Operational Briefing Lead (Academic Buildings)

About the role

Imperial College London is seeking an Operational Briefing Lead to help shape how a major new academic building at White City will work in practice.

Working across Development, ICT and Service Teams, you will coordinate the operational commissioning of the building through RIBA Stages 4 and 5. You will translate the Target Operating Model and user journeys into clear operational requirements, helping ensure that the building, its services and digital systems are designed and commissioned to support excellent research, education and campus life.

This is an 18-month fixed-term, full-time role based at White City and will allow for hybrid working.

What you would be doing

In this role, you will lead the development of a single operational requirements baseline, bringing together input from service owners, IT, Development and Service Design. You will translate operating-model decisions into practical service requirements, operating assumptions, SOPs and service interfaces, ensuring these are reflected in design, commissioning, staffing and operating-cost decisions.

You will also support operational readiness and governance by maintaining risk, decision and readiness information, preparing clear options and recommendations, and representing operational requirements in design reviews and stakeholder forums. Working across multiple teams, you will help resolve competing requirements and ensure decisions remain focused on how the building will work in practice for students, researchers, staff and visitors.

What we are looking for

We are looking for an experienced project or operational professional who can bring together complex requirements and turn them into clear, practical decisions. You will bring:

• A degree-level qualification, or equivalent experience, in a relevant field such as project management, estates or space planning, organisational change, operations management, architecture or engineering
• Experience working on major capital and/or service design projects within complex organisations
• Proven experience leading or coordinating operating-model or design decision-making processes
• Experience bringing together technical specialists, future operators and senior stakeholders to agree designs, operating assumptions or significant service changes
• Experience working effectively in complex, devolved or expert-led environments where influence and relationship-building are essential
• A strong understanding of how user requirements and operating assumptions translate into design, fit-out and commissioning
• Knowledge of the challenges involved in designing complex, multi-user spaces and managing interfaces between services
• An understanding of how governance, stage gates, business cases and operating budgets interact with design development
• Strong analytical and synthesis skills, with the ability to turn complex operational information into clear options and recommendations
• Excellent communication and stakeholder-management skills, with the ability to work credibly with senior leaders, technical experts and external partners

What we can offer you

• At Imperial, our values—respect, collaboration, excellence, integrity, and innovation—guide everything we do. You’ll be part of a supportive and forward-thinking team, working on projects that directly contribute to the safety and wellbeing of our community.
• We are committed to creating an inclusive working environment and welcome applications from all backgrounds. We particularly encourage interest from individuals who are underrepresented in our workforce.
• The opportunity to continue your career at a world-leading institution and be part of our mission to use science for humanity.
• Benefit from a sector-leading salary and remuneration package (including 43 days’ annual leave and generous pension schemes).
• Access to a range of workplace benefits including a flexible working policy from day one, generous family leave packages, on-site leisure facilities and cycle-to-work scheme.
• Interest-free season ticket loan schemes for travel.
• Be part of a diverse, inclusive and collaborative work culture with various staff networks and resources to support your personal and professional wellbeing.

Further information

If you require any further details on the role please contact: Sonia Stocker, Great Environment Portfolio Director by email - s.stocker@imperial.ac.uk

Closing Date: Midnight on Sunday, 15th November 2026.