Professor of Carbonomics

University of Derby; East Midlands; Hybrid; GBP 71,000 - 88,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Derby is seeking a Director of Derby International Business School to lead strategic research and education agendas. The role is primarily on-site in Derby, with adaptive working allowing remote elements under the university framework.

Competitive salary ranges from £70,774 to £88,467, with progression up to £101,738 for exceptional performers. The post requires a visionary academic leader who can strengthen industry links, elevate research impact, and drive international

Job description

Director of Derby International Business School

£70,774 to £88,467 per annum (for exceptional performers, there is scope for further progression up to £101,738 per annum)

Hybrid
This role will be based on site, primarily in the named location with the opportunity to work remotely available in line with our Adaptive Working Framework.

We have one simple promise – to make a positive impact. Through our ground-breaking research, teaching excellence and commitment to sustainable living, we are changing lives for the better.

The University of Derby is a modern university with a modern outlook. Everything we do is driven by delivering excellence and opportunities for our students, our staff and our region.

We have some of the best university facilities in the UK and achieve outstanding results for our teaching and research and have been awarded Gold in the prestigious Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023 – making it one of the top universities in the country recognised for its outstanding student experience and student outcomes.

Financially strong and seriously ambitious we offer our employees an inclusive culture that centres itself around staff wellbeing, where you can be confident you will receive all the help and encouragement you need to build a rewarding career with lots of opportunities to enhance your skills.

Based at our state of the art, £75 million Cavendish Building in the heart of Derby, at Derby International Business School, we are not just educating future business leaders - we’re shaping innovators, disruptors, and pioneers ready to thrive in a rapidly evolving world.

Our diverse portfolio of undergraduate and postgraduate courses spans dynamic disciplines including accounting, business management, international business, economics and finance, marketing, event management, and tourism management. Each programme is expertly crafted to equip you with the cutting‑edge skills, real‑world experience, and strategic mindset you need to excel in today’s global marketplace.

We pride ourselves on our commitment to academic excellence and industry relevance. Our curriculum is designed in partnership with leading organisations such as PwC, Rolls‑Royce, and local enterprise hubs, ensuring our graduates meet the demands of a competitive business environment. With strong ties to local and national businesses, our students gain access to invaluable opportunities for placements, networking, and hands‑on projects that bridge the gap between theory and practice.

Our programmes are accredited by top professional bodies, including CIMA, ACCA, CIM, and CIPD, setting the gold standard for quality and credibility in business education.

The University of Derby is a modern university with a modern outlook. Everything we do is driven by delivering excellence and opportunities for our students, our staff and our region. We have one simple promise – to make a positive impact. Through our ground-breaking research, teaching excellence and commitment to sustainable living, we are changing lives for the better.

Located in the heart of England, the University of Derby is the only university in Derbyshire, and offers industry‑relevant, expert teaching, from foundation and undergraduate degrees to postgraduate study and research. We have some of the best university facilities in the UK and achieve outstanding results for our teaching and research and have been awarded Gold in the prestigious Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023 – making it one of the top universities in the country recognised for its outstanding student experience and student outcomes.

At Derby International Business School, we are not just educating future business leaders – we’re shaping innovators, disruptors, and pioneers ready to thrive in a rapidly evolving world. Our diverse portfolio of undergraduate and postgraduate courses spans dynamic disciplines, with programmes expertly crafted to equip students with the cutting‑edge skills, real‑world experience, and strategic mindset needed to excel in today’s global marketplace.

We pride ourselves on our commitment to academic excellence and industry relevance. Our curriculum is designed in partnership with leading organisations such as PwC, Rolls‑Royce, and local enterprise hubs. Our programmes are accredited by top professional bodies, including CIMA, ACCA, CIM, and CIPD, setting the gold standard for quality and credibility in business education.

Having recently moved to the new, state of the art £75 million Cavendish Building in September 2025 this is an exciting time to be joining Derby International Business School. ICE (Intercontinental Exchange) is the world’s largest operator of carbon markets, hosting the four most actively traded compliance carbon programmes globally and recording over $1 trillion in notional value traded annually across its environmental markets. Working alongside ICE gives this Professor access to unparalleled markets, data and expertise. The School is now looking to appoint the inaugural ICE Professor of Carbonomics, in partnership with ICE. This is a world‑first position at the intersection of academia, industry and sustainability which builds on our commitment to Better Business, Better Society, Better Future.

The ICE Professor will play a critical role in driving cutting‑edge research at the nexus of global finance, environmental risk management, and policy reform - supporting transition strategies that are financially viable, scalable, and societally impactful. They will help to build the Institute of Carbonomics, further positioning the University of Derby as an international hub for research innovation in carbon economics and green finance. The Professor will engage directly with ICE’s teams and infrastructure, giving them unparalleled access to the markets, data and policy levers that shape the global net‑zero transition. Candidates who are energised by the role of market mechanisms in delivering sustainability outcomes – and who want their research to influence real‑world financial and regulatory systems – will thrive here.

The successful candidate will bring an international recognised track record as a researcher in sustainability, financial markets, carbon economics, or a closely aligned field with experience of cross‑sector industry collaborations. As a professor they will also demonstrate a record of success in securing competitive research funding and in publishing their research in leading international journals.

This role closes at 11.59pm GMT on Monday 5th October 2026.

We’re looking for a visionary academic with a track record in sustainability, financial markets, carbon economics, or a closely aligned field. You’ll have the leadership to build cross‑sector collaborations, the academic credibility to elevate our global profile, and the passion to turn research into impact.

You will hold a good degree and PhD in a relevant discipline, and extensive expertise in Carbonomics. The successful candidate will demonstrate the depth and breadth of knowledge required to advance research and innovation in this evolving field. You will have a proven record of research excellence, evidenced by high‑quality outputs in leading international journals and conferences, alongside clear evidence of international recognition - such as invited keynote lectures, editorial roles, collaboration with industry partners, and contributions to global research networks.

• Lead high‑impact research programmes focused on designing financial models to account for the cost of carbon, driving innovation, and securing significant external funding to enhance research capacity and the University’s reputation.
• Publish research in top‑tier outputs and foster collaborations within the University and with external academic, industry, and government partners, with a strong emphasis on delivering high returns in the Research Excellence Framework (REF).
• Provide intellectual leadership and mentor academic staff, ultimately leading a research team and supervising postgraduate and postdoctoral researchers and thereby strengthening the research capacity of the wider School.
• Contribute significantly to the strategic direction of both the School and the wider University’s innovation and research strategy.
• Publish pedagogic research in high‑quality publications and contribute to a very strong REF return, mentoring colleagues and fostering research capacity within the School.

Industry & Government Policy

• Develop and lead a world‑class research programme in Carbonomics, addressing sustainability challenges and collaborating with industry partners.
• Advise institutional investors, regulators, and policymakers on market mechanisms for sustainability and net zero transitions.
• Advocate for evidence‑based policies, proactively contributing to the design and critique of incentive structures, market reforms, and green finance instruments.
• Represent the University at industry forums, consultations, and international conferences, supporting regulatory frameworks for sustainable business practices.
• Build high‑profile partnerships with educational bodies, industry, and government to enhance income generation. Secure major external grants and deliver projects to successful completion.

Public Engagement & Research Dissemination

• Champion the dissemination of research findings to industry, government, and the public, making sustainability insights accessible and actionable.
• Promote public access to research to support the University’s social mobility and public engagement goals.
• Engage with the University’s civic role through public and societal engagement activities, actively contributing to the role of the University in its civic setting.

Contribute to the Learning and Teaching Environment

• Contribute to teaching curriculum at various levels, as appropriate, and be responsible for the quality assurance of learning and teaching within your discipline.

Other Activities

• Produce highly impactful outputs supporting REF/KEF/TEF objectives.
• Contribute to achieving Institutional Success Measures at a senior leadership level.
• Undertake specific roles for the School / University as needed, including chairing committees.
• Adhere to and implement University policies and procedures.
• Good degree and PhD in a relevant discipline

Experience

• Experience of leading, winning and managing major external grants/projects to successful completion
• Experience of producing high quality outputs and generating impact beyond academia
• Experience of supervising the successful completion of doctoral students
• Experience of successful supervision of post‑doctoral researchers

Skills, knowledge & abilities

• Relevant depth and breadth of knowledge in Carbonomics to enable the furthering of new knowledge and understanding in their field
• External evidence of research excellence, as demonstrated by a track record of outputs in top international journals and conferences
• Ability to evidence a strong track record of international recognition and esteem, such as international reviewing, work with key industry partners, journal editorships and keynote lectures
• Ability to lead and motivate academics, acting as a mentor to relevant staff
• An appropriate level of digital capability with practical experience of applications

Business requirements

In addition to usual University structures, the Professor in Carbonomics will report on a quarterly basis to a specialist steering group chaired by the Deputy Vice‑Chancellor. Following an initial proposal from the appointee based on their expertise and area of research interest, this steering group will co‑create the specific research focus and associated programme of work for this post.

• Generous annual leave entitlement of 47 days inclusive of bank holidays and concessionary days (pro rata)
• Suite of holistic wellbeing benefits and support including family‑friendly policies, generous sick pay provision and comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme
• Access to a variety of staff discounts at high street retailers
• Discounted onsite gym
• Holiday purchase
• Cycle to Work scheme
• A flexible working environment
• A commitment to personal and professional development

This role is eligible for sponsorship by the University, however, your individual circumstances must meet the criteria set out by UKVI ; this includes meeting the English Language requirement and earning a salary that meets the highest of either the going rate for the SOC code or the minimum salary threshold for the Skilled Worker route (£41,700 per annum, as of 22nd July 2025).

If the role is eligible, but the offered salary is less that the going rate for the role, you may still be able to apply for a Skilled Worker visa if:

Your job is on the Immigration Salary List

You’re under 26, studying or a recent graduate, or in professional training

You have a PhD level qualification that’s relevant to your job

You have a postdoctoral position in science or higher education

Please note that the University cannot confirm your eligibility for sponsorship until an offer is made and your individual circumstances have been considered.

The University of Derby is committed to fostering an open, inclusive and diverse community where everyone is treated with dignity, fairness and respect. We are committed to advancing equity, diversity and inclusion regardless of age, disability, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief (or none), sex or sexual orientation.

As a Disability Confident employer, we are committed to inclusive recruitment and welcome requests for adjustments throughout the recruitment process. Applicants may choose their preferred title, including ‘Mx’, and may share preferred pronouns if they wish. We also use anonymised shortlisting to help reduce the potential impact of unconscious bias. For more information on equity,diversityand inclusion at the University of Derby, pleasevisitour website .

We are also committed to promoting academic freedom and freedom of speech and expression within the law, in line with our Code of Practice , and value diversity of thought alongside diversity of backgrounds and experiences.

However you identify, we welcome applications from people whose experiences, perspectives and talents will contribute to our inclusive, supportive and intellectually vibrant community.

Environmental Sustainability

At the University of Derby, we are passionate about embedding sustainability into everything that we do. We aim to bring environmental sustainability into all aspects of the University, including teaching, research and operational activities. In line with the University’s strategic framework, we expect all our staff to embed sustainability into their working practices and support the University’s objective to reach net zero carbon by 2050.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all our staff, students and children. At the University of Derby, safeguarding is everybody's concern.