Local Innovation Partnership Fund Programme Director

The University of Liverpool has established a new AI Materials Hub for Innovation (AIM-HI) to position the University, and the wider UK, as a global leader in the large-scale application of AI and automation to materials chemistry. This encompasses areas including catalysts, advanced energy materials for net-zero, soft-matter, and product formulation in fast moving consumer goods. AIM-HI will maintain our international science leadership in AI for materials but importantly translate that leadership into industry for economic growth and societal benefit.

Following recent £15M funding from the UKRI Local Innovation Partnership Fund (LIPF), AIM-HI – LIPF will create a high growth economic cluster in the Liverpool City Region (LCR) to support businesses at all scales from start-ups and SMEs to large multinationals. AIM-HI – LIPF will (1) Co-create Open Innovation Platforms with companies to make leading edge AI technologies available for use by chemistry and materials SMEs and larger companies in their R&D activities. (2) Deliver an ‘AI for Materials Chemistry’ talent development programme to upskill staff in SMEs and other companies across LCR and deliver outreach to school students across LCR. (3) Deliver bespoke incubator and accelerator programmes to support the growth of AI materials chemistry spin-outs, start-ups and SMEs in LCR. 

The Programme Director will be responsible for providing leadership and overall management and coordination of the programme ensuring a successful outcome. This will include working to develop individual platforms and projects within AIM-HI to support existing relationships and drive new industry partnerships and income generation, managing the delivery team for the project, coordinating oversight and governance boards, monitoring project performance and reporting progress to key stakeholders and funders.

Reporting to the new role of Commercial Director (Materials) in the Faculty of Science and Engineering, and working in partnership with the Programme Academic Leads, Dean of School of Physical Sciences, Materials Innovation Factory (MIF) Academic Director and Director of Research Partnerships and Innovation, you will be required to ensure delivery of agreed goals and KPIs for commercial income and growth of industry partner opportunities. You will provide leadership, deploying your expertise on industry collaboration and partnerships to maximise the income and reputation of our materials research. You will interface with a range of senior academics to support the development and success of the project and ensure alignment between academic capabilities and needs of the commercial and regional partners. Working collaboratively with existing institutional teams responsible for Partnerships and Enterprise will be a crucial part of this role.

You will be an excellent communicator with outstanding project management skills, and the ability to identify and realise new partnership opportunities. The role holder will have excellent understanding of the research and innovation landscape and direct experience of the interface between the public and business worlds and experience of establishing, maintaining and participating in strategic partnerships and collaborations. Ability to work in in a matrix management system across a range of professional services and academic research groups across the University, ensuring consistent and collaborative approach will be essential to the success of this role.

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

We are committed to enhancing a workforce as diverse as our community and particularly encourage applicants who are of minoritised genders and ethnic backgrounds, living with a disability, and/or are members of the LGBTQIA+ community.

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