Senior Impact and Partner Development Manager - (Metamaterials)

Exeter Innovation

INTERNAL APPLICANTS ONLY

This part-time (0.8 full-time-equivalent) post is available on a fixed term basis from 15 May 2024 to 30 September 2028.

The Senior Impact & Partnership Development Manager (SIPDM) will be leading the strategic, development and externally facing activities of the EPSRC UK Metamaterial NetworkPlus which has over 700 members from industry, government and academia.

Since its foundation in 2021, the UK Metamaterial Network (www.metamaterial.network) has been highly successful in achieving convergence across disparate fields of science and engineering, and cross-community engagement. Its ambition is to drive an increase in UK research power in this vital technological area, with an overarching objective to provide strategic leadership to the community to the benefit of the nation’s prosperity and security. Prof Alastair Hibbins leads the Network, and was the author of the Metamaterials Revolution EPSRC “Big Idea” paper, which, advocates for a national programme of investment in metamaterials.  The Big Idea was prioritised by the research council, and has helped secure £2.5M additional funding, firming up the future of an enhanced network (NetworkPlus) and marking the foundational step towards a UK National Metamaterials Programme. Key ambitions include accelerating progress towards UK priorities linked to the Government’s five critical technologies and the Network’s four challenge areas (Sustainability, Space & Aviation, Health, and Manufacturing), while also addressing the acute skills shortage, and maximising the value and impact of metamaterials research to UK plc. 

They will work closely with the academic lead at Exeter (Prof Alastair Hibbins), and the other co-leads both at Exeter and at 5 other HEIs across the UK.  The role holder will lead the development of end-user engagement, governmental interaction and grant development, contributing through their prior experience of problem solving, negotiation, management and scientific or technical leadership.

We are looking for an experienced leader and relationship manager in the advanced materials sector, as well as an individual with the ability to facilitate two-way discussions in order to address complex problems, challenges and accelerate progress towards new devices and products. The successful will oversee and co-lead all strategic development and engagement aspects of the NetworkPlus, which requires a thorough understanding of the relevant science and technology and the confidence to engage with academics, industry leaders and governmental department policy-makers and directors at a senior level. 

Exeter Innovation (EI) is the professional team that supports and drives this critical work.  Its key aim is to secure significantly greater value and impact from relationships with partners drawing on the University’s education, research and physical assets.

Please ensure you read the Job Description and Person Specification for full details of this role by clicking on the attachment.

The University of Exeter

We are a member of the prestigious Russell Group of research-intensive universities and in the top 200 universities in the world (Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024 and QS World University Ranking 2024).  We combine world-class teaching with world-class research, achieving a Gold rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework Award 2023, underpinned by Gold ratings for Student Experience and Student Outcomes.

Our world-leading research impact has grown more than any other Russell Group university in recent years, and we are home to some of the world’s most influential researchers, seeking to answer some of the most fundamental issues facing humankind today.  More than 99% of our research is of international quality and 47% is world-leading (2021 Research Excellence Framework).

We encourage proactive engagement with industry, business and community partners to enhance the impact of research and education and improve the employability of our students. Read about our world leading research – Green Futures and how we are transforming education for a changing world. We are located in a beautiful part of the country and Exeter (a fast growing tech hub) is one of only a few UK cities to have been designated as a UNESCO Creative City

Our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Commitment

We are committed to ensuring reasonable adjustments are available for interviews and workplaces.

Whilst all applicants will be judged on merit alone, we particularly welcome applications from groups currently underrepresented within our working community. 

With over 30,000 students and 7,000 staff from 150 different countries we offer a diverse and engaging environment where our diversity is celebrated and valued as a major strength. We are committed to creating an inclusive culture where all members of our community are supported to thrive; where diverse voices are heard through our engagement with evidence-based charter frameworks for gender (Athena SWAN and Project Juno for Physics), race equality (Race Equality Charter Mark), LGBTQ+ inclusion (Stonewall Diversity Champion) and as a Disability Confident employer.

For further information, please Prof Alastair Hibbins, lead of the Metamaterials Network, telephone 01392 722100 or email [email protected] or Dr Isabel Gonzalez, Head of Strategic Programmes for Exeter Innovation ([email protected] ).