management responsibilities and in a matrix environment
* Advanced relevant professional qualification in project management, accountancy, MBA, or equivalent
* Formal clinical research or clinical trial qualification