Climate change is the greatest global challenge faced today, and innovation is key to tackling this. An exciting opportunity has arisen for an individual to lead on Innovation activity at the Grantham Institute for Climate Change and the Environment, Imperial College London.
In addition to driving the Grantham Institute to achieve its strategic mission to contribute to, and lead on, world-class innovation towards effective action on climate change, the Director of Innovation will manage the Centre for Climate Change Innovation (CCCI) at the Royal Institution (Ri), which was launched in 2021 by HRH the Prince of Wales
The CCCI aspires to develop a highly networked, inclusive and integrated cleantech ecosystem in London that can stimulate and support the emergence of new businesses. One of the CCCI’s key areas of focus is to ensure current innovation barriers are mitigated and cleantech innovators can provide an effective response to London’s environmental challenges. The team brokers new collaborative interventions between cleantech start-ups/SMEs and public and private clients in London and beyond. This brokerage activity supports start-ups and SMEs in scaling up cleantech products or services, while simultaneously helping demand-side end-users to define and address their environmental challenges. The Centre also houses The Greenhouse, an early-stage start-up accelerator programme, providing support for technology and commercial development through access to Imperial College’s world-class research and innovation expertise, technological and commercial know-how, networks and support services, to develop credible and investable businesses that will impact positively toward the UK’s net zero targets, and showcase internationally (e.g. through the Global Alliance of Universities on Climate) how greenhouse gas emissions can be delivered alongside economic growth, investment and job creation.
Duties and responsibilities
Accountability for the leadership and strategic direction and the management and delivery of Innovation activity at the Grantham Institute for Climate Change and the Environment, including directing the CCCI.
Centre for Climate Change Innovation (CCCI)
- Overall strategic leadership and management of the CCCI at the Ri.
- Further development of a coherent strategy and sustainable financial model for the CCCI to ensure achievement of its objectives.
- Fund raising and/or investment for the component parts of the CCCI, for building works and to ensure the financial sustainability of the Centre, past its original funding phase.
- Raising awareness of the CCCI within Imperial College, and across the UK through (for example) the Universities Climate Network, and overseas (Global Alliance of Universities on Climate).
- Seeking and engaging with prospective partners to join.
General
- Shape and deliver the Innovation element of Institute’s strategic mission.
- Contribute to the Institute’s education portfolio for example guest lectures, design & development of future courses/modules.
- Manage an ambitious portfolio of projects.
- Lead new thinking and nurture new ideas from concept, into activity.
- Create and maintain a national network of stakeholders in the innovation ecosystem with other organisations, including businesses, HEIs, local governments, and policy makers.
Essential requirements
- Experience of creating and driving innovation centres that support organisations and individuals to explore innovation opportunities within complex systems such as cities
- Significant experience in complex impact focused organisations across policy, business, academic and third sectors
- Expansive programme and project management skills, ideally with experience of managing a variety of projects
- Extensive experience developing and leading new collaborative partnerships focused on innovative products and services in related fields of cleantech and climate innovation
- A track record of business and government stakeholder engagement at senior levels
- Sound knowledge of London’s policy landscape, environmental challenges and economic development priorities
Further information
This role is offered full-time, fixed term for three years in the first instance.
If you are thinking about applying for this job and want to discuss it further please contact Grantham Institute Co-Directors Professor Martin Siegert m.siegert@imperial.ac.uk or Professor Ralf Toumi r.toumi@imperial.ac.uk
Should you have any queries about the application process, please contact Gosia Gayer, g.gayer@imperial.ac.uk.
We are committed to equality of opportunity, to eliminating discrimination and to creating an inclusive working environment for all. We therefore encourage candidates to apply irrespective of age, disability, marriage or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion and belief, gender identity, sex, or sexual orientation. We are an Athena SWAN Silver Award winner, a Disability Confident Leader and a Stonewall Diversity Champion.
Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
"Imperial College London is a place where talented people bring their best ideas and hard work to address many of the great challenges in the world. In order to be at the forefront of this effort, we must draw upon the talents of staff and students from all backgrounds and from all over the world. We are an inclusive workplace, seeking out the creative vigour of diversity by being open to all people, whatever their background, experience or identity. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to eliminating discrimination and to creating an inclusive working environment for all. We therefore encourage candidates to apply irrespective of age, disability, marriage or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion and belief, gender identity, sex, or sexual orientation. Please see our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy to find out how we are working to ensure that Imperial fulfils its mission to achieve enduring excellence in research and teaching for the benefit of society."
Alice Gast, President
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