IMDEA Materials Institute is a public research organization founded in 2007 by Madrid’s regional government to carry out research of excellence in Material Science and Engineering by attracting talent from all over the world to work in an international and multidisciplinary environment. IMDEA Materials has grown rapidly since its foundation and currently includes more than 120 researchers from 22 nationalities and has become one of the leading research centers in materials in Europe which has received the María de Maeztu seal of excellence from the Spanish government. The research activities have been focused on the areas of materials for transport, energy, and health care and the Institute has state-of-the-art facilities for processing, characterization and simulation of advanced materials.

More information can be found at our webpage.

The Institute, a public foundation of Community of Madrid, is one of the seven IMDEA centres founded 17 years ago to transform the research landscape of the region. Its mission is to do research of excellence in Materials Science, contributing to tackle the challenges of society and fostering the sustainable development of the region of Madrid.

The Institute, located in the south of Madrid, currently employs about 160 people and has a yearly budget of approximately 13M€. Research at the Institute is organised under four programmes: novel materials, advance manufacturing, integrated computational materials engineering, multiscale characterisation of materials and processes, and integrated computational materials engineering.

The selected director is expected to lead the institute during the following years, continuing its pursuit of excellence in science while helping to transform the industrial ecosystem in the region of Madrid through collaboration with industry, technology transfer, creation of spin-offs, etc.

Successful candidates should have a demonstrated experience in the field of Materials Science with a solid international reputation as scientist, proven by high-impact publications, project coordination, advising of Ph.D. thesis, event organisation, collaboration with industry, ability to raise funds, etc. The director will work in a dynamic and collaborative environment, reporting to the Board of Trustees and the Regional Government.

The candidate should possess a proven record of leadership and management experience within academic, public or private research organizations. As part of his/her duties, the selected director will work closely with the management of the Institute, overseeing the budget, monitoring infrastructures, coordinating project strategies, and guiding Institute policies. The Director shall represent the Foundation by virtue of the powers granted by the Board of Trustees.

Core responsibilities include:

Leadership

• Embrace the vision of the institute and ensure alignment with foundational goals, helping to align the day-to-day decisions with the long-term plans.
• Ensure a stimulating, collaborative and well-managed environment that supports the performance of excellent science and high-quality research in Materials Science and Engineering.
• Uphold a culture of excellence, accountability, and transparency that facilitates effective and respectful collaboration.
• Promote the attraction, good management and retention of researchers and staff.

Management

• Implement the strategy approved by the Board of Trustees, and report to it regularly.
• Ensure the effective and efficient use of the Institute’s resources and the implementation of the strategy. For these tasks, the new director will be supported by the Executive Committee that consists of the Deputy Director, the General Manager and the Managers of Projects & Technology, HR, and Finance & Accounting.
• Oversee the financials of the Institute, ensuring the short- and long-term viability of the project.
• Interact with public authorities at the local, national, and European level and with international research and academic organizations.
• Guide strategic decisions regarding research lines, hiring, and investments in infrastructures, with the assistance of the Technical Committee of the Institute

Research

• Promote excellence in research and technology transfer.
• Encourage multidisciplinarity to perform cutting-edge fundamental as well as applied research that tackles the interests of the Institute’s industrial partners.
• Support research-oriented collaboration with universities, research centres, companies and public institutions.
• Facilitate industrial collaborations to provide long-term technological leadership to our long-term strategic partners.

Candidate profile

• Demonstrated academic/scientific record with an international reputation in material science and engineering.
• Proven leadership and management experience in academic, public, or private research organizations.
• Ability to manage relationships with public administration and government agencies.
• Strong ability to make decisions while at the same time instilling trust and respect.
• Excellent communication skills, both English and Spanish.
• Development-oriented drive with a visionary approach, integrity, and willingness to delegate as needed.
• Ability to inspire researchers and staff and to achieve results in partnership with others, maintaining a positive work environment.
• A drive to set high standards and to encourage innovative ideas.
• Strong interpersonal skills, genuine interest in other people, the ability to listen, openness, sound judgment, fairness, accessibility.
• International mind-set.

Sharing the values of the Institute will be important for the successful candidate. These are, above all:

• Collaborative attitude.
• Excellence, understood as the set of behaviours taken in order to reach the highest level of quality, with rigour and honesty.
• Transparency, as the effort to openly show that we follow the rules and expectations of people and organizations in everything related with our activities, management, and use of resources.
• Integrity, since we strive to behave justly and accountably following ethical principles.
• Compromise, implicating and identifying people with the mission of the Institute
• Flexibility to adapt quickly to changes and needs in our environment, in accordance with our mission.
• Diversity, acknowledging that it holds the key to talent and that we are ready to manage it.

• The appointment will be for four years, extensible to four more after a performance evaluation by the Board of Trustees.
• After completion of the appointment, if the new director has developed a successful research group and under the recommendation of the Scientific Committee, she/he will be offered to remain in the Institute as a senior researcher.

Interested candidates should submit their cv as well as a document explaining their motivation for the job, why they fit the position, as well as their mid-term vision for the Institute.

The Institute is committed to fostering an equal opportunities environment and promoting a diverse, inclusive workforce.

Application process:

• All inquiries and applications will be treated with strict confidentiality.
• Shortlisted candidates will be invited to take part in an online interview, after which the most suitable candidates will be invited to attend an in-person interview at the institute.
• Candidates will be required to participate in assessment activities as part of the selection process.

Dates:

• Applications will be accepted until March 31, 2025.
• The selection and evaluation of candidates will be done during April and May 2025.
• The expected starting date for the new director is July 2025.