Professor and Academic Director of UK SCALE Centre

Full Time, Open Ended

Loughborough University and Loughborough Business School, through a long‑term partnership with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Centre for Transportation and Logistics (MIT‑CTL), have established the UK Supply Chain and Logistics Excellence (UK SCALE) Centre as the UK’s national convener for supply chain progress and transformation, and the newest member of the world-leading MIT Global SCALE Network. Now in its second year, UK SCALE is moving decisively from establishment into a dynamic scale-up phase, expanding its research activity, deepening partnerships, and strengthening its national role in shaping resilient, productive and sustainable supply chains. 

Discover further information about theUK SCALE Centre. 

The role and what we’re looking for 

As Academic Director, you will lead the development and delivery of the UK SCALE’s academic network and research collaboration model, with a particular focus on convening and directing the UK Supply Chain Academic Network (SCAN). Acting as a national convenor, you will bring together academics, industry and partners to shape and deliver challenge-led, collaborative research aligned to UK supply chain priorities. 

A central responsibility of the role will be to design, convene and deliver an industry-funded “sandpit” model, working closely with the UK SCALE team and partners to translate industry challenges into collaborative research activity. The Academic Director will act as the academic lead for this programme. A key deliverable will be the establishment of at least one industry-funded sandpit in 2026/27, creating a foundation for a scalable pipeline of collaborative research activity. 

We are seeking candidates with a research, teaching & enterprise background or an industry/practitioner background. We are particularly looking for applicants with significant relevant experience in supply chain management, transportation, logistics, operations management or a related discipline who are on a professorial trajectory or at an early stage of their professorial career. Alongside disciplinary expertise, candidates will have the credibility, energy and collaborative leadership skills to engage and influence a wide range of stakeholders, build partnerships, and bring people together around shared goals. 

For more information on the role please refer to the Job Description and Person Specification.

The closing date for applications is 30th September 2026. 

For informal enquiries please contact Professor Jan Godsell, Dean of Loughborough Business School at J.Godsell@lboro.ac.uk  

Our Benefits 

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