Victrex is seeking a dynamic, self-driven and experienced individual who excels in the discovery, analysis and evaluation of new and emerging technologies, products, services, and trends, to expand the strategic innovation portfolio in the pursuit of creating impactful new markets for Victrex.

About the Role

 In this role, you will play a pivotal part in shaping the future of advanced materials, technologies, and business ventures across global markets.

This position would suit an individual with technical, business and marketing experience. The role relies on technical expertise to enable good decision-marking regarding the suitability of breakthrough innovations, in partnership with marketing colleagues. You will need a strategic mindset, and to be able to work collaboratively.

You will be leading the technical scouting for new opportunities, whether adjacencies or in support of current business.

Candidates will have a strong and demonstrable orientation toward technical expertise, relevant to Victrex’s business and markets, and possess expertise in technology scouting, technology road mapping, market research, and commercial acumen to balance the technical strengths. Competencies in digital technologies and future-focused application markets being highly desirable.

We seek experienced candidates that have strengths in leadership, both autonomously and with reporting teams, for future leadership opportunities in the business.

Key Responsibilities
Technology Research, Analysis and Evaluation
Proactively identify new and emerging technologies and trends relevant to the Victrex’s business strategy and assess the potential of technologies, considering their maturity, feasibility, and alignment with business objectives.

Networking and Relationship Building
Build, maintain and foster a strategic ecosystem network of contacts within the global industry sectors, including customers, startups, vendors, industry experts and academic institutions.

Collaboration and Partnership
Investigate opportunities for collaborations and partnerships with external entities to utilize their expertise and resources, and identify mutual business opportunities.

Reporting and Communication
Create comprehensive reports and presentations summarizing technology findings and recommendations for internal stakeholders, including validation of hypotheses, business case creation and adoption strategy proposals.

Internal Knowledge Sharing
Share insights and best practices with internal teams to encourage a culture of innovation.

External Knowledge Sharing
Serve as a subject matter expert, promoting adoption of Victrex solutions through market education and customer collaboration.

Functional Representation
Strategically represent R&D in working teams to balance priorities and resources for program objectives.


Experience and Skills Required
• Significant expertise in materials or polymer science relevant to Victrex’s target markets.
• Proven application and system-level experience in a commercial industrial environment, delivering technical solutions to customer decision-makers.
• Demonstrable ability to conduct in-depth technology scouting and research on emerging technologies and present findings to internal and external stakeholders.
• Strong competence in market research, commercial acumen and market positioning.
• Good understanding of strategic marketing assessment processes, practices, and decision-making tools.
• Strong leadership, communication, and project management skills in complex global settings.
• Knowledge and practical use of digital tools and platforms is desirable.

Qualifications

• Essential: Masters/Honours degree or equivalent in polymer science, materials science, chemistry, or engineering discipline.
• Desirable: PhD in polymer science, materials science, chemistry, or engineering discipline. Business relevant qualifications would be an added advantage.

Key Role Metrics
• Identification of growth opportunities with annual revenue impact potential in the scale of £10M-£100M.
• Development and management of multiple key external global value chain and ecosystem contacts.
• 3-5 simultaneous technology scouting & new innovation projects annually
• 3-5 new IP opportunities identified and submitted annually

Why is this Role Unique?

• Opportunity to influence and drive innovation in the polymer industry.
• Cross-functional exposure to technical, marketing and commercial disciplines.
• Key involvement in aligning advanced materials to strategic market needs.
• Work alongside industry-leading professionals in a collaborative environment.

NO RECRUITMENT AGENCIES PLEASE.

At present, we are not accepting any candidates via a recruitment agency or third party. 

About Victrex

Victrex is an innovative world leader in high-performance PEEK (Poly Ether Ether Ketone) and PAEK (Poly Aryl Ether Ketone) polymer solutions focusing on the strategic markets of automotive, aerospace, energy and industrial, electronics and medical. Every day, millions of people use products and applications containing our materials – from smartphones, aeroplanes and cars to energy operations and medical devices.

With over 40 years‘ experience, we are developing world leading solutions with PEEK and PAEK-based polymers and selected semi-finished and finished parts which enable environmental and societal benefit for our customers and our markets and drive value for our shareholders

Vision and culture

At Victrex we have a clear purpose: to bring transformational and sustainable solutions which address world material challenges every day.

This underpins our core values; passion, innovation and performance which are at the heart of our business.

Our culture is shaped by how we work together, driving for results with a focus on customers, continuous improvement and doing the right thing. Our values, passion, innovation, and performance are at the heart of our business and we value and recognise how every employee plays an important role in enabling us to deliver our growth strategy.

Sustainability is core to our strategy. We are committed to reducing our environmental footprint while supporting society through our sustainable products and making a positive impact on our local communities. We have recently become winners of the prestigious Ecovadis Silver Award, which is a universal acknowledgement of our sustainability rating as being in the top 5% of over 75,000 companies. We are also proud to be recognised as a ‘Disability Confident’ employer.

Our aim is to provide the support of accessibility and community within Victrex for everyone. So, if you need any help, advice or just want a confidential chat regarding any Diversity, Equity or Inclusion matters even before you apply to Victrex, then here is what you need to know:

The enabling support that Victrex prides itself on giving, starts from when anyone applies or wants to apply to join our team.

We are always here to help provide any ‘reasonable adjustments’ you may need during your application process. So please contact us to discuss your specific requirements in more depth.

We even have a dedicated email that anyone can use to reach out for help, advice, and a confidential chat......whatever you need to know, and to help ensure an equitable solution,  that’s right for you, right from the start!

That email is: enablerecruitment@victrex.com

Victrex values diversity and encourages applications from all
sections of the community.

Please talk to us about flexible working.