Head of Business Development - RAVIC Inverness

Ref: CML/CS/064/22

Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) and Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) are pleased to offer this exciting post that will promote and support enterprise activities across the region. Our two organisations have come together to fund and support this post based at the SRUC Rural and Veterinary Innovation Centre on Inverness Campus, currently under construction.

This role shall lead and coordinate the enterprise, commercial and innovation development activities of the new innovation centre; working and engaging with businesses and stakeholders across the Highlands and Islands, and other rural parts of Scotland. You shall be experienced at working directly with businesses supporting their growth, facilitating R&D that leads to the potential commercialisation of new products and services.

You shall take the lead in establishing the necessary elements of a successful innovation centre; building a network of local businesses, linking academic outputs to industry, stimulating innovation and new business creation and providing a hub for convening and industry interaction. We are looking for a candidate with a vision for what this centre can become and who will drive it forward with a high level of autonomy, energy and commitment.

You will have a track record of delivering similar activities and of stimulating cross industry innovation while having a firm hand on the operations of a stand alone business venture.

In this role you will report to the Vice Principal Commercial and will work across both the commercial and academic divisions of SRUC while maintaining close contact with HIE staff and senior leadership.

You will commit to the delivery of the following outcomes:

• Maximise the impact of the centre place based approach in the Highlands and Islands using all available resources to leverage talent to develop opportunities for research impact and commercial opportunities.
• Provide the link to the SRUC academic strategy and innovation activities in order to support the creation of new business ideas.
• Develop outward facing relationships for SRUC and HIE, creating and developing a related network of businesses.
• Lead rigorous Business Development activities and metrics, taking ownership of that part of the business and operational plan for RAVIC.
• Liaise closely with colleagues in HIE and ensure that RAVIC activities are aligned with HIE priorities.
• Lead the creation of value and commercial returns from knowledge and knowhow emanating from within SRUC and other actors within the natural economy

You will lead on the development of contracts, agree commercial arrangements and provide reporting to funders and wider stakeholders. An integral part of this will be on-boarding tenant businesses into Innovation centre, as well as promoting and recruiting start-up and incubation of businesses onto the premises and into support programmes.

You will liaise with the Dean of Veterinary Medicine to ensure that the innovation centre ecosystem is integrated into the new SRUC School of Veterinary Medicine.