Research Fellow in Product and Business Development: Big Repair Project

About us

The UCL Plastic Waste Innovation Hub is a multidisciplinary team of researchers, including scientists, engineers, designers, and social scientists, taking a design-led approach to the issues of plastic waste. Designing-out waste through design for longevity, repair and reuse is one of our major research themes.

In 2021 we launched a citizen science project called The Big Repair Project to gather real life data about citizen opinions and behaviours towards the maintenance and repair of home appliances and electronics. Data from the project has been published and used to help the development of the repair economy in the UK through interaction with brands, manufacturers, policy-makers, waste processors and the public.

About the role

One of the key results of the Big Repair Project is that there are many product design and economic barriers to increasing the repairability of home appliances and electronics. We are seeking a researcher to carry out research in product and business development. The researcher will be expected to conduct analysis of repair/reuse business models as well as work collaboratively with other researchers across the team in weekly meetings, at workshops and events. The whole team will also work closely with industry stakeholders and the funders.

We welcome applications from candidates with non-traditional backgrounds with commercial experience of product design and business, as well as from candidates with pure research backgrounds.

This job will be at a grade 7 spinal point 32 (£45,622 including London Allowance).

About you

We are seeking expertise in product and business development, alongside research skills in areas such as analysis of existing business operation models (including cost analysis), supply chains for spare parts, and digital passports. The post will require leadership for initiating, conducting and reporting the work in collaboration with a multidisciplinary research team and industry stakeholders. Experience in engaging with key non-academic stakeholders such as industry organisations and the general public is essential.

What we offer

For information about our rewards and benefits please visit https://www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/reward-and-benefits.

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

As London’s Global University, we know diversity fosters creativity and innovation, and we want our community to represent the diversity of the world’s talent. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where we all belong.

We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented in UCL’s workforce. These include people from Black, Asian, and ethnic minority backgrounds; disabled people and LGBTQI+ people.

Customer advert reference: B04-06155

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