- Location: Guildford
- Salary: £48,337 per annum
- Closing date: 4 December 2026
The University of Surrey is a global community of ideas and people, dedicated to life-changing education and research.
We are ambitious and have a bold vision of what we want to achieve - shaping ourselves into one of the best universities in the world, which we are achieving through the talents and endeavour of every employee.
Our culture empowers people to achieve this aim and to collectively, and individually, make a real difference.
The role
We are seeking a strategic leader to become our Head of Open Research and Innovation.
This is an exciting opportunity to shape the strategic direction and development of support for open research and scholarly communications activity aligned to the University of Surrey’ Research Strategy and delivered by Library. This includes the development and delivery of services and of advocacy in the areas of open access, digital scholarship, research data management and bibliometrics; ensuring our researchers have the policies, services and infrastructure they need to maximise the reach, impact and sustainability of their work.
The post holder will be the prime contact for strategic conversations in the University relating to open access and will take a leading role in the formulation of relevant policies and implementation plans. They will be influential in the establishment and promotion of both research support in general, and of ‘open science’ in particular.
About you
We are looking for a candidate credible both at senior level within the University and when representing the University externally.
You will have a strong understanding of the research lifecycle and the evolving landscape of open research, scholarly communication, digital scholarship and research assessment. Combining strategic thinking with excellent leadership, influencing and partnership-building skills, you will be able to lead and co-ordinate communication, advocacy and education activities across ’open science’, to further embed the Library’s Open Research and Digital Scholarship support services across the institution.
The ability to nurture and develop expert teams, identify opportunities for innovation and collaboration, and respond effectively to emerging policy and technological developments, will be essential.
How to apply
To apply, please upload a CV and cover letter along with your application to the University website. You will also be asked some brief questions to help us understand your suitability for the role.
- Your CV should include your most recent employment experience, any other relevant experience, and education history.
- Your cover letter must detail how you meet each ofthe essential criteria found in the Job Description document below (desirable criteria too, where possible).
Area: Professional Services