Future Medicines Institute Director

The Future Medicines Institute (FMI) is a new industry-led research hub for Life and Health Sciences in Northern Ireland, hosted by Queen’s University Belfast (QUB). Life and Health Sciences have been identified as one of the priority commercial sectors by the NI Executive, as well as the broader UK and Irish governments. A consortium of companies, along with QUB and Ulster University, have developed a model to create this new translational research unit. The FMI will drive collaboration, cluster development and engagement, thus enhancing research and development opportunities for both commercial and academic partners.

This multi-million pound investment in new research infrastructure and research personnel is the first of its kind in NI. The FMI will house over 50 QUB and partner staff and be located adjacent to the Patrick G Johnston Centre for Cancer Research, the Wellcome Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine and the School of Pharmacy at QUB. The FMI will be funded by the Department of Economy, Northern Ireland, for an initial 5 years, and managed as a UKRI Strengths in Places Fund project as part of the existing UKRI programme.  The ambition is to grow and develop the FMI to achieve long term sustainability. It will work collaboratively with other regional investments including the new iREACH clinical research facility, the data science hub Momentum 1.0, the Centre for Digital H ealthcare Technologies (CDHT) and the Artificial Intelligence Collaboration Centre (AICC). Collectively, these investments will transform the capabilities and competitiveness of the NI Life and Health Sciences sector, and facilitate collaboration with other clusters in UK and Ireland.

Key to the success of the FMI is the recruitment of an experienced Director to realise our collective vision and co-develop, lead and execute the strategic plans of the FMI, working with the partner organisations and QUB academic project lead as well as liaising with the UKRI Strength in Places Fund delivery team. You will ensure the operational efficiency, growth and long-term financial stability of the FMI, managing staff, financial and physical resources.

As part of the assessment process, shortlisted candidates will be required to present to representatives from FMI consortium companies. We expect the presentation stage to take place on 6 January 2025, with interviews taking place on 20 and/or 22 January 2025.

Further information about FMI can be found on our website.

About the person:

The successful candidate must have the following education/qualification and experience requirements:

• A degree in a relevant life and health science discipline.
• Substantial management experience in a relevant organisation with a track record of operational, financial or executive leadership in life and health sciences.
• Significant strategic project leadership and delivery experience with evidence of effective resource planning and risk management.
• Excellent leadership skills with a proven track record of setting strategic direction and leading large scale change initiatives whilst inspiring vision and confidence for change amongst partner organisations.
• Team leadership, encompassing team building and individual professional development with the ability to build, manage and motivate multi-disciplinary teams, creating effective and innovative teams with proven customer focus.
• Experience of successfully securing research incomes and/or negotiating collaborative contracts for the generation of commercial income.

Please check the Candidate Information on our website for the full list of essential criteria for the post.

To be successful at shortlisting stage, please ensure you clearly evidence in your application how you meet the essential and, where applicable, desirable criteria listed in the Candidate Information.

This is a fixed term post for 5 years. Fixed term contract posts are available for the stated period in the first instance but in particular circumstances may be renewed or made permanent subject to availability of funding.

What we offer:

Beyond a competitive salary, the University offers an attractive benefits package including a holiday entitlement of up to 8.4 weeks a year, pension schemes and development opportunities. We support staff wellbeing with flexible working options, work-life balance initiatives and support for physical and mental health. You can find more detail on all of this and more on our website.

Queen's University is committed to promoting equality of opportunity to all. We subscribe to Equality Charter Marks such as the Diversity Charter Mark NI and Athena Swan and have established staff networks such as iRise (Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic and International Staff Network) and PRISM (LGBTQ+) which help us progress equality.