Director, IC3 | Tyndall Head of Group – Ireland’s Semiconductor Competence Centre

Director, IC3 | Tyndall Head of Group – Ireland’s Semiconductor Competence Centre
Contract: Full Time/Fixed Term

This is your opportunity to make a strategic contribution to the next phase of semiconductor research, industrial innovation, SME expansion and talent development for the semiconductor sector in Ireland. You will establish and nurture the development of a multi-disciplined team delivering a collaboration platform of service and support to the entire semiconductor industry in Ireland, with a particular focus on increasing the number of semiconductor technology startups and the growth of the SME sector.

Ireland’s Chips Competence Centre, “IC3”, hosted at Tyndall National Institute, Cork is a non-profit organisation focused on strengthening Ireland's role in the global semiconductor industry and contributing to the goals of the EU CHIPS Act. IC3 will support Irish Large Entities (LEs), startups and Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs) companies who are leading innovation, growth, and sustainability in semiconductors.

This new centre will:

• Nurture and support semiconductor entrepreneurship, spinouts and SMEs to maximise their participation in the semiconductor ecosystem under the EU Chips Act
• Provide signposting and expertise for all semiconductor research and industry partners covering: Chips JU Pilot Line and Design Platform research and service engagement
• Develop the next generation of semiconductor professionals through skills development for the semiconductor sector including upskilling in semiconductor technologies for SMEs and startups to improve business and marketing skills, competitiveness and drive innovation
• Build networks by connecting stakeholders across academia, industry, and European competence centres to foster collaboration, knowledge transfer, and industrial value chains.

IC3 will leverage its partners' expertise and Ireland's strong semiconductor ecosystem, including organizations like MIDAS, Tyndall, MCCI, UCD, and NovaUCD, to support businesses and researchers. 

Based at Tyndall National Institute in Cork, you will have the following responsibilities:

Key Responsibilities of the IC3 Director Role

• Guided by the key stakeholder partners in the consortium, develop the strategic activity of the Competence Centre and its first business plan based on the work packages, roadmap of strategic services and activity including KPI’s as laid out in EU proposal for IC3.
• Attract, Recruit and lead the Centre’s required operational staff to setup and manage the operation of the Competence Centre.
• Steer the production of the first business plan with the required training and services list to be approved by the Stakeholder Steering Committee and agencies.
• Drive the execution of the Centre business plan and ensure the delivery of its vision and goals, in accordance with the EU proposal for IC3 and expectations of the Stakeholder Steering Committee (SSC) and state agencies (IDA & EI).
• Effective management of the Centre’s activity and build the funnel of industry client opportunities to assist, train, develop and steer in the right direction for their growth.
• Drive the development of these industry client relationships in the funnel.
• Provide leadership and expertise, ensuring that resources, procedures, and systems are in place and appropriate to meet the Centre’s objectives and business plan.
• Be accountable for the operational and financial control, and efficiency and productivity of the Centre
• Ensure progress against key performance indicators and reporting on performance to the Stakeholder Steering Committee.
• Develop IC3 as an internationally recognised competence centre of excellence, whilst ensuring continued relevance to the needs of Irish startup and SME industry in the semiconductor sector.
• Interact and collaborate with other EU competence centres and service provider partners within Ireland and abroad as necessary to successfully meet the ambition of the Centre’s business plan.
• Ensure that synergies and opportunities for mutual success are maximised across EU, while sign-posting services and pilot lines technology expertise available at Tyndall National Institute.

Essential Criteria

• Bachelor’s Degree in a science, engineering or relevant business discipline
• Typically, with 10 years’ experience in team development and management for R&D, product or business unit teams in the semiconductor sector (or other high-tech sector dependent on advanced semiconductor technologies)
• Experience of financial management comparable to the scale and operational objectives of the IC3 centre
• Responsibility for managing the delivery of KPIs for a full team or business unit
• Experience of business development and/or R&D contracts
• Excellent influencing and coalition building skills with the ability to manage multiple stakeholders
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (written and oral)

Desirable Criteria

• Knowledge of the strategy and operational needs of both SMEs and Large Entities operating in the semiconductor sector.
• A strong understanding of the process of innovation and new venture formation and scaling.
• A track record of securing funding (within industry, national funding bodies, EU).
• Experience in working with stakeholders across Govt, academia and business
• Knowledgeable in semiconductor IC design processes and/or microelectronics product development management.
• Experience of high level strategic planning and implementation.
• Experience in IP management and protection.
• MBA or MSC in a relevant business, engineering or scientific area.

Appointment may be made on the Senior Admin IV (Grade 8) salary scale – €97,577 to €117,296 per annum. Salary placement on appointment will be in accordance with public sector pay policy.

Informal enquiries can be made in confidence to Professor William Scanlon
Closing date of application 1pm, 28th May 2025.

Application Instructions
Please make sure to attach an up to date CV/Resume AND a brief motivation letter outlining how you meet the ‘Essential Criteria’ for this role.

A full candidate information pack is available by clicking here.

Please note that Garda vetting and/or an international police clearance check may form part of the selection process.

Please note that an appointment to posts advertised will be dependent on University approval, together with the terms of the employment control framework for the higher education sector.

At this time, Tyndall National Institute does not require the assistance of recruitment agencies.
Tyndall National Institute at University College, Cork is an Equal Opportunities Employer.