Assistant Director (Knowledge Exchange and Impact)

Anglia Ruskin University; Chelmsford; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Anglia Ruskin University seeks an Assistant Director, Knowledge Exchange and Impact to lead the Knowledge Exchange and Impact Group and drive strategic business and partnership development across ARU's research and innovation agenda. You will oversee budgets, staff, and external partnerships with funders and industry to deliver income and impact.

The role requires a track record in higher education or similar research environment, with strong leadership, civic engagement, and translational

Qualifications

• Expertise in knowledge exchange, research impact and enterprise.
• Proven track record in strategic business and partnership development in HE or similar.
• Understanding translational research and civic engagement initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Knowledge Exchange and Impact Group and provide strategic direction.
• Oversee budgets, resources, and stakeholder engagement with funders and sector bodies.
• Drive ambitious commercial income targets and enterprise activity for ARU.

Skills

Knowledge exchange

Research impact

Leadership

Partnership development

Income generation

Higher education

Job description

About ARU:

ARU is a global university transforming lives through innovative, inclusive and entrepreneurial education and research. ARU holds a Gold award for the quality of its education, awarded through the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF). ARU’s research institutes and four faculties bridge scientific, technical and creative fields. We deliver impactful research which tackles pressing issues and makes a real difference to our communities. Our academic excellence has been recognised by the UK’s Higher Education funding bodies, with 16 of our research areas assessed as world leading. We are the largest provider of Nursing, Midwifery, Health and Social Care students in the East of England, and we are also among the UK’s leading universities for degree apprenticeship provision, working with hundreds of employers across the UK.

About the Role:

Reporting to Dr Andrew Massoura as Director of Research and Innovation Services, ARU is now seeking to appoint an Assistant Director, Knowledge Exchange and Impact. As a key member of the Research and Innovation Services (RIS) leadership team and the pan-institutional Research and Innovation leadership team, the postholder will lead the Knowledge Exchange and Impact Group, providing strategic and operational leadership across business and partnership development, Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs), research impact, civic engagement, commercialisation and IP management, and enterprise, including the Arise Innovation Hubs in Chelmsford and Harlow.

The Assistant Director will advise the Director, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation) and the University Executive Team on knowledge exchange, civic engagement and enterprise, and will be accountable for delivering ambitious commercial income targets. They will lead a team of managers and specialists, oversee budgets and resources, represent ARU with partners, funders and sector bodies, and lead a proactive approach to identifying and delivering opportunities in this space. Working closely with the Faculty PVC-Deans, Deputy Deans (Research and Innovation) and research institute directors, they will ensure that ARU's research makes a tangible difference to the economy and communities it serves.

The successful candidate will have expertise in knowledge exchange, research impact and enterprise, and a proven track record of delivering strategic business and partnership development in a higher education environment or a comparable research and innovation environment. They will understand translational research, have experience of civic engagement initiatives and income generation, and bring significant leadership experience in a complex, service-orientated environment.

The closing date for applications is 09:00 GMT on Monday 30th November.

Final interviews are expected to take place in person at our Cambridge campus on 10 February 2027.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting welfare of our staff and students and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Applicants should be aware that ARU will carry out online searches as part of the due diligence on short listed candidates.

We value diversity at ARU and welcome applications from all sections of the community.

In accordance with Home Office guidance and the Asylum, Immigration and Nationality Act 2006, ARU has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to work in the UK and in the role for which they have been recruited. Prior to their start date, the successful candidate will be asked to provide evidence of their right to work in the UK.

For candidates who do not currently have the right to work in the UK, ARU is a UKVI-licensed sponsor and may be able to provide sponsorship for eligible candidates appointed to skilled roles, subject to meeting the relevant immigration requirements. Eligibility for sponsorship will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Further information about UK immigration requirements and working in the UK can be found on the Home Office website.

Committed to being inclusive and open to discuss flexible working.