10 March 2026
The University of Manchester is seeking an outstanding scientific leader to serve as Director of Royce Manchester, leading Manchester’s contribution to the national Henry Royce Institute, the UK’s flagship institute for advanced materials research and innovation.
This is a rare opportunity to shape the future of materials science at scale, leading a nationally significant research hub while holding a permanent Chair within the School of Natural Sciences.
They will:
- Lead world class people, programmes and facilities to deliver globally leading research and innovation
- Strengthen Manchester’s role as host of the Royce hub, ensuring strong alignment with national Royce priorities
- Secure major external funding and build high-impact partnerships across academia, industry and government
- Drive operational excellence, financial sustainability and robust governance
- Foster an inclusive, collaborative and high-performing research environment
- This is a role for a leader who combines scientific distinction with strategic vision and the ability to build partnerships that translate research into impact.
The Person
- An international academic reputation with an outstanding record of high-quality research outputs, major external grant capture and impactful industrial collaboration
- Substantial senior leadership experience, with a track record of building high-performing teams and delivering large-scale, multi-partner programmes
- Strategic vision and the credibility to represent Royce Manchester at the highest levels across the University, nationally and internationally
- Demonstrable experience of managing significant resources and driving organisational development within a complex research environment
- Deep expertise in an area such as advanced metals processing, biomedical materials, nuclear materials, two-dimensional materials, materials for quantum technologies, engineering biology, sustainability in materials science and/or bioelectronics
Applications close on 19th April 2026.
More details here:
