Associate Professor in Sustainable Manufacturing

The Research Centre for Manufacturing and Materials (CMM) are recruiting an Associate Professor (Research) in Sustainable Manufacturing to provide academic and strategic leadership in research addressing the transition to productive, resilient and net-zero manufacturing. You will shape and lead a distinctive programme of interdisciplinary research, working with CMM colleagues, the Institute for Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering (AME), industrial partners, policymakers and wider regional, national and international networks.

You will lead major funding proposals and programmes, deliver internationally leading outputs and demonstrable impact, develop researchers and doctoral candidates, and strengthen the Centre's research culture and external reputation. The role will connect robust methods with industrial implementation across the lifecycle of materials, products, processes and value chains, while contributing to research-enriched education and knowledge exchange within a research-focused academic workload.

We are particularly interested in leadership across several of the following: circular economy, remanufacturing, reuse and recycling; lifecycle assessment and lifecycle costing; industrial decarbonisation and resource efficiency; carbon accounting and Scope 1–3 emissions; sustainable production systems and supply chains; industrial symbiosis; digital product passports, traceability and data-driven sustainability; sustainable business models; design for circularity; and decision-support for hard-to-abate manufacturing sectors.

Qualifications Required:
A PhD or equivalent in manufacturing engineering, mechanical engineering, materials science or engineering, industrial engineering, environmental engineering, or another discipline relevant to sustainable manufacturing.

You will be an established research leader with a strong track record of securing major funding, leading collaborative research programmes, and delivering internationally recognised research with impact. You will have experience building partnerships across academia, industry and government, supported by strong national and international networks.

You will demonstrate leadership in interdisciplinary research, mentoring researchers, supervising doctoral candidates, and contributing to research strategy and culture. Strong communication, influencing and commercial skills are essential, enabling effective stakeholder engagement and the development of knowledge exchange and wider research impact.

Experience translating sustainability research into industrial practice, contributing to professional or policy networks, and working across sectors such as automotive, energy, metals, construction or aerospace would be advantageous.

Benefits include:
- Excellent Employers Pension Contribution
- 30 days Annual leave plus Bank Holidays
- New Holiday Purchase Scheme up to 5 additional days
- Life Assurance 4 x Salary
- BUPA Cash Plan
- 50% off Tuition Fees for staff dependants
- CU Reward Scheme – Discounts across a range of High Street/Online Retailers
- Cycle To Work scheme