Job Description

Location

Egham

Salary

49,325 to 58,345 per annum - including London Allowance

Post Type

Full Time

Hours per Week

35

Weeks per Year

52

Closing Date

23.59 hours BST on Sunday 10 August 2025

Reference

0725-162

Right to work:

Please note that it will not be possible for the University to issue a Certificate of Sponsorship to the successful candidate for this position. Therefore, the appointable candidate will need to be eligible to work in the UK or have leave to remain in the UK and associated right to work for the duration of their employment with the University, in accordance with the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006.



Full-Time, Permanent

The Role

The

CoSTAR

National R&D Lab

, led by

Royal Holloway, University of London

, is seeking a strategic, driven, and collaborative

Head of Programme Delivery

to help lead one of the UK's most exciting and ambitious creative R&D programmes.


This is a pivotal role within our core Operations Team, where you'll work closely with senior leadership and workstream leads to deliver the groundbreaking

CoSTAR National R&D Lab

and a series of innovation programmes that place creative technology at the heart of the UK's future economy.


As

Head of Programme Delivery

, you will oversee the day-to-day operational management and delivery of this multi-faceted programme. You will be responsible for ensuring the smooth implementation, tracking, and reporting of complex, large-scale R&D activities, working across academic, creative, and tech sectors.


This role is ideal for someone who enjoys building processes, thrives on solving problems collaboratively, and has a sharp eye for both the big picture and the small details.

About the National R&D Lab

Backed by a

51.1 million UK Government investment (AHRC/UKRI)

, the CoSTAR National R&D Lab is the UK's flagship initiative to support the screen and performance industries through world-class research, innovation, and infrastructure.


Led by

Royal Holloway

, and in partnership with major industry and academic players including

University of Surrey, Abertay University

, the

National Film & Television School

,

Pinewood Studios, BT and Disguise,

the Lab brings together cutting-edge technologies -- such as

AI, virtual production, and 5G

-- with world-leading research in storytelling, media production, psychology, and creative tech.


At the Lab's core is a commitment to

equality, diversity, inclusion, and environmental sustainability

, embedded in everything from team culture to project design and delivery.

What You Will Be Doing

Create and manage key documentation: budgets, cost monitors, resourcing plans, risk registers, evaluation frameworks, and reporting tools. Working with workstream leads of the CoSTAR National R&D Lab's innovation programmes, ensuring projects run efficiently, on time, and within budget. Build strong relationships with internal teams and external stakeholders across industry and academia. Strategic planning and collaborative problem-solving across a complex and dynamic project landscape. Deliver quarterly and annual reports, working closely with monitoring & evaluation leads, as well as other updates and reports for governance boards, as required. Ensure financial and procurement processes meet institutional and funder requirements. Provide line management and support within a matrix organisational structure. Contribute to the development of future grant bids and strategic funding plans.

Who We're Looking For

You should apply if you:

Thrive in innovation environments

and enjoy working across multiple disciplines, including technology, research, and creative industries. Have a

strong track record in programme or project delivery

, especially across large, multi-stakeholder initiatives with significant budgets in the millions of pounds sterling. Are

financially literate and love a spreadsheet

-- you're confident managing large budgets and financial reporting. Communicate clearly and confidently, with excellent spoken and written English. Are highly organised, adaptable, and thrive in fast-moving environments with shifting priorities. Have

excellent problem-solving and analytical skills

, with a strategic mindset. Bring experience of

line management and team coordination

, with emotional intelligence and conflict resolution skills. Are confident using project management tools like

Smartsheets, Microsoft Project

, or similar platforms. Bring a proactive, positive attitude and the ability to work independently and collaboratively

Why Join Us?

This is a unique opportunity to be part of a

nationally significant programme

. You'll work in a

supportive, inclusive, and visionary team

-- one that values bold thinking, rigorous delivery, and meaningful impact. Together, we'll help place the UK's Creative Industries at the forefront of global innovation.


Apply now and help us build something extraordinary.


This role is available from 29th September 2025 and will be based at Royal Holloway's Egham campus and Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire.


For an informal discussion about the post, please contact sarah.smyth@rhul.ac.uk


For queries on the application process the Human Resources Department can be contacted by email at: recruitment@rhul.ac.uk


Please quote the reference:

0725-162

Closing Date:

10 August 2025

Interview Date:

15 August 2025

The university has adopted hybrid working for some roles therefore some remote working may be possible for this role.

Royal Holloway is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI), and encourages applications from all people regardless of age, disability, gender, marital status, parental status, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation, or trans status or history. More information on our structures and initiatives around EDI, including information on staff diversity networks, can be found on our

Equality and Diversity Intranet page

.



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