BFTT R&D Project Lead (William Clark & Sons)

The opportunity

The post holder will work with the management team at William Clark & Sons which are Ireland’s oldest surviving linen mill established in 1736 and research experts in sustainable textile manufacturing and finishing at UAL’s Fashion, Textiles and Technology Institute.

You will be employed by the University of the Arts London but be predominately based at/near Maghera (located in-between Londonderry and Belfast), Northern Ireland with some remote working a possibility, although presence on site (Maghera) will be critical for the project’s success. You will have the opportunity to spend some time with the University on research as well as receive academic, technical and mentoring support throughout the project.

William Clark & Sons have been awarded funding within the BFTT R&D Support Programme. The Programme aims to foster a creative business development culture that will enable fashion, textile and technology SMEs to thrive using bespoke R&D as a mechanism for innovation and growth. A core objective of this challenge is to advance the development of sustainable and technologically engaged fashion, textiles and technology products, services and experiences.

The principal aim of the project is to modernise William Clark & Sons’ beetling equipment and processes, enhancing the sustainability and relevance of the process, coinciding with a move to newly built facilities.

About you

This post is an exciting opportunity for a Post Graduate or Post-Doctoral Researcher (or equivalent demonstrable industry experience) to work as the R&D Project Lead, facilitating a novel collaborative project, between the William Clark & Sons and the Fashion, Textiles and Technology Institute at University of the Arts London (UAL). The post holder should have a postgraduate degree or equivalent research and/or industry experience in one of the following areas: textile technology/textile engineering/chemical engineering/chemistry with experience in chemical processing of textile fibres (not essential but experience in chemical processing of bast fibres will be an asset).

Please apply early as we shall close the application process before the advertised closing date if we receive a high volume of applications.

If you have any queries about this role, please contact Jaspreet Kaur, Resourcing Adviser via email RKEEstaffrecruitment@arts.ac.uk or 020 7514 9627.

What we offer

We are UAL

University of the Arts London offers an extensive range of courses in art, design, fashion, communication and performing arts. Our graduates go on to work in and shape the creative industries worldwide. University of the Arts London is the world’s second University for Art and Design in the QS World University Rankings® 2022. The University has a world-class reputation and is made up of 6 equally renowned Colleges: Camberwell College of Arts, Central Saint Martins, Chelsea College of Arts, London College of Communication, London College of Fashion and Wimbledon College of Arts.

William Clark & Sons are one of the world’s oldest companies, but it’s also one of the most progressive. Nearly three centuries ago, an enterprising man called Jackson Clark tried and tested a waterwheel that would drive a simple device called a Beetling Engine. Today, William Clark & Sons meet the evolving needs of every customer, from furnishers, decorators and fashion designers to users of traditional linen fabric or innovative industrial and technical fabric.

Our culture