Defence Materials Technology Manager

We are seeking an experienced and strategically minded individual to join our team as a Defence Materials Technology Manager. This is a pivotal opportunity to help define, shape and deliver a large, time-sensitive R&D programme on behalf of Dstl through the Defence Materials Centre of Excellence (DMEx), hosted at the Henry Royce Institute, University of Manchester. You will contribute to a nationally significant programme that brings together partners across academia, research and industry to support defence materials research across the Air, Land.

Responsibilities

• Working with Dstl and DMEx partners to develop time-sensitive R&D proposals that underpin contracted research activities.
• Contributing to the development of a coherent, defence-aligned portfolio of materials research across the Air, Land, Maritime, Space and Effectors domains.
• Formulating and communicating technical and research strategies to academic partners, industry stakeholders and wider defence audiences.
• Supporting the development of joint academic, research organisation and industry collaborations that exploit and transition research outputs.
• Acting as the focal point for defence materials activity across the wider Royce Institute, working in partnership with research and business engagement teams.

About You

We encourage applications from individuals with a wide range of backgrounds and experiences. You should demonstrate:

Essential Criteria

• A degree, or equivalent qualification, in a science or engineering discipline.
• A strong scientific or engineering background with broad knowledge of advanced materials research.
• Experience of drafting technical proposals to support the delivery of R&D work programmes.
• Experience of working across disciplines in complex, multi-partner environments and building relationships with senior stakeholders.
• The ability to formulate and communicate research strategies across different technical or sectoral domains.

Desirable Criteria

• Understanding of working in regulated, sensitive or secure environments.
• Knowledge of developing academic-industry research programmes and successful funding proposals.
• Experience of collating and presenting capability data to inform decision-making, including use of analytical or data management tools such as Power BI.
• Understanding of IP management and its implications for cross-party working.
• Business development skills with commercial and financial awareness.

Benefits

• Fantastic market-leading pension scheme
• Excellent employee health and wellbeing services, including an Employee Assistance Programme
• Exceptional starting annual leave entitlement, plus bank holidays and additional paid closure over the Christmas period
• Local and national discounts at a range of major retailers