Director of Grid Innovation Strategy and Knowledge Exchange (803442)

Salary Range: £69,488 - £73,709

FTE: 1 (35 hours/week)

Term: Fixed Term (24 months)

Closing date: 12/04/2026

The University of Strathclyde seeks an outstanding individual to take a lead role in the exchange of knowledge between Britain’s electricity sector and researchers at the University. They will head up and contribute to the development of meaningful messages for industry and policymakers and the effective dissemination of those messages to achieve impact of national and international significance. They will also be a key part of the identification of new research needs and will help colleagues to develop new projects and secure funding for them. The role will be underpinned by a renewed partnership with Scottish Power Energy Networks (SPEN). SPEN is one of the most significant companies in the electricity sector in the UK and comprises one of Britain’s three onshore electricity transmission network owners and three of the Distribution Network Owners. It has been a close collaborator with University of Strathclyde for many years. Together, the University and SPEN have helped to shape industry practice and influenced energy policy. This appointment will take that further, working with SPEN and other key parties in the sector to support innovation within the UK’s transition to resilient, affordable, low carbon energy. The successful candidate will join one of the UK’s leading electrical energy and power systems research groups. They should have an established, nationally recognised record in energy sector thought leadership with evidence of strong engagement with senior people in both government and industry. They should have excellent communication skills and creativity and be motivated by making a positive difference to the energy transition and meeting society’s needs. They will be expected to hold a PhD in a subject related to the development and operation power networks to accommodate low carbon generation and new loads such as electrified heat and transport, or to have equivalent industry research and innovation experience. They will have excellent knowledge of today’s electricity system engineering and energy policy challenges in the UK. They should have been successful in publishing in reputable academic journals and in producing widely cited reports and blogs. They will be in receipt of regular invitations to speak at major electricity industry events. It will also be a significant advantage if the candidate is well-respected as a provider of training for Continuing Professional Development

Informal enquiries about the post can be directed to Prof Keith Bell, Scottish Power Professor of Future Power Systems ([email protected])

Formal interviews for this post will be held in late April 2026