Are you ready to lead in discovering, defining and driving new innovations towards global market adoption? Victrex is seeking a dynamic strategic technology lead, to spearhead new complex, strategic and breakthrough growth programs. In this role, you will play a pivotal part in shaping the future of advanced materials, polymers and new-to-market technologies across our global markets. We are seeking an experienced individual with a strong and demonstrable orientation toward technical and applications expertise, relevant to Victrex’s business and markets. The ideal candidate will also possess technology scouting, research, and commercial acumen to balance the technical strengths, with competencies in digital technologies and future-focused markets being highly desirable. About the Role: The position requires technology and new business scouting leadership, married with a strategic mindset, and works collaboratively across multi-functional teams and autonomously with individual ownership deliverables. You will focus on identifying new opportunities for profitable growth and driving strategic application development to support Victrex global growth plans. This role offers the potential for future leadership opportunities. Key Responsibilities: With New Business Innovation, Strategic Marketing and Technology colleagues, research, define and execute strategies to support Victrex’s strategic application growth programs and segments. Identify and develop new technology areas, defining and validating hypotheses to prepare robust business cases and adoption strategies. Develop and foster strategic relationships with industry and innovation scouting leaders, customers and partners. Lead technology assessments, defining and driving technology adoption strategies through market education, value propositions, business models and customer collaborations. Define and specify the end user technical and commercial readiness requirements for differentiated technology business case proposals. Provide the lead representation for the R&D function in the New Business Innovation team, to balance priorities and resources to meet objectives for major programs. Experience and Skills Required: Significant expertise in materials and/or polymer science. Broad application and system-level understanding and experience in a commercial environment, delivering technical solutions to customer decision-makers. Exceptional leadership and communication skills in complex global business environments. Strong technology scouting, research, and commercial acumen. Demonstrable ability to conduct in-depth research on emerging technologies and present findings to internal and external stakeholders. Knowledge of digital tools and technologies. Good understanding of strategic marketing assessment processes, practices, and decision-making tools. Qualifications: Essential: Honours degree or equivalent in polymer science, materials science, chemistry, or engineering discipline. Desirable: PhD in polymer science, materials science, chemistry, or engineering discipline. Key Role Metrics: Annual new growth revenue impact of £20M-50M. 3-5 innovation ideas and areas in simultaneous research and assessment. Development and management of multiple key external global value chain and ecosystem contacts. Potential leadership of a global team of up to 10 direct. Why is this Role Unique? Opportunity to influence and drive innovation in the high-performance materials industry. Multi-functional interactions and direct senior business leadership exposure. Key involvement in enabling the use of advanced materials in strategic markets and sectors. Work alongside industry-leading professionals in a collaborative environment. Why Join Us? At Victrex, we are innovators. You will work with world-class professionals on groundbreaking projects that make a real impact. We offer a collaborative environment, opportunities for personal and professional growth, and the chance to lead industry-changing initiatives. Benefits: We offer an attractive benefits package to support your personal and professional well-being, including: Pension Scheme: Employer contributions of up to 14%, depending on employee contribution Holidays: 29 days annual leave plus bank holidays, with the option to purchase up to two additional weeks. Bonus Scheme: Annual bonus Starter Share Options Private Medical Insurance: through Vitality Life Assurance: Additional Perks: Access to V:offers, cycle-to-work schemes, and the ability to purchase extra holidays 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 chatwhatever you need to know, and to help ensure an equitable solution, that’s right for you, right from the start That email is: enablerecruitmentvictrex.com Victrex values diversity and encourages applications from all sections of the community. Please talk to us about flexible working.