Enterprise Fellow

The Henry Royce Institute (Royce), an EPSRC-funded national institute, supports advanced materials research and innovation. With its Hub at The University of Manchester, the Institute has spokes at ten Partner and Associate organisations: the Universities of Sheffield, Leeds, Liverpool, Cambridge, Oxford, Cranfield, Strathclyde and Imperial College London, as well as at the UK Atomic Energy Authority and National Nuclear Laboratory. Royce, driven by a vision of advanced materials for a sustainable society, supports the UK in growing its world-leading research and innovation through:

• Enabling national materials research, collaboration, fore-sighting and strategy
• Providing access to world-leading facilities and research expertise
• Catalysing industrial collaboration and accelerating translation
• Fostering materials science skills development, innovation, training and outreach

Royce Hydrogen Accelerator - New Materials and Technologies for End-to-End Hydrogen Innovation Initiative

Materials are pivotal in unlocking the global hydrogen economy with challenges extending across the hydrogen supply chain from production, storage & distribution to end-use, and infrastructure monitoring. At Royce we have spent the last 2 years working across industry and academia to identify what these materials challenges are. With the recent launch of the Royce Hydrogen Accelerator (RHA) we are announcing that we are in an international competitive race to find and fund the best technology options the UK has to address these materials challenges. We will draw on expertise spanning academia, finance, and industry to ensure the most distinctive and impactful technologies are selected. This approach will be used to de-risk the technologies and make a compelling investment proposition for a group of major international investors the RHA has convened. By unlocking these materials challenges we will position the UK as a leading global player in the development and deployment of hydrogen.

The role:

The opportunity exists to become a core member of a small, agile, diverse team which draws on its expertise and network to actively seek out the best UK materials technologies to unlock the potential hydrogen has to offer to the UK and wider global energy system. Earlier Royce work has identified the materials challenge areas. Your role will be to bring your expertise, experience and networks to survey and connect to the UK research and technology landscape, identifying and screening the best technologies to address these challenges. You will need to operate with a high level of independence under the overall direction of the Royce Hydrogen Challenge Lead.

Person:

We are looking for individuals who are self-starters with a science and/or engineering background and a desire to identify and critically assess technologies. Prior knowledge or experience of technology areas relating to the hydrogen supply chain would be a distinct advantage. Experience in relevant industries, green tech, financing or at a university technology transfer office would also be highly beneficial.

Alongside identifying and interrogating the best technologies in relation to the materials challenges, you will also need to work with the wider team to assess their distinctiveness and impact relative to the wider international competitive landscape.

We are looking for diverse thinkers, equally comfortable working independently and as part of a close-knit team who will be responsible for growing the RHA portfolio of technology within the first 12 months to provide the required level of funding opportunities. You will require communication skills that allow you to tailor messages to meet the needs of different audiences (largely across academic communities) and work at multiple levels across institutions. You will be expected to travel nationally although location is flexible. There is an opportunity to use the Royce partner network to provide an office base for you to work from when needed while we establish the working base for the RHA.

Next Steps

If you are interested in this exciting opportunity, please contact Robert Sorrell (robert.sorrell@royce.ac.uk) in the first instance. We are offering competitive salaries, and flexible working and would consider secondments from organisations.

As an equal opportunities employer we welcome applicants from all sections of the community regardless of age, sex, gender (or gender identity), ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation and transgender status. All appointments are made on merit.

Early applications are advised as the Institute reserves the right to appoint at any stage during the application process.