Lead - Wales

The Institute of Physics (IOP) exists to help our lives, our society and our planet through promoting physics applications and supporting the people behind it.

Working alongside our members and leaders from across the physics community and beyond, we’ve identified three priorities that will shape our work over the next five years: Skills, Science and Society. These priorities sit at the heart of everything we do.

We’re proud of our ambitious and forward looking 2024 – 2029 strategy. You can find out more about our priorities and principles by clicking here.

We’re currently looking for a Lead for Wales, offered on a permanent basis to help us deliver our mission. This a full-time position working 35 hours per week.

What’s it like working at the IOP?

The IOP is a friendly, inclusive and ambitious organisation. Diversity and inclusion are central to how we work. We focus on supporting our people to thrive, offering competitive pay, great development opportunities and a generous benefits package.

Some of our benefits include:

• An excellent pension scheme
• Private medical insurance and life assurance
• Eye care vouchers, annual flu vaccinations, long service awards and access to an employee assistance programme
• 25 days’ annual leave as a standard, in addition to floating bank holidays
• Flexible working opportunities

The Role

What will I be doing?

You’ll be responsible for a range of activities, including:

• Designing and delivering a business plan that delivers on IOP's strategic ambitions and strengthens participation of the physics community in Wales.
• Building and leading a team and budget to deliver and report on high quality and high impact programmes and projects.
• Providing support to the Wales Committee to enable its work to remain aligned with the IOP strategy and meets the needs of the Welsh physics community.
• Building and maintaining relationships with IOP members, existing IOP stakeholders and developing new relationships that will enable the delivery of IOP’s strategy.
• Increasing the IOP's visibility and reputation across Wales.
• Overseeing the development, introduction and application of procedures, protocols and policies to assure the quality of the IOP's work in Wales.
• Identifying, assessing and managing risks and threats to the IOP, its programmes and projects.
• Following and promoting best practice in managing diversity and inclusion across all aspects of the team’s work.

Projects you may work on include:

Projects that deliver the IOP’s strategy in the themes of Skills, Science and Society.  This will include the Boosting Science Education in Wales project and the Brecon Teacher Conference as well as the 3Rs reports, Science and Innovation impact projects, membership initiatives and regular IOP Wales events.

Who will I work with?

The role holder will work with colleagues across the whole of the organisation, including colleagues in the Membership and Inclusion, Advocacy, Science and Business and Education and Workforce directorates as well as the Finance and Governance teams.

Ideally, we hope you’ll apply if you bring experience of:

• Managing high performing teams and developing individuals so they consistently perform at their very best.
• Designing and delivering business plans and showing impact.
• Engaging and influencing senior political decision makers and opinion formers.
• Working in or a good awareness of science, business and education policy issues in Wales and the UK.
• Working in politics, economics or similar from the public or private sectors and coming from science or industry/business. You will need to demonstrate a strong understanding of Government(s) strategies for research and innovation and the importance of these in the economic agenda.
• Working collaboratively across an organisation – people, structures and processes - and adept at working through the ambiguity that can come from this type of working.
• Expertise in building and maintaining relationships with internal and external stakeholders to drive organisational success.
• Strong track record of designing and implementing strategies, frameworks, or initiatives that align with organisational objectives and deliver measurable outcomes.
• Identifying risks associated with projects and activities and implementing effective mitigation plans.
• Overseeing multiple projects and ensuring quality assurance through evaluation and monitoring processes.

At the IOP, we know that great candidates don’t always tick every box. If your experience looks a little different, but you bring enthusiasm, curiosity and a willingness to learn, we’d love to hear from you.

How to apply

Alongside your CV, please include a cover letter explaining how you meet the person specification.

How will I be working?

We operate a flexible, trust based working model that gives colleagues autonomy over how, when and where they work, while recognising the value of in person collaboration. You will be assigned a base office, with hybrid working offered as standard.

You will engage in regular in person collaboration with your team (as operational appropriate), as well as with colleagues across the wider organisation, to ensure effective operational alignment and to support our inclusive approach to working.

As an organization we meet in person once a quarter at our Head Office in Kings Cross, London. 

Why join the IOP?

The IOP is the professional body and learned society for physics in the UK and Ireland. As a charity, we’re passionate about increasing public understanding of physics and supporting a diverse and inclusive physics community. There’s never been a better time to join us, watch our film to find out more about the difference we make.

We’re committed to creating a welcoming and inclusive culture for everyone. If you need any reasonable adjustments during the application or recruitment process, please let us know we’re always happy to help.

Please note whilst we are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role, we warmly encourage applications from candidates who already have the right to work in the UK and Ireland.