CoSTAR National Lab Engagement Manager

Royal Holloway, University of London; Egham; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 49,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading university seeks an Engagement Manager for the CoSTAR National Lab. This role focuses on outreach and community building for R&D in the creative industries. Candidates should be creative, collaborative, and interested in emerging technologies, with a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits on offer.

Benefits

Generous annual leave entitlement

Training and Development opportunities

Pension Scheme

Cycle to Work scheme

Free parking

Qualifications

• Enjoy working in a creative, inclusive team.
• Ability to multi-task different projects.
• Interest in emerging technologies and innovation.

Responsibilities

• Build communities of interest around piloting activity.
• Research, curate and deliver community events.
• Manage programmes to deliver on timelines and budget.

Skills

Teamwork

Project management

Creativity

Adaptability

Job description

View All Vacancies

CoSTAR National Lab Engagement Manager

Story Futures Strategic Business Unit

Location

Egham

Salary

£40,839 to £48,003 per annum - including London Allowance

Post Type

Full Time

Hours per Week

35

Weeks per Year

52

Closing Date

23.59 hours BST on Wednesday 23 July 2025

Reference

0625-142

Right to work: Please note that it will not be possible for the University to issue a Certificate of Sponsorship to the successful candidate for this position. Therefore, the appointable candidate will need to be eligible to work in the UK or have leave to remain in the UK and associated right to work for the duration of their employment with the University, in accordance with the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006.

The role: The Engagement Manager is a key part of the MarComms team, working closely with the Head of Marketing & Communications and wider Access Programmes teams (Enterprise & Commercialisation and Pilots & Prototypes), to deliver the engagement, outreach and community events activities for an ambitious UK R&D and innovation programme.

About the CoSTAR National Lab: The CoSTAR National Lab is the largest ever investment in creative industries R&D by UKRI. A £51.1m programme led by Royal Holloway, University of London to develop a National R&D Lab to ensure the UK’s screen and performance sectors have the innovation, infrastructure, skills, and expertise needed to compete globally. The National R&D Lab will place Equality, Diversity, and Environmental Sustainability at the heart of all we do: from our team culture to the research programmes we run, to how we collaborate with partners.

Our Lab will include dedicated Stage and Studio space at Pinewood Studios, advanced creative computing technologies including AI, virtual production, and 5G systems. Our consortium brings together world-leading research teams at Royal Holloway, University of Surrey, Abertay University; and National Film & Television School. Our industry partners include BT and Disguise, whose systems power some of the world's biggest live shows.

What You Will Be Doing

• To focus on building communities of interest around our piloting activity and our business incubation, acceleration and growth activity, to unlock further value and drive wider impact
• To build connections with SME’s / companies, Arts, Culture & Tech sector organisations and industry specialists and develop a network of outreach contacts and event opportunities to facilitate collaboration and promote the work of the CoSTAR National Lab
• To research, curate and deliver community and network events online, hybrid and in-person and promote and support core CoSTAR National Lab activities
• To schedule and manage programmes and content and delivery and organise internal teams and partners to deliver to agreed timelines and budget
  
  

You Should Apply If You

• Enjoy working in a creative, inclusive and dynamic team to help generate new engagement, outreach and community events ideas to promote the CoSTAR National Lab and CoSTAR Access Programmes activity
• Have a positive ‘can do’ and solution-focussed approach with the ability to multi-task different projects and priorities as well as working well as part of a team
• Would enjoy the challenge and buzz of working for the new CoSTAR National Lab in R&D for the Creative Industries with world-leading partners
• Show a keen interest in emerging technologies, research and innovation
  
  

In return we offer a highly competitive rewards and benefits package including:

• Generous annual leave entitlement
• Training and Development opportunities
• Pension Scheme with generous employer contribution
• Various schemes including Cycle to Work, Season Ticket Loans and help with the cost of Eyesight testing
• Free parking
  
  

The post is based in Egham, Surrey where the University is situated in a beautiful, leafy campus near to Windsor Great Park and within commuting distance from London. There will be an expectation of also working at the CoSTAR National Lab which is opening at Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire in early 2026.

For an informal discussion about the post, please contact Sarah Brown: [e-mail]

For queries on the application process the Human Resources Department can be contacted by email at: [e-mail]

Please quote the reference: 0625-142

Closing Date: 23:59, Wednesday 23 July

Interview Date: To be confirmed

Further details: Job Description & Person Specification Email details to a friend

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The university has adopted hybrid working for some roles therefore some remote working may be possible for this role.

Royal Holloway is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI), and encourages applications from all people regardless of age, disability, gender, marital status, parental status, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation, or trans status or history. More information on our structures and initiatives around EDI, including information on staff diversity networks, can be found on our Equality and Diversity Intranet page.