Chief Executive Officer

The Data Lab

University of Edinburgh

Hybrid – Edinburgh

£100,000 - £120,000

Eden Scott is delighted to partner with the University of Edinburgh to find a Chief Executive Officer for The Data Lab.

The Data Lab

Hosted by The University of Edinburgh, The Data Lab is Scotland’s Innovation Centre for Data and Artificial Intelligence. Their work is at the core of Scotland’s tech ecosystem and a driving force behind data and AI innovation. Since its inception in 2014, The Data Lab has had a phenomenal impact;

• More than 1,500 jobs created and safeguarded
• Generated more than £200m in additional revenue
• Over 160 R&D projects in collaboration with Universities and Colleges
• Supported more than 1,000 students with sector-specific skills and training
• More than 5,000 members from over 80 countries in their online data and AI community

Taking a collaborative approach to fostering innovation, The Data Lab acts as a catalyst to change how the world innovates with data and AI.

The Role

Leading a team of 35+ staff, the Chief Executive Officer will be responsible for establishing the overarching vision, safeguarding a high-performance culture based on collaboration, and providing leadership and strategic direction for the next phase of The Data Lab’s development. You’ll engage with a variety of stakeholders, external partners and funding sources whilst managing a variety of complex programmes and commitments. You’ll provide direct leadership to the Executive Team and ensure the long-term financial sustainability of The Data Lab through the development of a robust business plan and programs of work that can both add value and secure appropriate funding contributions across public, private and philanthropic sources. You’ll work with industry stakeholders, existing innovation centres and trade bodies relevant to the Data Lab’s goals. As a recognized innovator within the sector, you’ll be a figurehead for relevant industry and sector events and publications with the ability to build relationships across industry, academia and across the public sector.

The Person

We are seeking an outstanding individual; a senior figurehead and visionary leader with superb understanding of the sector as well as relevant technologies and research. You’ll bring strong commercial awareness; you’ll understand the mix of technology and business needs required of an organisation such as The Data Lab, as evidenced by a track record of board-level experience within high-technology organisations with engagement across both public and private sectors and academia. You’ll have a depth of knowledge around the funding and investment landscape across the Scottish technology ecosystem and the ability to build and maintain a strong network. You’ll show a proven ability to develop and drive a strategic vision whilst also fostering a collaborative culture that promotes high-performance.

You’ll be educated to degree level in informatics or a Computer Science related field with strong general knowledge of the challenges facing the technology sector within the UK.

Application

Eden Scott is the appointed Executive Search partner for this search, you can view more information here:

https://www.edenscott.com/the-data-lab

Please note applications close on Tuesday 3rd December 2024 at 11.59pm

For an informal discussion about the post, please contact the Executive Search Team as follows:

Peter Dunn – - 07795 553 835

Aimee Ryder – –