Engie Research & innovation is recruiting : 
A Lead Scientific Advisor (M/F)
position based in Courbevoie - Paris La défense. 

To succeed in the energy transition, technological innovations are crucial. In 2021, the International Energy Agency stated that over 75% of the technologies that will be required to reach carbon neutrality are today not yet mature but under development in research labs or by start-ups. The main role of ENGIE’s Research and Innovation (R&I) division is to identify, de-risk and scale up these technologies as soon as possible and bring them to the market through our Businesses giving them a competitive advantage. Within R&I, we can count on 550 experts committed to this common mission.

R&I is organized in 4 operating capabilities (Research, Labs, Incubators, Ventures) and 2 transversal enablers (Steering and Performance, Ecosystems & Expertise), gathered under a single management in close collaboration with the relevant business counterparts.

ENGIE Research has the mission to (i) consolidate the emerging scientific and technological developments (“Sourcing”) that will potentially impact the Group’s businesses steer, (ii) coordinate and supervise the Research Programs (“Derisking”) executed within the Research Labs, and (iii) to explore the potential (market & business) and research needs on Opportunities Exploration (“Scouting”).

The objective is to focus the Research Programs to deliver competitive advantage on the Strategic Priorities for R&I, and create significant added value to the businesses through exploring, evaluating, de-risking, testing, developing and integrating new technologies.

The Lead Scientific Advisor will work in view of the following scientific department goals :

• Focus on technologies and scientific trends likely to impact ENGIE business significantly in 5-10y
• Develop and continuously update a long-term scientific vision (academic, institutions, partners,…)
• Identify key external research partners on selected emerging technologies, within the academic world, research institutes as well as within other industrial companies; all over the world with special attention to ENGIE’s business geographies and link with them
• Manage a portfolio of scouting research projects on topics that are preparing the future
• Represent ENGIE externally in selected industrial advisory boards groups, scientific councils, institutes and organizations on R&D
• Elevate ENGIE’s brand as an innovative and technology driven company
• Alert and advise GBU’s and management on emerging & disruptive technologies
• Organize the consultations with Scientific Council
• With the Technology Department and Engie University coordinate, structure and push the Knowledge Management on R&D technologies within the group

PRIMARY TASKS :

• Technowatch : develop a deep understanding of the emerging technology trends with a business mind-set not only focusing on ENGIE’s today business but its possible future business
• Communicate these key insights on emerging technologies widely in the group; alert and provide advice to the top executives of ENGIE
• Communicate these key insights on emerging technologies also externally as call for collaboration and to raise ENGIE’s profile in this area.
• Identify the ‘best in class’ research organisations worldwide on the technologies identified in the (emerging) technowatch and develop preferably publicly funded R&D collaborations with them on low TRL technologies
• Manage a portfolio of scouting research projects on topics that are preparing the future
• Represent ENGIE externally in selected industrial advisory boards groups, scientific councils, institutes and organisations on R&D; with as aim to elevate ENGIE’s brand as an innovative and technology driven company
• Support and coordinate the knowledge management programs on R&D, sharing lessons learned and sharing best practices. This will include the coordination of ENGIE Research’s deliverables such as for example Technology Position Papers.

SECONDARY TASKS :

• Motivate and stimulate ENGIE LAB’s experts to actively search for external publicly funded R&D collaborations on risky, low TRL but potentially game-changing technologies.
• Assist ENGIE Research’s technology division in the steering of the process of corporate R&D roadmaps with a particular focus on how the ENGIE LABS interact and collaborate with the external R&D world.
• Provide advice and participate to ENGIE University’s programs aiming at developing awareness on new technologies.

Lieu de travail : Paris La Défense / Brussels

EXPERIENCE/DIPLOMA :

• Academic master
• Doctoral level degree (PhD) is a plus
• Proven scientific and/or technology research experience. May be fully academic, but a combination of academia/industry experience would be a plus
• Proven record of peer reviewed international publications is a plus

SKILLS/SPECIFIC KNOWLEDGE :   

• Comprehensive understanding of the energy transition problematics; Ability to develop an in-depth understanding of and vision on ENGIE future needs in the R&D field.
• Strong interpersonal capabilities to engage with high level scientific and technologic key players;  ability to develop and maintain a large network of international contacts.
• Ability to interact effectively in cross-disciplines situations and to foster collaboration
• Strong analytical and quantitative mind, able to conceptualize and see the bigger picture.
• Effective written and oral communication skills.
• Advanced level of English, good knowledge of French.

Location : T1 Courbevoie

Contract : Engie SA - Plage A