Leadership capability: What employers expect and how IChemE can help

Andrea Hosey, VP of member engagement and Board Trustee at IChemE examines the role of leadership for chemical, biochemical and process engineers and what the Institution is doing to help members

ASK ANY chemical engineer at what point their career started to feel genuinely challenging and many will point not to a complex technical problem but to the moment they were expected to lead. Whether managing a team for the first time, influencing without authority or navigating the pressures of a rapidly evolving industry, leadership capability has become an essential professional skill.

The data is clear: leadership is a priority

IChemE’s most recent Employment Survey (see TCE 1,017) saw leadership emerge as the number one employability skill that members want to develop over the next 12 months, cited by 51% of respondents. Even more striking, this figure has risen 10% since 2023.

Leadership ranked as the top skill to develop in 16 of the 30 areas listed in the survey, ahead of digital and technical skills (43%). Critically, this pattern is not confined to one career stage. Among early-career members, 56% identified leadership as their top priority; at mid-career, that figure rose to 65%.

Even among those in established careers, leadership remained a top-three priority at 42%. Whether working in an SME or a large organisation, the picture is remarkably consistent: our members know they need to grow as leaders and they are actively looking for support to do so.

What employers are looking for

This demand for leadership development reflects what employers across the sector increasingly expect from chemical engineers at every level. Technical excellence remains the foundation but employers tell us that they need engineers who can communicate, influence, manage change and inspire others. The ability to lead is no longer a “nice to have” for senior roles and is being sought from engineers much earlier in their careers.

IChemE’s engagement with employers helps bridge this gap – connecting organisations with resources, accreditation frameworks and talent pipelines needed to develop capable, well-rounded engineers. If you are an employer looking to understand how IChemE can support your workforce development, I encourage you to explore IChemE’s employer partner offering: bit.ly/icheme-employer-partners-services

Exclusive member content: The CMI webinar series

Recognising this need, IChemE partnered with the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) to deliver an exclusive series of member-only webinars, each exploring a different dimension of leadership. Hosted by CMI representatives and drawing on their expertise, the series has covered topics including communication, decision-making, EDI and sustainable leadership.

Previous webinars in the series are available on demand, free to access for IChemE members. Whether you missed a session or want to revisit the content, you can explore the full library at your own pace.

Take the next steps

Our Employment Survey is clear. Our members most want to develop professional leadership skills – a priority that spans every career stage, every sector and organisation size. IChemE is here to help meet that challenge – whether you are an individual member looking to grow or an employer seeking to build stronger leaders within your teams.

Personally, I have found soft skills the hardest to learn and I encourage every member to watch the CMI webinar series (https://bit.ly/cmi-webinar-series), employers to take advantage of the employer partner offering and for those wanting to practise their leadership, communication and influencing skills, try volunteering for an IChemE leadership role.

IChemE have also recently launched a new course: New Managers in Chemical and Process Engineering: bit.ly/icheme-new-managers

---