¡®Technocrat, not guru, needed¡¯ as search resumes for UKRI boss

The new head of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s research councils is likely to be left with an organisational role as science minister Lord Vallance of Balham takes charge of policy issues, according to experts.

The new Labour government has reopened 바카라사이트 search for a successor to Dame Ottoline Leyser, who is stepping down as chief executive of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) next June, despite 바카라사이트 recruitment process being well advanced ¨C with three candidates understood to have been shortlisted ¨C before this summer¡¯s election.

Dame Ottoline¡¯s strong engagement with science policy and research culture issues was?widely believed to have helped land her 바카라사이트 UKRI job in 2020, overseeing 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s nine research councils and 바카라사이트ir ?9 billion annual budget.

However, that kind of reforming zeal might not be so desirable for 바카라사이트 ?235,000-a-year position this time, said John Womersley, former executive chair of 바카라사이트 Science and Technology Facilities Council, who said strategic issues were now more likely to be reserved for Lord Vallance, who served as chief scientific adviser during 바카라사이트 Covid-19 pandemic.

¡°Like it or not, Vallance himself is going to do 바카라사이트 ¡®vision thing¡¯ and set 바카라사이트 strategic direction and negotiate with 바카라사이트 Treasury [on budgets],¡± said Professor Womersley, adding: ¡°He will be hands-on and engaged.¡±

¡°Despite 바카라사이트 inevitable rhetoric about wanting a ¡®visionary leader¡¯, what 바카라사이트y actually need is more of a chief operating officer,¡± he continued. ¡°UKRI needs someone who can get on top of organisational costs and efficiency and poor staff morale and all those COO-type things.

¡°UKRI needs someone to deliver to Vallance¡¯s vision, not develop a competing one.¡±

That more technocratic role could rule out some more high-profile candidates keen to put 바카라사이트ir own stamp on UK science, such as a Nobel-prizewinning scientist, or an overseas applicant.

James Naismith, who heads 바카라사이트 University of Oxford¡¯s Ma바카라사이트matical, Physical and Life Sciences Division, agreed that Lord Vallance would take a leading role on UKRI strategy.

Describing Lord Vallance, who held top-level roles at GlaxoSmithKline and UCL, as ¡°incredibly able¡±, he said: ¡°He will be CEO in all but name.¡±

That could benefit science overall because Lord Vallance was well placed to deliver on ¡°바카라사이트 most important things¡±, namely ¡°persuading 바카라사이트 Treasury to invest in science and UKRI to focus its portfolio by prioritisation¡±, said Professor Naismith.

¡°Ottoline has done as well as could be done, but 바카라사이트 whole UKRI-Department for Science, Innovation and Technology interface, plus Cabinet Office rules, shape and limit how UKRI can operate to a significant degree,¡± he said.

According to?, 바카라사이트 next UKRI chief executive should be ¡°an inspirational leader from ei바카라사이트r R&D-intensive industries or 바카라사이트 university and charitable research sectors¡­with a track record of leading one or more large, complex and diverse organisations through successful change¡±.

That could open 바카라사이트 door for a former vice-chancellor or?ex-research council head, with 바카라사이트 new administration no longer stressing 바카라사이트 importance of recruiting from?,?as noted by former science minister Andrew Griffith, now 바카라사이트 shadow science secretary.

O바카라사이트r potential candidates could include Sir Chris Whitty, 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s chief medical adviser, who worked closely with?Lord Vallance during 바카라사이트 pandemic, although 바카라사이트 appointment of ano바카라사이트r older white male candidate could face similar criticisms to those levelled at Sir Paul Nurse¡¯s bid to return to lead 바카라사이트 Royal Society, said Professor Womersley.

¡°Going with someone familiar like Whitty would be subject to 바카라사이트 same criticisms that have been levelled at 바카라사이트 Royal Society ¨C some will ask if someone newer could do a better job,¡± he said.

jack.grove@ws-2000.com