ARIA Programme Director - Cohort 2
Location: Kings Cross, London (hybrid)
Employment Type: We plan for this role to be full-time, but we’re open to discussing flexible working arrangements
Contract Type: 3 years fixed-term (with the possibility for extension)
About ARIA
ARIA empowers scientists to pursue breakthroughs at the edge of the possible.
ARIA’s programmes and projects are directed by our Programme Directors: talented scientific and/or technical experts with a clear + focused vision for how technology can change the world.
We back people, then projects. This starts with our Programme Directors: dynamic experts with technical expertise and focused visions, which they can use to bring people together towards ambitious goals. They retain creative control as they define an opportunity space, set the direction of programmes, and decide how to best fund R&D to advance their vision.
The Role
First, define or evaluate an opportunity space which is likely to yield breakthroughs. Then, identify, convene, fund, and direct a community of researchers toward unlocking those breakthroughs and advancing their impact on society.
An ARIA programme seeks to unlock a scientific or technical capability that:
• changes the perception of what’s possible or valuable
• has the potential to catalyse massive social and economic returns
• is unlikely to be achieved without ARIA’s intervention
You’ll be a part of our second cohort ARIA Programme Directors – all deeply technical, committed, and collaborative. You’ll play a key role in helping to shape ARIA.
What you'll do
• Ideate, then create a programme around your own scientific/technical vision
• Build a programme either in an existing opportunity space, or in a new opportunity space you'll identify. See more on ARIA opportunity spaces here
• Direct a budget of ≈£50M+
• Select a portfolio of projects to fund from across the R&D landscape, decide how ARIA will fund them
• Create a new community around the vision and goals of your programme
• Shape ARIA’s DNA during our formative years, working with a small peer group to define our programmes, culture and impact
In return, we will
• Push you to think bigger and more creatively
• Protect your autonomy, share your vision and determination for transformative change
• Help you work through the hard times, which may be where the greatest growth and impact arise
• Equip you with a bespoke support structure, unblock hurdles where you encounter them
• Help you build a team, and provide you with dedicated Technical Specialist, Programme Specialist and operational support
• Leverage our domestic and global networks to support your objectives
• Support you with our first cohort of PDs who’ve begun launching and running their programmes as well as support from communities around their programmes
• Provide resources through our Activation Partners who are creating translational activities around our opportunity spaces
• Offer start dates in/or around April 2025
What to expect
If you become a Programme Director, here are the some of the things you should expect:
• Dedicated time with the other PDs, to brainstorm and learn from one another
• Lots of train rides to visit your PIs and project teams
• Putting on hold any research or affiliations that could be seen as a conflict to the programme you want to run.
You won’t be alone in your Programme Director journey. ARIA will provide you with bespoke operational and technical support to catalyse your impact. We’ll help you build a team, hiring dedicated support staff for your programme.
For further context on the role and FAQs, see here .
Who you are
• You’re intrinsically motivated to have an outsized impact on the world and solve a big, meaningful problem.
• You’re deeply technical in at least one field, and open to exploring others.
• You have experience of taking a scientific/technical vision from idea to execution – that might look like building your own start-up, or running your own research lab.
• You’re comfortable with uncertainty and thrive in highly dynamic, high-stakes situations.
• You’re a proven leader who can inspire and unite others towards ambitious goals (through both traditional and non-traditional means), confidently handle hard conversations and make difficult decisions.
• You have a high level of belief and conviction in your own ideas, whilst remaining highly collaborative and receptive to feedback.
• Your superpower is seeing opportunity and possibility where others wouldn’t.
• You’re able to spend your time in the UK and show strong commitment to ARIA and public service.
• You have an idea of what problem you want to solve, and conviction in a set of beliefs (but you don’t have to have a fully baked vision).
Eligibility
• Have significant depth of knowledge and expertise within at least one scientific research, engineering or technology field – and lived experience of carrying out research in that field;
• Have at least some experience working outside of academia;
• Regularly attend in-person meetings at one or more locations in the UK, as well as occasional in-person meetings and events abroad;
• Undergo national security vetting checks;
• Have the right to work in the UK (note: ARIA is a registered funder with the ability to sponsor eligible candidates, and their families, under the Global Talent Visa route. Some international applicants may have to undergo additional security and vetting checks);
• Spend a minimum of three days per week at ARIA HQ during the first and third weeks of every month to optimise collaboration with your cohort, the previous cohort of PDs, and the broader ARIA team.
This is a full-time role. We will work with the most qualified candidates to ensure the role suits their needs, discussing any required personal accommodations during the shortlisting process. We also consider secondment arrangements, but only a 100% time commitment to ARIA.
Benefits
• 27 days annual leave provision, with the option to buy/sell additional 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
• Life Assurance
• 2 days of paid volunteer days
• 5% defined contribution pension scheme with Smart Pension
• Cycle to Work scheme
• An excellent office location in Kings X, London
Note: We’ve carefully considered Programme Director compensation. Aiming to attract diverse career stages, disciplines, and sectors, we offer a competitive package relative to benchmarks, ensuring all Programme Directors feel like equal peers. The total compensation is consistent for all incoming Programme Directors.
Not sure you meet 100% of our criteria? Don’t worry. If you believe that you could excel in this role, we encourage you to apply. We want to attract the broadest array of candidates, including those with diverse workplace experiences and backgrounds. Whether you’re new to this, returning to work after a gap in employment, simply looking to transition, or taking the next step in your career path, we will be glad to have you on our radar. Please use your cover letter to tell us about your interests and what you hope to bring to this role.
If you require any reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process, please notify us and we will make every effort to accommodate you. Disclosing any requests are intended to provide ARIA with the best opportunity to support candidates and will have no negative impact on your recruitment process.
Please note; You will be required, as and when necessary, to travel to different locations around the UK to support projects, depending on the Programme you are designated to.
ARIA adopts a highly considered approach to ethical and social responsibility. You can read our policy here. Our research and development activity will abide by the 3Rs principle. You can read about those here.
