Director of The Productivity Institute

in the Western Piedmont of North Carolina. Acutely sensitive to; Manchester; On-site; GBP 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A prestigious university in Manchester is seeking a Managing Director for The Productivity Institute. This role requires strong academic credentials in productivity and exceptional leadership skills to influence key stakeholders. The ideal candidate will drive impactful research and foster partnerships that improve productivity standards in the UK. Applications close on 15th January 2025 and can be submitted via CV and cover letter.

Qualifications

• Considerable academic standing in productivity or related fields.
• Demonstrated excellence in strategic leadership and stakeholder management.
• Strong international networks with diverse academic and business communities.

Responsibilities

• Shape the UK's productivity agenda through collaborative leadership.
• Build meaningful partnerships with business and policy communities.
• Focus on technology, productivity, and sustainable growth.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Stakeholder management

Collaborative leadership

International networking

Understanding of productivity

Policy engagement

Education

PhD or equivalent in relevant field

Job description

The University of Manchester's Alliance Manchester Business School (AMBS) seeks an exceptional academic leader to serve as Managing Director of The Productivity Institute. As we celebrate our 60th anniversary year, AMBS stands among the top 1% of business schools globally, with a reputation for pioneering research and real‑world impact.

The Productivity Institute is a £32 million UK‑wide research organisation, established in September 2020, that explores what productivity means for business, workers and communities. The Institute advances knowledge and informs significant decisions by governments and business leaders aimed at increasing productivity and raising living standards.

With ten institutional partners, nine productivity forums across the UK, approximately 40 co‑investigators and over 140 affiliated researchers, we are tackling crucial economic and social challenges through world‑class research and engagement. The Institute maintains strong connections with international academic communities, policymakers and organisations across government, business and civil society.

As we enter Phase 2 (2026/27–2031/32), the Institute will focus more strongly on how large societal transformations require organisational agility and resilience; the role of places in realising inclusive and sustainable growth; and implementing a systems‑based approach to connect and coordinate across multiple stakeholders.

The successful candidate will bring considerable academic standing in productivity or related fields, demonstrated excellence in strategic leadership and stakeholder management, and strong international networks. We need a collaborative leader who can unite diverse academic disciplines whilst building meaningful partnerships with business and policy communities. Critical themes include technology and productivity, regional economic development, sustainable growth, and the changing nature of work.

Join us in shaping the UK's productivity agenda in an institution that combines academic excellence with real‑world impact. Together, we can help create an era of sustained and inclusive productivity growth that raises living standards across society.

Application is by submission of a curriculum vitae and a covering letter of application, addressing the job description and person specification.

For an informal and confidential discussion about the role, please contact Alex Hurlow on [phone] or via email at [e-mail].

The closing date for applications is 09:00 GMT on Thursday 15th January 2025.

If you require any reasonable adjustments to assist you in the selection process, please advise us of these so that we can make appropriate arrangements.

AMBS is committed to creating an environment where diversity is celebrated and everyone is treated fairly. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates regardless of gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, age, religion, or nationality.

Should you require access to these documents in alternative formats, please contact Esther Elbro at [e-mail].

If you have comments that would support us to improve access to documentation, or our application processes more generally, please do not hesitate to contact us via [e-mail].