Programme Manager (Generic)

About EIT: 

The Ellison Institute of Technology (EIT) Oxford’s purpose is to have a global impact by fundamentally reimagining the way science and technology translate into end-to-end solutions and delivering these solutions in programmes and platforms that respond to humanity’s most challenging problems. 

EIT Oxford will ensure scientific discoveries and pioneering science are turned into products for the benefit of society that can have high-impact worldwide and, over time, be commercialised to ensure long-term sustainability. 

Led by a faculty of world experts, EIT Oxford seeks to solve the world’s most challenging problems across four high-risk, high-reward, high-impact humane endeavours: health and medical science; food security and sustainable agriculture; climate change and clean energy; and government innovation in an era of artificial intelligence. 

EIT Oxford is investing significant resources in a new world-class research and development facility in the Oxford Science Park. Set for completion in 2027, the state-of-the-art campus includes 300,000 sq ft of research laboratories, an oncology and preventative care clinic, and educational and meeting spaces. Together, they create the perfect environment for EIT Oxford experts to take ground-breaking ideas from research to broad implementation. The new facility will further EIT’s current partnership with the University of Oxford and become the new home for Ellison Scholars. 

EIT Oxford is committed to cultivating a community where excellence is achieved through collaboration, trust, innovation and tenacity. We foster an environment where everyone’s experience and expertise are valued. We are curious and resilient in our efforts to drive long-term, sustainable innovation to meet humanity’s most enduring challenges. 

The Role: 

We are looking to recruit an experience Programme Manager (ML Ops) who will be at the heart of driving AI programmes from inception to completion, working collaboratively with our AI Scientists, our ML Applied, ML Ops and Data teams, delivering impact across EIT’s four humane endeavours. You will be responsible for fostering an environment where creativity, curiosity, and responsible risk-taking is encouraged and celebrated. You have a deep understanding of AI technologies, project management methodologies, and have the ability to read between the lines and sense what teams really need, rather than what they say they need. You thrive in a changeable start-up environment, creating clarity and providing structure in your areas of work. 

Key Responsibilities: 

• Partner closely with AI capability and scientific leads to develop project delivery plans. Act as a thought partner to the leadership team and operationalise aligned strategic directions 

• Set up and deliver AI projects end-to-end, from inception to deployment, managing project timelines, budgets, and resources to ensure timely delivery, identifying potential risks and implementing mitigation strategies 

• Create transparency on programme process towards team members and senior leadership, communicating clearly and providing updates on performance metrics 

• Define programme requirements in terms of staffing, computer and budget. Formulate proposals for leadership sign-off and enable the operationalisation thereof  

• Be a champion and role model for a collaborative team culture, bringing diverse stakeholder groups together to build trusted relationships and enable deep knowledge exchange 

Qualifications & Experience: 

• AI Project Delivery: extensive experience in successfully guiding cross-functional and multi-disciplinary teams to scope and deliver complex, multi-year projects on time and within budget. Direct experience of delivering in a company focusing on large scale AI research and/or product deployment strongly preferred. 

• Technical Expertise: good understanding of AI technologies and trends, infrastructure, data and model development, as well as understanding of ethical and responsible AI considerations.  

• Culture & Community: experience in developing a culture of trust and creativity across a large community of multi-disciplinary collaborators. 

• Stakeholder Management: strong interpersonal and communication skills to engage, influence and negotiate with stakeholders at all levels to balance competing team demands and organisational priorities 

• Collaboration: track record of building deep, trust-based relationships with both scientists and operators from industry. Ability to simplify complex ideas in order to unite and excite a group with different perspectives towards a shared vision and goal. 

Nice to have but not essential: 

• Specialist experience in one or more of the humane endeavours is desirable. 

Terms of Appointment: 

• You must have the right to work permanently in the UK with a willingness to travel as necessary. 

• You will live in, or within easy commuting distance of, Oxford. 

• During peak periods, some longer hours may be required and some working across multiple time zones due to the global nature of the programme. 

Why work for EIT: 

At the Ellison Institute, we believe a collaborative, inclusive team is key to our success. We are building a supportive environment where creative risks are encouraged, and everyone feels heard. Valuing emotional intelligence, empathy, respect, and resilience, we encourage people to be curious and to have a shared commitment to excellence. Join us and make an impact! 

We offer the following salary and benefits: 

• Salary  xxxxx 

• Enhanced holiday pay  

• Pension  

• Life Assurance 

• Income Protection 

• Private Medical Insurance  

• Hospital Cash Plan 

• Therapy Services 

• Perk Box