Job Description

Job Title:

Research Associate - IGNITE C3.2

Posting Start Date:

12/09/2025

Job Id:

1557

School/Department:

Management School

Work Arrangement:

Full Time (Hybrid)

Contract Type:

Fixed-term

Salary per annum ():

38,784 - 42,254

Closing Date:

03/10/2025
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.

Overview

Funded by UKRI EPSRC, IGNITE (Indigenous Green-steel for Net-zero Innovation, Technology and Enterprise) Sustainable Manufacturing Hub is a multi-university/industry partnership that will kick start a green steel revolution supporting a just transition to net zero economic growth. The current potential for the transition of UK steelworks to net zero operation holds initial challenges but long-term opportunities. In the decades to come, indigenous steel production can drive a green industrial revolution. This 22m IGNITE Sustainable Manufacturing Hub (2025 - 2032) aims to trailblaze the emerging opportunities for UK wide produced green steel to underpin our just transition to net zero.



We are recruiting a post-doctoral research associate for the IGNITE Sustainable Manufacturing Hub. The post being advertised for is located in the Sheffield University Management School and a key member of the Advanced Resource Efficiency Centre (AREC), Energy Institute. We are primarily looking for someone with excellent domain knowledge and the ability and desire to work in a cross-disciplinary manner.



The successful candidate will specialise in supply chain resilience, life cycle assessment (LCA) and supply chain sustainability modelling. The successful candidate will work with Prof Lenny Koh (Deputy Director of IGNITE) to deliver C3.2 (Supply chain optimisation and LCA). C3.2 will build from three research anchors: (a) supply chain sustainability approach for new materials and technologies, (b) prospective LCA with geo-spatial-temporal approach to forecast future sustainability, (c) resiliency measurement to future proof and safeguard critical resources. C3.2 will assess new and green steel alloy supply chain resilience and holistic sustainability.



Further information on IGNITE can be found here:

Main duties and responsibilities

Identify, organise and review appropriate literature, including academic, policy and grey literatures. Collect and analyse industry data, large scale panel data and data from databases Build LCA models and conduct prospective LCA with geo-spatial-temporal approach to forecast future sustainability Develop and conduct supply chain sustainability, resilience assessment and scenario modelling for new materials and technologies Develop new supply chain sustainability and resilience tools Develop new methods to measure resiliency and holistic sustainability Perform advanced statistical and critical analysis Write and publish in high quality scientific journals and policy briefs Write future research proposals in related fields Support Professor Lenny Koh and collect impact evidence from industry and policy makers Support cross-cutting and cross-disciplinary work in IGNITE Participate and present in meetings, events and conferences Work collaboratively with other researchers and partners Participate in research activities and events, and be available for engagement activities involving e.g. policy makers, businesses and other stakeholders You will make a full and active contribution to the principles of the 'Sheffield Academic'. These include the achievement of excellence in applied teaching and research, and scholarly pursuits to make a genuine difference in the subject area and to the University's achievements as a whole As a member of staff you will be encouraged to make ethical decisions in your role, embedding the University sustainability strategy into your working activities wherever possible Any other duties commensurate with the grade 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 or desirable

Stage(s) assessed at

A PhD in a relevant subject area or equivalent experience (e.g., operations management, operations research/management science, supply chain management, life cycle assessment, sustainability, resiliency, materials science and manufacturing engineering)


Essential


Application


Willingness to acquire knowledge of materials science and manufacturing engineering


Essential


Interview


Ability to initiate and build relationships and communicate impactfully with people at all levels in both the public (e.g. government) and private (e.g. industry) sectors


Essential


Interview


Excellent written journals publication track record and verbal communication skills and ability to convey scientific / technical material and non-technical information


Essential


Application, Interview & Presentation


Ability to work independently without close supervision, to work flexibly and in a cross-disciplinary multi partners environment


Essential


Interview


Experience of collecting/sourcing data, building new modelling tools and analysing quantitative large-scale data for advanced modelling (e.g. panel data analysis, multiple regression, AI-enabled forecasting, geo-spatial technique, python and advanced coding skills). Examples of tools include Brightway, Open LCA, SCEnAT, FPSCRS, STATA, Ecoinvent, Matlab etc.


Essential


Application

Interview & Presentation


Excellent supply chain sustainability and resilience scenario modelling experience using advanced methods and tools and ability to develop new modelling methods and tools


Essential


Application

Interview & Presentation


Excellent prospective LCA with geo-spatial temporal approach using advanced methods and tools and ability to develop new modelling methods and tools


Essential


Application

Interview & Presentation


Familiarity with data sources relevant to steels, energy, material, supply chain, trade, economic and environment


Desirable


Interview & Presentation


Self-motivated, able to work to tight deadlines, prioritise workload, and respond to urgent high pressure requests


Essential


Interview


Experience of drafting policy briefs and write proposals with a high level of accuracy and attention to detail


Essential


Application & Interview


Experience in impact evidence collection from industry and policy makers


Essential


Interview

Further Information

Grade

7

Salary

38,784 - 42,254

Work arrangement

Full-time

Duration

36 months

Line manager

Deputy Director of IGNITE

Direct reports

n/a

Our website

https://sheffield.ac.uk/management


For informal enquiries about this job contact Professor Lenny Koh: on

s.c.l.koh

@sheffield.ac.uk

.

Next steps in the recruitment process

It is anticipated that the selection process will take place during w/c 13th October 2025. This will consist of an interview and presentation. We plan to let candidates know if they have progressed to the selection stage on the week commencing 6th October 2025. If you need any support, equipment or adjustments to enable you to participate in any element of the recruitment process you can contact mgt.hr@sheffield.ac.uk.

Our vision and strategic plan

We are the University of Sheffield. This is our vision: sheffield.ac.uk/vision ().

What we offer

A minimum of 41days 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; A range of generous family-friendly policies + paid time off for parenting and caring emergencies
+ support for those going through the menopause
+ paid time off and support for fertility treatment
+ and more





We are a Disability Confident Employer. 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.

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 views, approaches and insights it can lead to richer, more creative and innovative teaching and research and the highest levels of student experience. Our University Vision (www.sheffield.ac.uk/vision) outlines our commitment to building a diverse community of staff and students that recognises and values the abilities, backgrounds, beliefs and ways of living for everyone.