Institute Director; IES

Job Title

Steers the Institute's strategic research and innovation agenda to translate academic excellence into commercially viable solutions, ensuring alignment with university priorities and global market needs for sustainable impact.

Develops and executes the Institute's core mission, establishing its strategic direction. Ensures this agenda is compelling to the university's foundational researchers while remaining fully aligned with commercialisation objectives. Accountable for translating this vision into an actionable research roadmap that addresses the full innovation pipeline.

Serves as the primary external face and academic visionary for the Institute's mission. Proactively cultivates and maintains high-level partnerships with government bodies, key industry leaders, and NGOs to shape policy discussions and industry trends. Leverages these external insights to set the Institute's internal strategic priorities, ensuring its work remains relevant and responsive to real-world challenges.

Holds direct accountability for the Institute's TRL 4-6 portfolio, managing the translation of foundational research sourced from academic centres into viable prototypes and solutions. Responsible for identifying and sourcing strategic TRL 1-3 research and managing its development through the TRL 4-6 phase.

Drives the Institute's contribution to revenue by successfully advancing innovations through the TRL 4-6 pipeline. Manages the formal hand-off of mature (TRL
6) innovations to late-stage commercialisation teams. Concurrently enables other revenue streams by identifying strategic market gaps and supplying the expert faculty required for professional education and consultancy services.

Acts as the primary liaison to the university's academic matrix. Responsible for proactively building strategic partnerships and negotiating with academic leadership to secure and schedule the university faculty time required to meet the Institute's impact and revenue goals.

Manages the Institute's day-to-day operations, ensuring the effective execution of its research portfolio and the achievement of key performance indicators. Serves as the primary relationship manager with the university's central operational platform, navigating processes to secure all non-academic resources (e.g., facilities, HR, IT) essential for mission success.

Holds full accountability for the Institute's financial stewardship and P&L performance. Responsible for rigorous budget planning, forecasting, and resource allocation to ensure resources are deployed efficiently. Develops and executes a diversified funding strategy to secure capital from competitive grants, strategic partnerships, and translational activities, ensuring a robust financial foundation for the Institute's research and operational agenda.

Education:

PhD or equivalent advanced degree in a relevant scientific or technological field.

Experience:

Extensive leadership experience in managing complex research initiatives, interdisciplinary collaboration, and innovation commercialisation.

• Advanced scientific research methodologies
• Strategic foresight and innovation management
• Effective stakeholder engagement and partnership development
• Robust financial and resource management
• Exceptional leadership and mentorship capabilities

• Visionary leadership and strategic thinking
• Exceptional communication and advocacy skills
• Ethical integrity and accountability
• Adaptability and resilience in complex environments
• Collaborative approach fostering interdisciplinary innovation