Managing Director, Advanced Materials Innovation Centres

TL;DR

Managing Director, Advanced Materials Innovation Centres (Advanced Materials & Manufacturing): Leading GEIC and SMMC as an integrated innovation system that takes advanced materials from research insight and proof of concept through prototyping, application development, manufacturing readiness, and scale-up with an accent on commercial growth, industry partnerships, and sustainable production. Focus on building the commercial pipeline, translating technical capabilities into compelling industry propositions, and leading multidisciplinary teams across two innovation centres.

Location: Manchester, United Kingdom, with leadership responsibility across the Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre in Manchester and the Sustainable Materials and Manufacturing Centre in Rochdale.

Company

The hirify.global is an academic and innovation institution supporting research-led commercialisation through industry-facing advanced materials and manufacturing centres.

What you will do

• Lead GEIC and SMMC as one integrated advanced materials innovation system with a clear strategy and commercial plan.
• Grow income, utilisation, partnerships, and reputation by developing demand for centre facilities, services, and technical capabilities.
• Build a commercially valuable pipeline through relationships with start-ups, scale-ups, manufacturers, investors, government, and innovation partners.
• Connect research-led innovation in Manchester with scale-up and manufacturing capabilities in Greater Manchester.
• Represent the centres, Unit M, and the University at senior regional, national, and international levels.
• Lead multidisciplinary teams across two sites and establish a commercially confident, collaborative culture.

Requirements

• Commercial leadership experience in advanced materials, manufacturing, engineering, innovation, technology, or a related industrial field.
• Proven success in business development, sales, income generation, partnership growth, or market-facing service development.
• Strong industry credibility and personal networks capable of creating demand and opening commercial opportunities.
• Ability to translate complex technical capabilities into propositions that deliver business value.
• Ambition to build a high-profile national and international platform for advanced materials innovation and commercialisation.

Culture & Benefits

• Inclusive working environment and equal-opportunities employment.
• Institutional backing, established facilities, and partnerships supporting a large-scale innovation mandate.
• Opportunity to lead connected innovation centres spanning research, prototyping, scale-up, and sustainable manufacturing.

Hiring process

• Applications are subject to shortlisting and interviews.
• The vacancy closes at midnight on the stated closing date.