Salary: Commensurate with the skills and experience of the candidate and the seniority of the role
FTE: 1
Term: Open Contract
Closing Date: 08 March 2020
The University of Strathclyde in Glasgow (Times
Higher Education Awards University of the Year 2019 and Scottish University of
the Year 2020) possesses a large and internationally-leading Engineering
Faculty with a proud history of securing major funding for projects from
government and other funding agencies and in operating successful joint
ventures and partnerships with industrial organisations. As part of the
University’s strategic development, the Power Networks Demonstration Centre
(PNDC) was established in 2014 in Wardpark North near Cumbernauld. The PNDC is
a world-class facility with a growing team of dedicated staff with the role of
accelerating the adoption of new, 'smart' technologies within advanced power
grids, and supporting the increased accommodation of renewable energy,
electric vehicles and demand side management. It is also seeking to broaden
its reach (with an accompanying expansion of the physical facilities) into
whole energy system applications, incorporating low carbon heating, transport,
and integrated solutions comprising multiple energy vectors. The £12.5 million
Centre - the first of its kind in Europe – was founded by the University of
Strathclyde and leading energy companies including ScottishPower Energy
Networks and Scottish and Southern Energy Power Distribution, with support
from Scottish Enterprise and the Scottish Funding Council.
The PNDC provides: a
purpose-built platform for showcasing state of the art energy distribution,
generation, storage and related innovations; a rapid technology pipeline
accelerating the proving and deployment of integrated smart grid solutions
with commercial partners; and a realistic and controllable test bed from
primary plant to state-of-the-art control room for the development of emerging
smart grid technologies that will support the realisation of a de-carbonised
grid. The emergence of “whole-energy” systems (incorporating multiple vectors
including electricity, gas, heat, hydrogen) represents a significant opportunity
for PNDC to exploit in the future, and this will be a key objective of the
centre in future in terms of identifying opportunities for funding,
investment, new facilities and flagship projects and partners to enable the
PNDC to play a pivotal role in researching, developing and demonstrating
solutions to meet future energy system challenges.
The Executive Director will provide the
leadership, management and vision necessary to ensure that the PNDC has the
operational controls, administrative and reporting procedures, people, and
systems in place to effectively grow the organisation and ensure financial
strength and operating efficiency. The Executive Director will also lead the
implementation of PNDC strategy and lead the direction and operational
management of PNDC’s activities. This will be undertaken by working closely
with the PNDC’s R&D Director and Director for Strategy & Technology, other
members of the PNDC team, industrial members, funding bodies and University
staff.
You will be expected to lead engagement with
local and international industrial partners, funding agencies and prospective
partners/client at the highest level, expanding the industrial membership and
portfolio of projects, thus ensuring the ongoing financial sustainability of
the Centre. You will also be responsible for ensuring that the operational
activities of the Centre provide the required quality of support for internal
and external customers. As the Centre champion, you will engage with industry,
government, policy makers and manufacturers in order to deliver substantial
impact from the advances developed at the PNDC. You will be based at the PNDC
site and the role will require frequent national and international travel and
maintenance of close contact with colleagues at the University’s campus in the
centre of Glasgow. The PNDC is formally linked to the University through the
Institute for Energy and Environment within the Department of Electronic and
Electrical Engineering.
You should have a degree or PhD in a
relevant technology area, substantial professional experience and an
established track record at management level within a relevant professional
environment. You will have excellent communication and interpersonal skills,
with an ability to interact with a range of stakeholders, across industry and
academia. Your knowledge of the energy industry (ideally broader than just electricity
supply) will bring an established network of contacts and a good understanding
of collaboration opportunities.
For informal enquiries, please contact Professor Campbell Booth, Head of Department, campbell.d.booth@strath.ac.uk
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