The government has begun its search for a chief executive of the
Advanced Research & Invention Agency (ARIA) – the UK’s new,
independent science funding body.
Announced in February, ARIA will
empower some of the world’s most exceptional scientists and
researchers to identify and fund transformational areas of
research to turn incredible ideas into new technologies,
discoveries, products and services – helping to maintain the UK’s
position as a global science superpower.
The chief executive will shape the vision, direction and research
priorities for the agency – independent of ministers – while
instilling this high-risk, high-reward culture within the
organisation from the outset.
Science Minister said:
Getting ARIA up and
running is one of my main priorities, so I am delighted to see it
take another step towards launching with the start of this
recruitment round.
We want to recruit a chief executive who will provide the
creative, inspiring leadership that the organisation will need –
building an exceptional team and embedding the high-risk,
high-reward culture to ensure that ARIA thrives.
The Bill currently before Parliament will also purposefully
streamline the agency’s operating structure and minimise
bureaucratic processes so it can focus all its efforts and
resources on transformational research - essential to the
agency’s design and ultimate success.
The UK has a long and proud history of inventing that dates back
centuries, and the creation of ARIA will
continue this tradition, backed by £800 million, to fund the most
inspiring inventors to develop technologies at speed that could
create profound positive change for the UK and the rest of the
world.
The appointment will be an open and fair process, with all
applications reviewed by an expert panel comprising the
government’s Chief Scientific Advisor, Sir , BEIS’s
Director General for Science, Innovation and Growth, Jo
Shanmugalingam, former Director of DARPA, Arati
Prabhakar, and Director of Stanford ChEM-H, Carolyn
Bertozzi.
The recruitment campaigns for the chief executive starts today,
and the recruitment of the chair will follow in the coming
months. It is the government’s intention for both roles to be
filled by the time the Bill to establish the agency is approved
by Parliament.
If you would like more information or to apply, please visit the
Saxton Bampfylde site.
