Co-Head of Science - Materials & Mechanical Metrology

About the Role

As a member of the Science & Engineering leadership team, provide strategic & commercial leadership and best practice across an area of science or engineering, to maximise the strategic and commercial impact of the Department science portfolio. Ensure alignment with NPL strategy, to exploit the business opportunities generated by science capabilities, and embed an enduring entrepreneurial culture. Manage stakeholder relationships and bolster the department’s reputation across the relevant sectors.

Key responsibilities

• Work alongside the departmental Head of Science, supporting through provision of stakeholder engagement, recognising and ensuring commercial impact of science delivered and collaborating in horizon-scanning, strategic foresight and development.


• Support and challenge the Science Area Leaders within their associated area of strategic importance on the integrity, quality and balance of the work in their science area, particularly in engaging with key stakeholders and building impactful relationships for the realisation of commercial impact, building commercial awareness and skills, ensuring new capabilities or science areas are strategically aligned, and fostering internal and external collaboration.


• Develop detailed knowledge and commercial strategies for the Materials & Mechanical Metrology technical areas consistent with NPL strategy and external drivers. Work collaboratively across groups and with partnerships leaders to inform future strategy and ensure commercial opportunities are maximised.


• Provide leadership to ensure NPL’s mission, strategy and plans are articulated and understood internally and externally for your areas of the business, that employees and partners are excited by, engaged with and focussed on its successful exploitation to maximise commercial impact and growth.


• Manage the commercial performance and potential of your department, building highly motivated, customer-focused and performing teams.


• Develop, promote and role-model an entrepreneurial culture within the Department to maximise the commercial impact of the science portfolio and generate income through strategic engagement with existing and potential customers, recognised within NPL and by external stakeholders.


• In collaboration, develop and communicate on-going vision, strategy, and roadmaps to commercially exploit the Department science/engineering area capability, with relevant input from colleagues across NPL.


• Ensure compliance with appropriate governance including opportunity progression, quality, health, safety, security and environmental legislation minimising risk to the business and enhancing NPL’s reputation.


• Drive collaboration, both internally and externally to develop partnership opportunities to extend the capability of the business.


• Build and maintain customer and stakeholder relationships that will support NPL’s ability to deliver its mission, its reputation and remain sustainable, to develop business based on NPL capabilities.

Regular travel within the UK will be required as part of this role. International travel may occasionally be required.

About You

Skills and experience that you can bring to the role:

• Degree in relevant subject area (Physics, Engineering, MBA), or equivalent experience.


• Ability to developing relationships with industry, academia and government organisations.


• Creation and management of CRM database


• Facilitating and building impactful collaborations in a technical area


• Knowledge of a wide range of technologies and sectors


• Leadership, influencing and people management skills, including mentoring and supporting junior staff


• Bid writing and management


• Excellent analytical and technical problem solving ability


• Exceptional written and oral presentation skills


• Being Proactive and able to take initiative whilst working independently or as part of a team

We actively recruit citizens of all backgrounds, but the nature of our work in specific departments means that nationality, residency and security requirements can be more tightly defined than others. You will be asked about this throughout the recruitment process. To work at NPL, you will need to obtain BPSS security clearance.

Please note: Applications will be reviewed, and interviews conducted throughout the duration of this advert therefore we may at any time bring the closing date forward. We encourage all interested applicants to apply as soon as practical.

About Us

The National Physical Laboratory (NPL) is a world-leading centre of excellence that provides cutting-edge measurement science, engineering and technology to underpin prosperity and quality of life in the UK.

NPL and DSIT have strong commitments to diversity and equality of opportunity, and welcome applications from candidates irrespective of their background, gender, race, sexual orientation, religion, or age, providing they meet the required criteria. Applications from women, disabled, black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates in particular are encouraged. All disabled candidates (as defined by the Equality Act 2010) who satisfy the minimum criteria for the role will be guaranteed an interview under the Disability Confident Scheme.

At NPL, we believe our success is a result of the diversity and talent of our people. We strive to nurture and respect individuals to ensure everyone feels valued by treating everyone on the basis of their own individual merits and abilities regardless of their own or perceived identity, as part of our commitment to diversity & inclusion, we hold memberships and accreditation to ensure we’re creating an environment where all our colleagues feel supported and welcome, please see our Diversity & Inclusion page.

We are committed to the health and well-being of our employees. Flexible working and social activities are embedded in our culture to create a positive work-life balance, along with a broad range of benefits. Our values are at the heart of what we do, and they shape the way we interact, develop our people and celebrate success.

To ensure everyone has an equal chance, we’re always willing to make reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process. If you would like to discuss, please contact us.