McDonald's Professor of Carbonomics

The University of Derby is a modern university with a modern outlook. Everything we do is driven by delivering excellence and opportunities for our students, our staff and our region. We have one simple promise – to make a positive impact. Through our ground-breaking research, teaching excellence and commitment to sustainable living, we are changing lives for the better.

Located in the heart of England, the University of Derby is the only university in Derbyshire, and offers industry-relevant, expert teaching, from foundation and undergraduate degrees to postgraduate study and research. We have some of the best university facilities in the UK and achieve outstanding results for our teaching and research and have been awarded Gold in the prestigious Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023 – making it one of the top universities in the country recognised for its outstanding student experience and student outcomes. 

At Derby International Business School, we are not just educating future business leaders – we’re shaping innovators, disruptors, and pioneers ready to thrive in a rapidly evolving world. Our diverse portfolio of undergraduate and postgraduate courses spans dynamic disciplines, with programmes expertly crafted to equip students with the cutting-edge skills, real-world experience, and strategic mindset needed to excel in today’s global marketplace.  

We pride ourselves on our commitment to academic excellence and industry relevance. Our curriculum is designed in partnership with leading organisations such as PwC, Rolls-Royce, and local enterprise hubs. Our programmes are accredited by top professional bodies, including CIMA, ACCA, CIM, and CIPD, setting the gold standard for quality and credibility in business education.  

Having recently moved to the new, state of the art £75 million Cavendish Building in September 2025 this is an exciting time to be joining Derby International Business School. The School is now looking to appoint the inaugural McDonald’s Professor of Carbonomics, supported by McDonald’s, a global leader similarly committed to sustainable business and creating transformative opportunities for young people. This is a world-first position at the intersection of academia, industry and sustainability which builds on our commitment to Better Business, Better Society, Better Future.

The McDonald’s Professor will play a critical role in driving cutting-edge research at the nexus of sustainable business, carbon economics, lean and sustainable value chains - supporting transition strategies that are financially viable, scalable, and societally impactful. They will help to build the Institute of Carbonomics, further positioning the University of Derby as an international hub for research innovation in carbon economics and sustainable value chains.

The successful candidate will bring an international recognised track record as a researcher in sustainable business, lean supply chains or a closely aligned field with experience of cross-sector industry collaborations. They will also demonstrate a record of success in securing competitive research funding and in publishing their research in leading international journals.

We encourage you to arrange a discussion with our search partner, Perrett Laver, to find out more about the opportunity.

How to Apply

The University of Derby have engaged Perrett Laver to support the Search Committee with this appointment. For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Lucy Roper at lucy.roper@perrettlaver.com.

Deadline of 11.59pm GMT on Sunday 8^th February 2026.

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