Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Remuneration: Competitive package up to £100k dependent on experience

Job Overview

The purpose of the role is to oversee the launch phase of a new and exciting initiative to create and establish a world leading Innovation Centre for Very Light Rail (VLR) and future mobility research, based in Dudley, West Midlands.

The Company

A new purpose-built Innovation Centre is planned to open for business in the summer of 2021. The facility will include an engineering hall, laboratories and outdoor test tracks for rail and light rail vehicles. The Centre will operate via a Hub and Spoke model with University partners. The CEO role will be co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund Programme 2014-2020.

Main Responsibilities and Duties

• Develop a pipeline of collaborative and contract research projects to be delivered by the Innovation Centre partners
• Ensure the effective delivery of support to SMEs and other industrials to assist the development of a UK supply chain for a new generation of VLR and future mobility technologies
• Refresh business plans for the Centre and securing investment from Government and Industry
• Create an effective organisation to ensure the delivery of the Centre’s aims and objectives.
• Provide effective leadership and direction
• Engage with wide ranging stakeholders and partners to promote VLR and the activities of the Centre

Preferred Background, Experience & Qualifications

• Talented and experienced senior manager, ideally with previous experience of leading and developing new innovative technology programmes
• Rail industry background is preferable but not essential.
• Knowledge of wider automotive innovation could be advantageous as the Innovation Centre will lever technology transfer from the automotive sector into rail
• Commercially and financially astute with an understanding of both public sector funding and industrial environments
• Ability to maintain direction and work with a great deal of autonomy in a rapidly changing environment
• Excellent people leadership and communication ability
• Quick and accurate collation and assimilation of partner and project requirements and data to enable strategic and operational planning and reporting
• Senior level experience of managing high value projects from conception to implementation
• Proven ability to translate strategy into reality
• Ability to establish and develop relationships with project partners and collaborators
• Creating strategic visions and goals
• Ability to disseminate research outputs through presentations and training materials
• Extensive experience in preparation of funding applications and tracking of budgets, and funding within a complex project environment
• Strong negotiation techniques and the ability to persuade and influence

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