The University of Sheffield
Director of Defence Strategy
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The University of Sheffield is a remarkable place to work. Our people are at the heart of everything we do. Their diverse backgrounds, abilities and beliefs make Sheffield a world-class university.
We offer a fantastic range of benefits including a highly competitive annual leave entitlement (with the ability to purchase more), a generous pensions scheme, flexible working opportunities, a commitment to your development and wellbeing, a wide range of retail discounts, and much more. Find out more about our benefits (opens in a new window) and join us to become part of something special.
Overview
The University of Sheffield is a remarkable place to work. Our people are at the heart of everything we do, and their diverse backgrounds, abilities, and beliefs make Sheffield a world-class university. This is an exceptional opportunity for a senior leader to join the University of Sheffield AMRC's (AMRC) Leadership Team at a pivotal moment in the organisation's development, shaping the defense sector profile and driving strategic growth for one of the UK's most respected applied research institutions.
The Director of Defence Strategy is a critical senior leadership role within the AMRC, fundamentally tasked with driving the AMRC strategy across the defence space — positioning the AMRC as leading centre in this sector. The role will work with colleagues across the High Value Manufacturing Catapult (HVMC) focussing on the Defence Mission and the HVMC x Ministry of Defence alliance.. Operating at the strategic intersection of academia, industry, and national security, the postholder will work closely with the MOD to seamlessly link national policy with regional execution, while evolving the AMRC’s defence strategy in line with changing global geopolitics.
As an innovation powerhouse within both the University of Sheffield and the High Value Manufacturing (HVM) Catapult network, the Director will focus heavily on the South Yorkshire Defence Growth Deal, maximizing its value, economic growth, and long-term impact for the region. The role requires a high-calibre leader with an extensive, pre-established network across the MOD, the armed forces or the defence industry, possessing a distinct capability to build high-impact coalitions that position not only the AMRC but the broader University of Sheffield as a premier authority in the defence sector.
Main Duties And Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership
- Develop, evolve, and execute the AMRC’s comprehensive Defence Strategy, ensuring rapid adaptability in response to shifting global geopolitics and national security requirements.
- Collaborate with the CEO, Commercial Director, and Senior Leadership Team to build strong working relationships with Tier 1 defence prime contractors, industrial partners, and funding bodies.
- Provide broad strategic positioning for the wider University of Sheffield, looking beyond the AMRC to ensure the comprehensive University defence capabilities are integrated and elevated nationally.
- Play a leading role in the HVMC Defence Mission, working closely with other centres to ensure maximum impact for the MOD.
- Serve as a member of the AMRC leadership Team, contributing directly to organisational strategy, planning, and institutional decision-making.
External Engagement and Stakeholder Relations
- Build and sustain influential, trusted relationships with senior leadership within the Ministry of Defence (MOD), the armed forces, procurement agencies, and defence trade bodies.
- Represent the AMRC as the primary strategic partner within national defence innovation networks, contributing to shared capability-building across the HVM Catapult network.
- Lead active engagement across the wider University of Sheffield to link, leverage, and elevate the University's broader research capabilities and overall positioning within the defence space.
- Champion the South Yorkshire Defence Growth Deal with political, industrial, and civic stakeholders, driving targeted initiatives to maximise funding, economic value, and industrial impact for the region.
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Sector Positioning and Strategic Advocacy
- Build robust networks with defence businesses, regional aerospace/defence clusters, and trade associations to embed the AMRC into critical supply chain pipelines and major procurement programmes.
- Ensure the AMRC's technological capabilities in secure manufacturing, digital twins, and advanced materials are clearly articulated to defence stakeholders.
- Provide strategic direction for high-level defence industry days, technical workshops, and industrial forums to pull through advanced engineering research into active military application.
- Monitor and evaluate national defence spending, defense reviews, and policy shifts to maintain continuous alignment and identify new business capture opportunities.
Organisational Contribution
- Act as a high-profile ambassador for the AMRC, regularly speaking at major national and international defence conferences, symposiums, and strategic engagement events.
- Contribute to, and lead the development of, high-value competitive bids and proposals for major defence research grants and commercial contracts.
- Work collaboratively with colleagues across the AMRC, the wider University, and partner organisations to advance shared strategic objectives.
- Carry out other duties, commensurate with the grade and remit of the post
Person Specification
Our diverse community of staff and students recognises the unique abilities, backgrounds, and beliefs of all. We foster a culture where everyone feels they belong and is respected. Even if your past experience doesn't match perfectly with this role's criteria, your contribution is valuable, and we encourage you to apply. Please ensure that you reference the application criteria in the application statement when you apply.
Criteria
Essential
- Executive Leadership: Proven experience operating at a senior executive level, contributing to organisational strategy, planning, and collective leadership team decision-making.
- Defence Sector Expertise: Deep working knowledge of the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD), armed forces structures, procurement pipelines, and the broader defence industrial strategy.
- Network & Relationship Building: An extensive, established network within the MOD, armed forces or defence industry
- Geopolitical & Strategic Acumen: Demonstrated capability to design, adapt, and evolve corporate strategies in response to rapidly shifting international geopolitics.
- Policy Translation: Ability to closely link national defence policy with regional economic policy, particularly regarding regional growth deals.
- Ecosystem Navigation: Ability to work collaboratively across an interconnected matrix network (such as university structures, industrial clusters, and the HVM Catapult).
- Ambassadorial Presence: Outstanding track record of acting as a spokesperson, with excellent public speaking skills at high-level national and international events.
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Stage(s) assessed at
Application/Interview
Further Information
- Salary: Competitive Salary
- Work arrangement: Full-time, flexible/hybrid possible
- Duration: N/A
- Line manager: AMRC Commercial Director
- Direct reports: N/A
Right to work in the UK
If you do not currently hold the right to work in the UK, you can find more information here to help determine your visa eligibility. Additional guidance is also available on the UK Visa & Immigration website.
Our website
For informal enquiries about this job contact Anita Spafford (AMRC Commercial Director Exec Assistant): on a.spafford@amrc.co.uk
Next steps in the recruitment process
The selection process will consist of an interview with a short presentation. If you need any support, equipment or adjustments to enable you to participate in any element of the recruitment process you can contact staffing@amrc.co.uk.
Our vision and strategic plan
We are the University of Sheffield. This is our vision: sheffield.ac.uk/vision (opens in a new window).
What We Offer
- A minimum of 41 days annual leave including bank holiday and closure days (pro rata) with the ability to purchase more.
- Flexible working opportunities, including hybrid working for some roles.
- Generous pension scheme.
- A wide range of discounts and rewards on shopping, eating out and travel.
- A variety of staff networks, providing opportunities for social interaction, peer support and personal development (for example, Race Equality, LGBT+, Women’s and Parent’s networks).
- Recognition Awards to reward staff who go above and beyond in their role.
- A commitment to your development access to learning and mentoring schemes; integrated with our Professional Services Shared Skills Framework.
- A range of generous family-friendly policies:
- paid time off for parenting and caring emergencies
- access to menopause support in the workplace
- paid time off and support for fertility treatment
- and more
More details can be found on our benefits page: sheffield.ac.uk/jobs/benefits (opens in a new window).
We are a Disability Confident Leader (opens in a new window). If you have a disability and meet the essential criteria for this job you will be invited to take part in the next stage of the selection process.
Criminal record
Possession of a criminal record is not an automatic bar to employment at the University of Sheffield. We recognise the value of steady employment in the rehabilitation process and examine each case in its own right. More information can be found on our Information for candidates page: sheffield.ac.uk/jobs/candidates (opens in a new window).
Baseline personnel security standard
This role requires the postholder to undertake a Government baseline personnel security standard (BPSS) check as a condition of employment as a minimum. Further security clearance checks will be required for the role.
We are a research university with a global reputation for excellence. Our ideas and expertise change the world for the better, making a real difference to society. We know that when people come together with different
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