Lead the revolution in sustainable cement! Material Evolution is searching for a visionary Head of R&D to spearhead our mission of disrupting the $500bn global cement industry.

About Material Evolution

Material Evolution (Mevo) is the future of materials. Today, cement contributes 8% of total global emissions which is why Mevo is on a mission to rapidly and radically decarbonize the £500bn cement industry. Having raised £15m in Series A funding in summer ’23 (read more about this here and here) and with a first of its kind production facility being purpose built in North Wales, Mevo is on a path to save gigatons of carbon. Our team of scientists has discovered (and patented) a novel geopolymer cement that currently emits 85% less carbon than traditional cement and is rapidly working towards a carbon negative solution which is superior to existing cements by virtually every measurable standard. Now, our Commercial and Operational teams are partnering with some of the world’s leading industrial materials companies to bring our patented products to market as quickly as possible.

About the Role

As our Head of R&D, you'll be the scientific mastermind behind our groundbreaking cement formulations. You'll lead a talented team of scientists, engineers, and researchers, fostering a dynamic environment that prioritizes innovation and collaboration. Your responsibilities include:

• Defining and executing the strategic vision for Material Evolution's R&D department.
• Overseeing the development of novel, sustainable cement formulations with a significantly reduced carbon footprint.
• Providing scientific leadership and mentorship to the R&D team, fostering a culture of continuous learning and discovery.
• Managing and prioritizing multiple research projects, ensuring adherence to timelines and budget constraints.
• Collaborating with external partners, including universities and research institutions, to stay at the forefront of scientific advancements.
• Identifying and securing funding opportunities to support ongoing R&D initiatives.
• Representing Material Evolution at industry conferences and events, disseminating our groundbreaking research.

About You

• Ph.D. in materials science, chemistry, or civil engineering or 5 + years in a related field OR B.S/M.S in materials science, chemistry or civil engineering plus 10 years industry experience.
• Demonstrated ability in leading and managing R&D teams within a high-growth (preferably startup) environment.
• You have a proven track record of successfully developing and commercializing innovative products from bench top to industrial scale (construction materials sector or cement experience would be a major plus).
• You demonstrate exceptional scientific expertise and a deep understanding of mechanochemical processes for material modification.
• You're a strategic thinker with a passion for sustainability and a commitment to reducing the environmental impact of the construction industry.
• You possess excellent (verbal and written) communication and interpersonal skills, effectively leading and motivating a diverse team.
• You excel at building strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including collaborators and funding partners.
• Comfortable getting hands on in the lab to provide direction but will spend most of time on research strategy and communication.
• You have experience writing successful bids for grants and patents.

Key Responsibilities:

• Developing and delivering the R & D priorities and developing plans to accomplish these goals.
• Mentoring Mevos’ team of scientist to deliver out.
• Writing grants to fund additional research.
• Ensuring that Mevos’ meets its ambitious target and allowing for resource and time to be used efficiently.
• Leading the development of Mevo technology through deep scientific knowledge.
• Communicating results to internal and external stakeholders.
• Making Mevo team thoughts leaders in the space of green cement.
• Making sure you have an A* team to work on one of the worlds most important issues.
• Making the CSO go further in the company.

Our Shared Values:

• Planet-first: We innovate to make a real difference
• Partner obsessed: We build relationships for the long-term
• Team players: We have fun & win together
• Data driven: We use data to drive decisions
• Radical owners: We challenge the status quo & get results

What do you get for all your hard work?

• Mevo pay. Competitive base salary
• Mevo development. Learn and get promoted fast in line with our rapid growth plans
• Mevo Health & Wellbeing. Investing in health and happiness. Our best-in-class health insurance is through Bupa
• Mevo Away Days. Yearly summer (Parties), winter (Parties), and team retreats.
• Mevo Social Club. Run by the team to enjoy nights out with colleagues, recharge and do some team bonding.
• Flexible working. We trust you to deliver – flexible hours and work environment to suit your needs
• Mevo Time off. Recharge with 25 days of paid time off per year + bank holidays. Plus 1 day extra for each year served (after 2 years) to a max 30 days
• Mevo Equipment. We’ll provide you with the equipment you need to succeed in your mission.
• Mevo Extensive upskilling. Extensive opportunities to upskill and develop your expertise (plus £500 budget per year spend on what you need to progress)
• Mevo Fuel – be that office fuel, monthly team lunches, meals after 7 pm.
• Mevo Cycle. Cycle to work scheme.
• Mevo sustainability. Yearly awards to Mevonauts that have had the biggest green impact.

We are looking for ambitious and driven team players who have a track record of success. Nobody said that re-defining an industry and saving the planet while doing so would be easy. Our ideal team member is someone who loves a challenge, makes decisions through data and is excited to own their role in decarbonizing the cement industry. After all, the prize is our planet.

We’re creating an environment and culture where every individual feels safe and empowered to do their best work. We believe in everyone being treated and paid fairly, no matter their age, sex, ethnic background, disability, sexual orientation or gender identity.

Join Material Evolution and lead the charge towards a sustainable future!