E-2449 – HEAD OF GROUP SUSTAINABLE URBAN AND BUILT ENVIRONMENT

at  Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology LIST

DESCRIPTION

The Urban and Built Environment (UBE) sector has an acknowledged potential to support several key European 2020-2030 policies contributing to Europe target of climate neutrality by 2050, typically the Green Deal, the Renovation Wave, and the new Circular Economy Action Plan recently adopted by the European Commission. 40% of Europe’s energy consumption comes from buildings, and they generate 36% of GHG emissions in the EU. With a staggering 97% of the housing stock estimated as being energy inefficient, the building sector is one of the key enablers for achieving low carbon economy goals for 2050. In Luxembourg, the UBE market is very active, the number of enterprises in the broad construction sector increased by 20.8% between 2010 and 2018. The country has adapted European environmental priorities to its national level and has also set its own ambitious objectives. Therefore, there is an urgency for a transformation for sustainable living, enhanced by the transition to a digitalized sector. Achieving this twin-transition is critical as well is the integration of the sector with other key value chains, considering that automation and digitalization of the building process is one of the emerging winning aspects of the Construction sector and Real estate market.
Your role – Develop, inspire, and lead interdisciplinary and mission-driven research in the urban and built environment sector.
As head-of-RDI group of LIST, you are an internationally recognized professional with proven track record of scientific and technology excellence in the domain of Sustainable Built Environment.
You will be responsible for the management, coordination, development, and performance of the SUBE group.
Your main missions will consist in:

(i) Shaping and adapting the SUBE group’s strategy:

• Refine and implement – in concertation with the Head of Unit and in alignment with LIST’s missions as an RTO – the RDI strategy of the group. Your overarching vision will be to address the complex set of current and future urban challenges within cities and urban communities, by developing technological solutions, services and systems for smart and sustainable buildings and districts. In addition to strengthen and expand the current technological assets at LIST, you will identify and develop lower TRL research topics which will be key to address the future societal and technological challenges in the domain. The final purpose will be to offer decision makers in municipalities, companies and society the means to act and enable the necessary urban transformations towards climate-neutral and smart cities, in particular through the development of national and international collaborations and partnerships.
• Develop the valorisation of the group’s outcomes in terms of patents, licences, prototypes production, spin-offs;
• Develop national, regional, and international collaborations and partnerships through fundamental and applied research projects and service activities.
• Negotiate collaborations and joint research programs with administrations and ministries, as well as private companies.

(ii) Managing the SUBE group through:

• Overall management, coordination and performance follow-up of the research group: lead a multicultural and multidisciplinary team of researchers and create a stimulating and satisfying work environment within the group, assume the operational responsibility of the group’s human resources, hire new talents and take care of their integration into the group.
• Fostering interdisciplinary approaches across the group, unit, and department.
• Empowerment of people via the delegation of tasks, as a strong motivational source, offering opportunities to your colleagues for acquiring new skills, expertise, self-confidence, productivity, and career development perspectives.
• Emotional intelligence, transpiring through honest communication – spanning from job interviews, or supervising and evaluating an employee and communicating in an open manner on expectations and potential problems.
• Fostering interdisciplinary approaches across the group, unit, and department.
• Ensure the implementation of the RDI group business plan and that the RDI group’s contribution to the RDI Unit performance indicators is achieved.
• Lead the definition and management of a portfolio of national and international projects and activities, aligned with the unit’s vision, mission and goals. Guarantee the professional execution of the RDI projects of the group.
• Ensure the financial follow-up of the group’s performance and assist the Head of Unit in reporting tasks and other administrative activities. Supporting the Head of unit on reporting financial and performance indicators.

(iii) Dissemination, valorisation, and transfer of the SUBE group’s RDI results and outputs through:

• Participation in the drafting of scientific articles, technical reports, patents, and inventions.
• Software licences.
• Participation in the implementation of technological solutions (e.g., proof-of-concepts, prototypes) and creation of spin-offs.

(iv) Securing scientific excellence and technological watch through:

• Developing and elevating the SUBE group’s national and international profile.
• Coordinating closely with national and international stakeholders in the construction sector.

EDUCATION

Master’s degree in engineering or architecture; PhD in a scientific field relevant to the field of Sustainable Urban and Built Environment

EXPERIENCE

You have a proven track record of publications, patents and research project management, with experience building and managing teams and acquiring competitive and industrial research funding.
You are familiar with research with private companies, as well as with the exploitation of the research towards technology.
You have experience in establishing and leading collaborative research projects with private, public and academic partners and you have proven your experience in European projects and road mapping.

LANGUAGE SKILLS

Flawless knowledge of English (both spoken and written) is required.
Knowledge of German and/or French and/or Luxembourgish is considered as an asset.

Please refer the Job description for details