NGI Programme Director

Overview

Competitive salary level with excellent benefits.

The John Innes Centre (JIC) is one of the world’s leading research institutes in plant and microbial science. At the centre of its long‑term strategy sits the Next Generation Infrastructure (NGI) Programme, a major public and private funded capital and transformation programme with the Sainsbury Laboratory (TSL) that will redefine how world‑class science is delivered at the Norwich Research Park. JIC is seeking an exceptional Programme Director to lead the integrated delivery of this landmark programme on behalf of the Senior Responsible Owner.

NGI is an ambitious, multi‑year £400m+ programme that brings together significant capital investment and complex organisational change. Its most substantial element is the development of a new laboratory and enabling infrastructure that will join researchers from JIC and TSL in a flexible, future‑ready environment purpose‑built for collaboration, discovery and global scientific impact. Enabling projects are underway and with the main laboratory project set to be delivered over the next 5 years, the programme will create facilities that support advanced research, training, teaching and learning while acting as a national and international hub for plant and microbial science.

Key Responsibilities

• Act as the senior integrator across construction, business change, stakeholder engagement and finance, with full accountability for delivery against time, cost, scope, quality and benefits.
• Operate at board level, responsible for programme governance, commercial and financial assurance, benefits realisation and organisational readiness.
• Maintain confidence among public funders, governing bodies, assurance partners and senior scientific stakeholders.
• Report to the JIC Chief Operating Officer as Senior Responsible Owner.
• Lead the programme‑level oversight of complex, major capital and transformation initiatives within publicly funded or highly regulated environments.
• Align diverse stakeholders, often with competing priorities, to ensure project success and maintain delivery confidence.

Qualifications

• Demonstrable track record of leading programme‑level oversight of complex, major capital and transformation programmes.
• Experience operating in ambiguous, high‑profile contexts with significant stakeholder engagement.
• Previous leadership of large‑scale estates or infrastructure transformation projects in a Programme Director or equivalent role.
• Strong technical expertise with complementary interpersonal, communication and influencing skills.
• Proactive, agile, resilient, highly motivated, and capable of leading through complexity and change while fostering collaboration and shared purpose.

Opportunity

This is a rare opportunity to lead one of the most significant scientific infrastructure programmes in the UK, making a major impact in the region and delivering a legacy that will underpin scientific excellence for decades to come.

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