Senior Manager, Innovation Ecosystem & Partnerships

Newcastle University; Newcastle; On-site; GBP 48,000 - 51,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Holiday allowance

Pension schemes

Wellbeing programs

Job summary

Newcastle University is a world‑class civic university driving innovation through Newcastle Innovations. This role leads strategic partnerships, connects academia with industry and government, and builds programmes that convert ideas into real-world impact.

You will shape an ambitious innovation ecosystem, line-manage a team, and collaborate across faculties to deliver sustainable, impactful initiatives that benefit society and the region.

Qualifications

• Strong background in innovation management and stakeholder engagement.
• Experience in business development, knowledge exchange or related field.
• Proven track record managing complex innovation activities and partnerships.
• Deep knowledge of open innovation approaches, including design thinking.
• Solid understanding of UK innovation policy, funding and university–industry collaboration.
• Excellent partnership development, negotiation and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong leadership and team management abilities.

Responsibilities

• Connect across academia, industry, government and communities to broker strategic partnerships.
• Develop innovation-led growth programmes using co-design and design-thinking.Build a pipeline of high-quality innovation projects and funding-aligned propositions.
• Develop roadmaps, horizon scanning and funding intelligence from UKRI, ARIA, Innovate UK, Horizon Europe.
• Lead or support business cases, major proposals and complex bids for innovative initiatives.
• Embed collaborative innovation and engagement practices across the University via programmes and events.
• Strengthen processes to respond to innovation demand, including contracts, facilities and CPD opportunities.
• Provide leadership and line management for Innovation Managers and Engagement Project Managers.

Skills

Innovation management

Stakeholder engagement

Strategy planning

Open innovation

Design thinking

Leadership

Communication

Education

Degree or equivalent

Job description

Newcastle University is a world‑class civic university driving innovation through Newcastle Innovations. This role leads strategic partnerships, connects academia with industry and government, and builds programmes that convert ideas into real-world impact.

You will shape an ambitious innovation ecosystem, line-manage a team, and collaborate across faculties to deliver sustainable, impactful initiatives that benefit society and the region.