External Research and Collaborations Director

At OQC, we aren’t just theorising about the future; we’re building it. Born from a philosophy of bold innovation, we’ve successfully transitioned quantum computing from an academic dream into a commercial reality. The most exciting thing is that we’re just getting started and we’ve recently closed our £260 million Series C funding round – the largest fundraise ever completed by a quantum computing company in Europe. As External Research and Collaborations Director, you will shape and lead OQC’s external research ecosystem, turning scientific collaboration opportunities into funded, strategically aligned programmes that accelerate our technology roadmap. Working closely with our Founder and senior leadership team, you’ll build high-impact partnerships that strengthen OQC’s scientific influence, unlock funding opportunities, and support long-term business growth. The Role You will own OQC’s approach to research partnerships, grant funding, and external collaborations, ensuring that scientific priorities are translated into well-governed, executable programmes that deliver meaningful technical and commercial outcomes. What You'll Be Working On Defining and executing OQC’s external research and collaboration strategy across universities, research institutions, funding bodies, industry partners, and the wider quantum ecosystem. Identifying, prioritising, and securing strategic grant funding opportunities aligned with OQC’s technical roadmap and business objectives. Leading end-to-end delivery of grant applications and funded programmes, coordinating stakeholders, budgets, governance, reporting, and partner engagement. Building and maintaining senior relationships with academic, research, industry, and funding organisations to create high-value collaboration opportunities. Partnering with Science and Innovation leadership to drive research prioritisation, funding strategy, budget planning, and resource allocation. Ensuring collaboration programmes are delivered effectively, proactively managing risks, dependencies, governance requirements, and stakeholder expectations. Driving cross-functional alignment across Science, Engineering, Product, Finance, Legal, Commercial, and People teams to maximise collaboration success and business impact. What We're Looking For Significant experience leading complex external research collaborations, strategic partnerships, grant-funded programmes, or equivalent scientific initiatives. Strong background within quantum technologies, quantum computing, quantum hardware, physics, engineering, or another deep-tech environment. Proven ability to influence senior scientific, technical, commercial, and operational stakeholders in complex and ambiguous environments. Experience managing relationships with universities, research institutions, funding bodies, industry partners, or comparable organisations. Demonstrated success delivering complex programmes against milestones, budgets, governance frameworks, and reporting requirements. Experience contributing to business planning, strategic prioritisation, budget forecasting, and resource planning within technical or scientific organisations. Excellent ability to translate complex scientific and technical concepts into clear proposals, plans, decisions, and stakeholder communications. Degree in Physics, Engineering, Quantum Technology, Computer Science, or a related scientific discipline, or equivalent practical experience. Expertise in strategic planning, grant development, programme management, stakeholder engagement, budgeting, forecasting, risk management, and technical proposal development. The 'Nice-to-Haves' Experience securing or managing significant grant funding through organisations such as UKRI, Innovate UK, Horizon Europe, EPSRC, or similar funding bodies. Experience within a scale-up, commercial R&D, or high-growth technology environment. Background in shaping research strategy alongside academic or industry collaborators. Exposure to intellectual property management, collaboration agreements, and research governance. Experience leading teams, matrix organisations, or cross-functional delivery groups. PhD, MSc, or equivalent research experience in quantum physics, quantum computing, superconducting circuits, engineering, or a related field. Knowledge of partnership governance, research commercialisation, change leadership, data analysis, and talent planning. Why Join OQC You will join a world-class team at the forefront of the next computational era. We offer a culture of bold innovation, the chance to work with unique lab infrastructure, and the opportunity to see your work redefine the limits of computation. Learn more about our benefits and positive work culture here: https://oqc.tech/company/careers-at-oqc/