Nebrija Business & Technology School, part of Nebrija University, is seeking an outstanding professional to lead the development of a distinctive and high-impact applied research agenda in business transformation, entrepreneurship, excellence and growth. Nebrija University is a highly international institution with deep connections to the corporate world and a strong entrepreneurial identity. Within this ecosystem, Nebrija Business & Technology School is expanding its academic and institutional ambition with a clear vision: Human Leadership for a Technological Future. We are looking for a Director of Applied Research who can bridge academia and practice, build meaningful partnerships with companies and institutions, and position the School as a relevant voice in the analysis of how organisations are transforming in response to technological, strategic, operational and leadership challenges. This is a strategic opportunity for a candidate who combines intellectual credibility with real business proximity, and who is motivated by the challenge of shaping an applied research platform with strong market relevance, institutional value and international potential.
- Define and lead the strategic development of an applied research area focused on business transformation.
- Build and manage relationships with companies, executives, institutions and external partners to identify relevant research opportunities.
- Develop research initiatives connected to current organisational challenges, such as digital transformation, AI adoption, leadership, talent, innovation, sustainability, strategy, operating models and business reinvention.
- Generate applied knowledge outputs including reports, white papers, executive insights, observatories, case studies and collaborative industry publications.
- Promote the visibility and positioning of Nebrija Business & Technology School as a platform for relevant, practice-oriented knowledge creation.
- Foster collaboration between faculty, industry professionals and external stakeholders around shared research agendas.
- Identify opportunities for sponsored research, institutional partnerships and externally connected projects.
- Contribute to the integration of applied research into teaching, programme development and executive engagement.
- Support the School?s international projection through thought leadership, academic-business networks and strategic collaborations.
- Help shape a research culture that is both academically grounded and practically meaningful.
- A PhD in management, business, economics, strategy, innovation, technology, organisational studies or a related field is strongly preferred.
- A strong professional and intellectual track record in areas related to business transformation.
- A clear dual profile, combining academic credibility with substantial practitioner exposure.
- Significant experience working with companies, executives, institutions, consulting firms, innovation ecosystems or transformation projects.
- An excellent command of English; bilingual or near-native English is essential.
- A strong international outlook and the ability to operate in multicultural and globally oriented environments.
- The ability to identify emerging business trends and turn them into relevant research themes and externally connected projects.
- Experience producing applied knowledge for executive or institutional audiences.
- Strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
- A genuine interest in helping build and scale a growing academic project with ambition and external
- Experience in applied research centres, think tanks, business schools, consulting environments or corporate innovation/transformation functions.
- A network of business and institutional contacts that can help develop collaborations and strategic partnerships.
- The ability to connect research with executive education, undergraduate and postgraduate teaching, and market positioning.
- A strong understanding of how organisations are evolving in response to technology, AI, geopolitical shifts, talent challenges and new business models.
- An entrepreneurial mindset and a hands-on approach to building new initiatives.
- The capacity to create research that is rigorous, visible, useful and clearly differentiated.
