Commercialisation Lead (Engineering and Physical Sciences)

The University of Sheffield; Sheffield; Hybrid; GBP 49,000 - 58,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Generous pension

Job summary

The University of Sheffield is seeking a Head of Commercialisation to lead the Commercialisation Journey across diverse opportunities. You will line-manage a team, mentor engineers, and develop training materials to translate research into market-ready value propositions.

You will drive strategic IP activities, negotiate licenses and investments, oversee records, and manage high-value projects while coordinating with internal and external experts.

Qualifications

• Essential: enthusiasm for commercialisation of academic research outputs and a motivation to build new products and services
• Essential: experience of undertaking technical research in Engineering or Physical Sciences, preferably to postgraduate level
• Essential: experience of using market discovery methods to identify and adapt value propositions based on new technologies
• Essential: understanding of capturing value through IP rights
• Essential: experience leading successful commercial negotiations (investment, IP licensing)
• Essential: initiative and ownership in tasks
• Essential: ability to manage a diverse portfolio of projects
• Essential: ability to conduct independent research (technical, market, commercial)
• Essential: experience working with external experts (legal, financial)
• Desirable: leadership experience in startup/spin-out environments

Responsibilities

• Lead activities relating to the Commercialisation Journey for a range of opportunities
• Line management of other members of the commercialisation team
• Provide guidance, training, coaching & mentorship to engineers embarking on the Commercialisation Journey
• Deliver Commercialisation Journey training to teams and cohorts, maintaining training materials
• Develop and utilise commercial and technical knowledge to translate research into value propositions with market fit
• Lead commercial negotiations relating to IP licences, investment terms and shareholder rights
• Oversee and ensure accurate record keeping for projects and reporting
• Project manage high-value commercialisation opportunities, especially IP licences
• Support innovators to secure internal and external funding; monitor budgets and contribute forecasts
• Report on the portfolio; lead bids to internal investment committee
• Take responsibility for due diligence on IP ownership, funding history and regulatory compliance
• Identify improvements to the Journey and align with faculty innovation plans
• Promote IP strategies and pre-accelerator/accelerator engagement
• Contribute to development of university policies and strengthen partnerships
• Represent Sheffield in professional fora and share best practice

Skills

Commercialisation of academic research

Engineering/Physical sciences research

Market discovery methods

IP rights capture

Commercial negotiations

Initiative & ownership

Portfolio management

Independent research

External collaboration (legal/finance)

Training programme development

Education

Postgraduate level in Engineering/Physical Sciences

Job description

The University of Sheffield is a remarkable place to work. Our people are at the heart of everything we do. Their diverse backgrounds, abilities and beliefs make Sheffield a world-class university.

We offer a fantastic range of benefits including a highly competitive annual leave entitlement (with the ability to purchase more), a generous pension scheme, flexible working opportunities, a commitment to your development and wellbeing, a wide range of retail discounts, and much more. Find out more about our benefits (opens in a new window) and join us to become part of something special.

Overview

RPI supports agreed University, Faculty and School priorities for research and innovation: income generation, research excellence, PGR experience, partnership development and knowledge exchange leading to income and/or impact and commercialisation of IP and student enterprise. Our focus is on delivering professional, value-add advice and support to our community of researchers and innovators. We are a well-connected team which understands the priorities of the organisation and our external stakeholders and customers and the external environment in which we operate. Team members collaborate, reflect, develop their skills and have a risk-appropriate mindset of continuous improvement to our processes, policy and approach.

Main Duties And Responsibilities

• Lead activities relating to the Commercialisation Journey for a range of opportunities.
• Line management of other members of the commercialisation team.
• Provide guidance, training, coaching & mentorship to engineers embarking on the Commercialisation Journey.
• Deliver Commercialisation Journey training to individual teams and cohorts, proactively maintaining training materials.
• Develop and utilise commercial and technical knowledge to support innovators to translate their research discoveries into value propositions with market fit.
• Lead commercial negotiations relating to IP-licences, investment terms and shareholder rights while drawing on the experience of internal and external professional services.
• Oversee and be accountable for accurate record keeping in internal databases and systems for the purposes of project management and annual reporting (national and funder-specific).
• Project manage high-value commercialisation opportunities, particularly IP-licences, where no entrepreneurial-lead can be identified from within the research team.
• Support innovators to secure internal and external funding. Monitor budgets, ensure spend occurs to schedule and contribute forecasts to the annual budgeting process.
• Report on the portfolio; lead bids to our internal investment committee.
• Take responsibility for ensuring that adequate due diligence is undertaken on projects with respect to IP-ownership, historic funding, third party rights and regulatory compliance.
• Identify improvements to the Commercialisation Journey through regular review of materials and develop team priorities in alignment with the faculty innovation plans.
• Think strategically about the engineering intellectual property portfolio and justify decisions relating to patent protection. Develop expertise in common engineering IP strategies.
• Support innovators through external pre-accelerator and accelerator programmes.
• Promote the Commercialisation Journey as a mechanism for delivering impact from academic research to continue to build a culture of ambition and entrepreneurial motivation within the University.
• Provide advice on innovation and commercialisation strategies.
• Contribute to or lead the development of relevant university policies.
• Support our partnership with Northern Gritstone by establishing and maintaining a strong relationship with investment directors and other staff.
• Represent Sheffield in professional fora and share best practice with other institutions through formal and informal means.
• Carry out other duties, commensurate with the grade and remit of the post.

Person Specification

Our diverse community of staff and students recognises the unique abilities, backgrounds, and beliefs of all. We foster a culture where everyone feels they belong and are respected. Even if your past experience doesn't match perfectly with this role's criteria, your contribution is valuable, and we encourage you to apply.

Criteria

• Essential: Clear enthusiasm for commercialisation of academic research outputs and a motivation to build new products and services
• Essential: Experience of undertaking technical research in Engineering or Physical Sciences, preferably to postgraduate (or equivalent) level
• Essential: Experience of using market discovery methods to successfully identify and adapt value propositions based on new technologies
• Essential: Demonstrate solid understanding of capturing value through identifying and securing intellectual property rights
• Essential: Experience of leading successful commercial negotiations, preferably in establishing new businesses, securing investment or IP licensing
• Essential: Provide examples of using initiative and taking ownership of tasks
• Essential: Proven ability to manage a diverse portfolio of projects effectively
• Essential: Ability to conduct independent research (technical, market, commercial) to inform decision-making and refine plans
• Essential: Experience of working effectively with external experts (legal, financial) to achieve optimal outcomes
• Essential: A proven track record of developing and delivering engaging and informative training programs
• Desirable: Previous experience in a leadership position within a start-up, spin out or small business
• Desirable: Detailed understanding of commercialisation methods applied in an academic environment

Further Information

Grade 8

Salary £48,822 - £58,225. Potential to progress to £65,509 through sustained exceptional contribution

Work arrangement Full-time

Duration Open-ended

Line manager Head of Commercialisation

Direct reports None at this time, with potential future line management responsibility

If you do not currently hold the right to work in the UK, you can find more information here to help determine your visa eligibility. Additional guidance is also available on the UK Visa & Immigration website.

Our website www.sheffield.ac.uk/rpi

For informal enquiries about this job contact Andy Hogben, Head of Commercialisation, on [e-mail]

It is anticipated that the selection process will take place between 6th - 8th October 2026. This will consist of an interview and a presentation. We plan to let candidates know if they have progressed to the selection stage on the week commencing 28th September. If you need any support, equipment or adjustments to enable you to participate in any element of the recruitment process you can contact the recruiting manager: Andy Hogben at [e-mail]

Our vision and strategic plan

We are the University of Sheffield. This is our vision: sheffield.ac.uk/vision (opens in new window).

What We Offer

• A minimum of 41 days annual leave including bank holiday and closure days (pro rata) with the ability to purchase more.
• Flexible working opportunities, including hybrid working for some roles.
• Generous pension scheme.
• A wide range of discounts and rewards on shopping, eating out and travel.
• A variety of staff networks, providing opportunities for social interaction, peer support and personal development (for example, Race Equality, LGBT+, Women’s and Parent’s networks).
• Recognition Awards to reward staff who go above and beyond in their role.
• A commitment to your development access to learning and mentoring schemes; integrated with our Professional Services Shared Skills Framework
• A range of generous family-friendly policies
• paid time off for parenting and caring emergencies
• access to menopause support in the workplace
• paid time off and support for fertility treatment
• and more

More details can be found on our benefits page: sheffield.ac.uk/jobs/benefits (opens in a new window).

We are a Disability Confident Leader (opens in a new window). If you have a disability and meet the essential criteria for this job you will be invited to take part in the next stage of the selection process.

Baseline personnel security standard This role requires the postholder to undertake a Government baseline personnel security standard (BPSS) check as a condition of employment.

Closing Date : 20/09/2026

We are a research university with a global reputation for excellence. Our ideas and expertise change the world for the better, making a real difference to society. We know that when people come together with different views, approaches and insights it can lead to richer, more creative and innovative teaching and research and the highest levels of student experience. Our University Vision (www.sheffield.ac.uk/vision) outlines our commitment to building a diverse community of staff and students that recognises and values the abilities, backgrounds, beliefs and ways of living for everyone.