Centre Manager - Rio Tinto Centre for Future Materials

Location: White City and South Kensington Campus, hybrid

Job Summary

Do you want to shape our future in climate, energy, and sustainability? The Department of Earth Science and Engineering at Imperial College London has the exciting opportunity to appoint a Centre Manager for the new Rio Tinto Centre for Future Materials. The Centre is led by Imperial College London in partnership with Rio Tinto and four international partner universities on three different continents. Our vision is to find innovative solutions to deliver the materials required for the energy transition, with a zero-carbon footprint, much improved ESG behaviour, and at the rate required.

Utilising individual and organisational thought leadership, we will deliver a step change in the approach to how materials are produced, used, and recycled, and make them more environmentally, economically, and socially sustainable. Together, Centre partners will empower diverse and interdisciplinary teams to co-create fundamental and transformative research programmes to the benefit of society. The Centre is underpinned by a $150 million investment by Rio Tinto over 10 years.

As Centre Manager, you will work with the Imperial Centre Co-Director to ensure the successful development of all aspects of the Centre, lead on the overall operational management, and support effective governance and delivery of the Centre’s vision. You will build networks and connect directly with a diverse set of stakeholders and collaborators both internally and internationally. We are looking for someone with strategic vision, strong management and communication skills, and an innovative and agile approach. 

Duties and responsibilities

• Provide high-level strategic thinking, advisory, analytical, and planning support to the Co-Directors (Imperial College London and Rio Tinto). 
• Ensure the Centre develops as a global, innovative initiative, harnessing the diverse expertise across multiple disciplines, universities, and industry.
• Establish strong links with Centre partners to ensure communications are joined up and partners are engaged with the Centre.
• Support the co-creation of the Centre’s grand challenges and research programmes and their successful implementation and delivery.
• Co-ordinate the delivery of thought leadership activities, workshops, white papers, collaborator events etc.
• Manage and develop the Centre’s support staff team to ensure optimum support for the delivery of the centre’s objectives. 

Full information on duties, responsibilities and criteria can be found in the Job Description.

Essential requirements

• Educated to degree level, or equivalent experience in similar or related roles.
• Experience of managing complex projects.
• Excellent inter-personal, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Strong staff management skills, with a proven record of motivating staff, active listening and developing structures that empower others and guarantee operational delivery.

Further Information

This is a full-time post for 3 years in the first instance with the possibility of extension, other flexible working options will be considered.

Apply online via the above ‘Apply’ button.

Closing date: 20^th June 2024

Interviews are planned to take place on 16 July 2024, in person, at Imperial’s South Kensington Campus.

For an informal discussion, or questions about the role, please contact Carolyn Newell (Departmental Operation Manager, Earth Science and Engineering): carolyn.newell@imperial.ac.uk) or Jan Cilliers (Imperial Co-Director of the Centre; Chair in Mineral Processing, Earth Science & Engineering): j.j.cilliers@imperial.ac.uk)

Queries relating to the application process should be directed to: Katie Rycraft, Resources and Research Administrator, email: k.rycraft@imperial.ac.uk.

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