Business Engagement Manager

Medical Research Council, UK Research and Innovation

Full time/Part time

London or Swindon

£39,748 (plus London Allowance of £5128.88 if applicable)

Exciting opportunity to join MRC’s newly established Industry Partnerships team as a business engagement manager. The Industry Partnerships team is within the Strategy and Planning directorate of MRC and is responsible for engaging with the commercial sector and working across the breadth of MRC’s funding activities to identify opportunities to create and build partnerships and novel initiatives that foster interdisciplinary working to maximise innovation and impact.

As a business development manager, you will report to the Associate Director of Industry Partnerships and support MRC’s strategic engagement with businesses and other stakeholders in the innovation ecosystem. We are seeking motivated and focused individuals who have an understanding of Life Sciences and an interest in working with universities, research organisations and businesses in a UK and International context.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the planning, development and establishment of business engagement activities designed to increase MRC’s profile, partnerships and strategic relationships
• Oversee and if required assist the delivery and monitoring of business engagement initiatives
• Develop and maintain relationships with commercial stakeholders within a scientific portfolio
• Develop an understanding of the commercial opportunities and needs within a scientific portfolio
• Keep senior staff advised on important commercial developments and other relevant matters connected with their scientific portfolio
• Build relationships with business engagement teams across UKRI to supporting sharing of information and identification of cross-UKRI opportunities for business engagement
• Build relationships with MRC research community, supporting them in achieving their aims for commercial engagement
• Act as a key knowledge holder and advisor in relation to intellectual property and subsidy control.

About you

• Hold a degree in a relevant scientific discipline and/or have equivalent, relevant professional experience in clinical, academic or commercial setting
• Have at least 12 months business development/engagement experience from working in relevant commercial, academic or non-profit roles
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills (verbal, presentational and written) with a proven ability to build credibility with relevant stakeholders across a range of areas
• Familiar with research and innovation landscape in UK, including the role of knowledge-exchange, business engagement and translation/commercialisation approaches.
• Experience in market research and analysis and awareness of intellectual property management in collaborative projects/partnerships environment
• Able to work independently and proactively but also as part of teams where there may be multiple expectations and drivers.

Additional information
The role will be based in either MRC’s Swindon or London office, with home working options also available. Successful applicants may be required to work in different office or remotely and be willing to occasionally undertake UK & international travel, including overnight stays.

Benefits
UKRI recognises and value employees as individuals and aim to provide a pay and rewards package that motivates staff to perform to the best of their ability. The reward package includes a flexible working scheme, a Career Average Revalued Earnings pension scheme, 30 days annual leave allowance as well as other benefits.

The closing date for applications is 8th August 2021.