Business Development Manager - Fixed Term Maternity Cover

Aberystwyth University; Aberystwyth; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working policy

Hybrid Working

36.5‑hour week

Generous leave entitlements

Job summary

Aberystwyth University is seeking a Business Development Manager (Maternity Cover) to provide strategic leadership for the university’s business development, knowledge exchange and research impact portfolio. You will drive high‑value partnerships, contribute to the KE strategy, and lead cross‑functional programmes to boost income generation and external engagement.

The role combines programme management and senior stakeholder leadership with delegated authority for decision‑making, resource

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in business development, programme leadership and strategic partnership management within a university, research or innovation environment.
• Recognised specialist expertise in knowledge exchange, external engagement and research impact, with the ability to provide authoritative advice at senior levels.
• Proven leadership of complex, multistakeholder programmes with institution wide significance.
• Strong strategic thinking, analytical and decision‑making skills, with the ability to develop frameworks, policies and long‑term plans.
• Demonstrable experience of leading high‑value negotiations with industry, funders or government bodies.
• Excellent communication skills, capable of influencing senior stakeholders and representing the University externally.
• Experience in managing significant budgets, risk processes and compliance requirements.
• In‑depth understanding of UK Higher Education funding, KE policy, innovation ecosystems and external partnership frameworks.
• Oral (spoken) and Written Welsh Level A1. *or evidence to demonstrate an on‑going commitment to learn Welsh to this level.

Responsibilities

• Provide expert strategic direction for AU’s business development, knowledge exchange and innovation activities, implement and refine existing approaches, frameworks, and policies.
• Act as AU’s senior representative in high‑level engagements with industry, funders, government bodies and strategic partners.
• Influence institutional decision‑making through authoritative recommendations to senior leadership.
• Advance priority income generation pathways, partnership opportunities, and commercialisation approaches aligned with AU strategy.
• Provide specialist insight and risk assessment to inform strategic planning and investment decisions.
• Lead delivery and progression of large‑scale programmes with significant strategic impact on AU’s KE performance, research income, and external engagement targets.
• Hold delegated authority for planning, risk management, resource allocation, and delivery of major KE and business development initiatives.
• Oversee governance frameworks, reporting structures, and performance evaluation across multiple workstreams.
• Provide expert guidance to academic and professional services teams to ensure alignment with programme objectives and institutional priorities.
• Manage complex multi‑stakeholder environments, resolving high‑level issues and enabling effective cross‑functional collaboration.
• Maintain and progress high‑value partnerships that strengthen AU’s research, KE, and commercialisation capabilities.
• Ensure continuity of institutional strategies to enhance grant capture, industry engagement, and income diversification.
• Provide senior‑level advice and support to academic colleagues pursuing collaborative funding, innovation opportunities and impact pathways.
• Oversee relationship management for strategic accounts, ensuring value, alignment with AU priorities, and measurable outcomes.
• Oversee the design and commissioning of marketing and communications strategies that elevate AU’s KE and business engagement profile.
• Ensure alignment of all messaging, content and engagement activity with institutional strategy.
• Provide direction, editorial oversight and quality assurance for multi‑channel campaigns.
• Guide and mentor junior staff in developing high‑level strategic messaging and partner engagement materials.
• Co‑ordinate tasks for 1‑2 Business Development Officers.
• Provide stability and continuity for the team during the maternity cover period.
• Strengthen AU’s capacity for partnership development and external engagement through continuous improvement and skills development.
• Manage business development budget, with responsibility for planning, forecasting, risk mitigation and reporting to senior management.
• Follow contractual, financial and compliance processes for complex external partnerships and funding arrangements.
• Ensure effective use of institutional resources and contribute to long‑term financial planning for KE and business development activities.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Business development

Stakeholder management

Policy development

Risk assessment

Negotiation

Communication

Budget management

Welsh language (A1)

Job description

The Role

The Business Development Manager provides expert strategic leadership for the University's (AU) business development, knowledge exchange, and research impact portfolio. The Maternity Cover will progress key strategic priorities while maintaining momentum in areas of Knowledge Exchange (KE) and business development. They will act as a senior institutional specialist, progressing high‑value partnerships, contributing to ongoing development of a university-wide KE strategy, and major cross‑functional programmes that enhance income generation, external engagement, and research translation.

The role incorporates programme management and senior stakeholder leadership responsibilities, with delegated authority for decision‑making, resource management, and the delivery of institutionally significant initiatives.

To make an informal enquiry, please contact Sarah Jackson at [e-mail].

Appointments are normally made within 4 - 8 weeks of the closing date.

What you’ll do

This job description is subject to review and amendment in the light of the changing needs of the University, to provide appropriate development opportunities and/or the addition of any other reasonable duties.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic & Institutional Leadership

Provide expert strategic direction for AU’s business development, knowledge exchange and innovation activities, implement and refine existing approaches, frameworks, and policies.

Act as AU’s senior representative in high‑level engagements with industry, funders, government bodies and strategic partners.

Influence institutional decision‑making through authoritative recommendations to senior leadership.

Advance priority income generation pathways, partnership opportunities, and commercialisation approaches aligned with AU strategy.

Provide specialist insight and risk assessment to inform strategic planning and investment decisions.

Programme & Portfolio Management

Lead delivery and progression of large‑scale programmes with significant strategic impact on AU’s KE performance, research income, and external engagement targets.

Hold delegated authority for planning, risk management, resource allocation, and delivery of major KE and business development initiatives.

Oversee governance frameworks, reporting structures, and performance evaluation across multiple workstreams.

Provide expert guidance to academic and professional services teams to ensure alignment with programme objectives and institutional priorities.

Manage complex multi‑stakeholder environments, resolving high‑level issues and enabling effective cross‑functional collaboration.

Business Development & External Partnerships

Maintain and progress high‑value partnerships that strengthen AU’s research, KE, and commercialisation capabilities.

Ensure continuity of institutional strategies to enhance grant capture, industry engagement, and income diversification.

Provide senior‑level advice and support to academic colleagues pursuing collaborative funding, innovation opportunities and impact pathways.

Oversee relationship management for strategic accounts, ensuring value, alignment with AU priorities, and measurable outcomes.

Strategic Marketing, Communications & Positioning

Oversee the design and commissioning of marketing and communications strategies that elevate AU’s KE and business engagement profile.

Ensure alignment of all messaging, content and engagement activity with institutional strategy.

Provide direction, editorial oversight and quality assurance for multi‑channel campaigns.

Guide and mentor junior staff in developing high‑level strategic messaging and partner engagement materials.

People Leadership & Line Management

Co‑ordinate tasks for 1‑2 Business Development Officers.

Provide stability and continuity for the team during the maternity cover period.

Strengthen AU’s capacity for partnership development and external engagement through continuous improvement and skills development.

Financial & Resource Responsibility

Manage business development budget, with responsibility for planning, forecasting, risk mitigation and reporting to senior management.

Follow contractual, financial and compliance processes for complex external partnerships and funding arrangements.

Ensure effective use of institutional resources and contribute to long‑term financial planning for KE and business development activities.

Additional Responsibilities

Undertake other duties as assigned by your line manager, commensurate with the role's grade.

Engage in university‑level projects and initiatives as directed, and undertake any additional duties commensurate with the role, as assigned by the line manager.

Demonstrate flexibility by supporting colleagues during periods of high demand, including attendance at key university events such as open days and graduation ceremonies which may include weekend work.

Promote equality of opportunity, and to support and uphold the University's commitment to diversity and inclusion in all aspects of your work.

To support the university strategy and underlining plans, engage in continuous personal and professional development in line with the demands of the role, including undertaking relevant training and development activities to develop yourself and support the development of others.

Who you are – Qualifications, Experience, Knowledge and Skills required

Essential

1. Extensive experience in business development, programme leadership and strategic partnership management within a university, research or innovation environment.
2. Recognised specialist expertise in knowledge exchange, external engagement and research impact, with the ability to provide authoritative advice at senior levels.
3. Proven leadership of complex, multistakeholder programmes with institution wide significance.
4. Strong strategic thinking, analytical and decision‑making skills, with the ability to develop frameworks, policies and long‑term plans.
5. Demonstrable experience of leading high‑value negotiations with industry, funders or government bodies.
6. Excellent communication skills, capable of influencing senior stakeholders and representing the University externally.
7. Experience in managing significant budgets, risk processes and compliance requirements.
8. In‑depth understanding of UK Higher Education funding, KE policy, innovation ecosystems and external partnership frameworks.
9. Oral (spoken) and Written Welsh Level A1. *or evidence to demonstrate an on‑going commitment to learn Welsh to this level. An ability to understand the bilingual nature of the University and an awareness of the procedures in place to support working bilingually.

Desirable

1. Experience shaping or delivering strategic marketing and communications in a research, innovation or professional services context.
2. Familiarity with contractual, commercial and legal aspects of university‑business partnerships.
3. Knowledge of project governance, performance management and institutional reporting frameworks.
4. Oral (spoken) and Written Welsh Level B2. *

*More information on Welsh Language Levels can be found at:

https://www.aber.ac.uk/en/hr/policy-and-procedure/welsh-standards/

Benefits

• Flexible working policy
• Hybrid Working
• 36.5 – hour week for full‑time roles
• Generous leave entitlements – 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays and university closed days
• Commitment to Professional Development
• Enhanced contribution to our workplace pension schemes
• Staff recognition and reward schemes
• Opportunity to learn the Welsh language for free
• Staff relocation bursary
• Maternity, Paternity, Parental and Adoption Leave
• Staff discount for gym facilities, hospitality, and retail on campus.

Please keep reading

Aberystwyth University generally supports hybrid working, allowing a mix of office‑based and remote working for suitable roles to enhance flexibility and productivity. Job descriptions typically detail a primary work location alongside opportunities for flexible, remote, or home‑based work, subject to service needs and manager approval.

We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and communities and, those that are currently underrepresented in our workforce. This includes but is not limited to Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic candidates, candidates with disabilities, and female candidates.

We are a Bilingual Institution which complies with the Welsh Language Standards and is committed to Equal Opportunities. You are welcome to apply for any vacancy in Welsh or English and any application submitted will be treated equally.

Employment Visa

We welcome international applicants who are eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker Route.

Under the points‑based system, this role meets the criteria to be sponsored by AU for an SWR application. Please be advised that AU will only support the Certificate of Sponsorship for any employment visas and will not support the payment of the employment visa for the offered candidate and/or dependants.

Any prospective candidates coming to work for AU under the SWR will require a minimum of 70 points, made up of the following:

• Mandatory / Non‑tradeable Criteria (50 points): A job offer from a UK licensed sponsor – 20 points – Yes
• Job is above the minimum sponsorable skill level – 20 points – Yes
• Appointed candidate to have appropriate knowledge of the English language* – 10 points – Yes
• Total = 50 points
• Tradeable Criteria (dependent on candidate appointed): Salary meets minimum threshold – 20 points
• The candidate holds a PhD in a subject relevant to the job – 10 points
• The candidate holds a PhD in a STEM subject relevant to the job – 20 points
• The advertised role is on the UK Shortage Occupation List (SOL) – 20 points

*Appropriate knowledge is classed as the following:

• A national of a majority English speaking country
• Having an academic degree taught in English (if an overseas degree, must be verified by NARIC)
• Completing and passing an English language test at Level B1 or above.

For more information, please visit: https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa