Enterprise Officer (Community Builder)

Diversity Dashboard; Sheffield; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 37,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual leave

Pension scheme

Flexible working

Discounts and rewards

Career development

Job summary

The University of Sheffield is seeking an Enterprise Officer (Community Builder) to grow a vibrant enterprising community across campus and online. You will work with the Enterprise Manager and a fellow Officer to craft engaging events, competitions and mentoring that empower student and graduate founders.

You will develop targeted offerings, maintain CRM data, and promote inclusive access to enterprise activities.

Responsibilities

• Support delivery of an engaging calendar of events and competitions to inspire entrepreneurial thinking and engagement with our service.
• Ensure and help to develop the service's learning materials are utilised effectively to drive new users.
• Seek to broaden access and inclusivity to enterprise for all, leading on developing the Connecting Women in Business conference, the Freelancer Guild and the Spark Podcast Team.
• Ensure any activity promoting enterprise within the University is captured and linked to our service, providing a seamless pathway for participants into other programmes we offer.
• Develop and maintain effective relationships with the Regional Engagement Team to ensure alignment of activities as well as networks with the Careers Service, MARC, CAR and forums both within the University and the Sheffield Students Union.
• Support the delivery of our year end celebratory event, the Business Awards Showcase, which will include a University wide competition, pitching day, and formal showcase event with regional business leaders.
• Liaise with our network of academic, student and administrative ambassadors within every department - utilising their support to promote the service across the University.
• Work with the service's Enterprise Manager to further develop an exciting brand, which can position our service as an attractive proposition to our core audience;
• Work alongside a fellow Enterprise Office to ensure our CRM and student management system is up to date, data-led and informing the ongoing output of our activities and strategies
• Find opportunities to broadly promote our service's impactful stories externally, including generating ideas, writing and developing exciting content for multiple channels.
• Utilise all available marketing channels to grow our user base of current students and academics and maximise take up of our services
• As a member of our Professional staff, you will be expected to demonstrate a commitment to the professional behaviours set out in the Sheffield Professional Framework.
• As a member of staff you will be encouraged to make ethical decisions in your role, embedding the University sustainability strategy into your working activities wherever possible.
• Any other duties, commensurate with the grade of the post.

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 pensions 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

Emerge is an extra-curricular offer for members of the University's student and graduate community who wish to engage in enterprising activity. The Emerge team delivers events, workshops, competitions and mentoring to inspire, upskill and then empower our users to launch and grow businesses that can have a large impact on our region and society.

Our goals are ambitious and in this role you will be tasked with ensuring that Emerge becomes known as the place for students and graduates to find exciting enterprise-related opportunities, build skills and start your entrepreneurial journey.

Working within the Research, Partnerships and Innovation team the Enterprise Officer (Community Builder) will lead on growing our community of enterprising individuals by developing and maintaining our digital and on campus presence. You will work with members of the team to identify opportunities for creating a more targeted, impactful offer, and a cohesive community, which can ultimately support the growth of our startup founders.

The successful post holder will have a passion for innovation and enterprise and embody the traits of a successful entrepreneur; creativity, excellent people skills and a committed determination to making the world a better place - alongside clearly evidenced community building experience.

About the team

This is a key role in the Enterprise service, known as Emerge'. The team operates within the Research Partnerships and Innovation department. You will report to the Enterprise Manager, who leads and oversees the strategy and day-to-day running of the service, and will work alongside another Enterprise Officer who works on different areas of our provision, such as our workshop content and programme design, competitions and 1-1 founder business support.

Main duties and responsibilities

• Support delivery of an engaging calendar of events and competitions to inspire entrepreneurial thinking and engagement with our service.
• Ensure and help to develop the service's learning materials are utilised effectively to drive new users.
• Seek to broaden access and inclusivity to enterprise for all, leading on developing the Connecting Women in Business conference, the Freelancer Guild and the Spark Podcast Team.
• Ensure any activity promoting enterprise within the University is captured and linked to our service, providing a seamless pathway for participants into other programmes we offer.
• Develop and maintain effective relationships with the Regional Engagement Team in Research, Partnerships and Innovation to ensure alignment of activities as well as networks with the Careers Service, MARC, CAR and forums both within the University and the Sheffield Students Union.
• Support the delivery of our year end celebratory event, the Business Awards Showcase, which will include a University wide competition, pitching day, and formal showcase event with regional business leaders.
• Liaise with our network of academic, student and administrative ambassadors within every department - utilising their support to promote the service across the University.
• Work with the service's Enterprise Manager to further develop an exciting brand, which can position our service as an attractive proposition to our core audience;
• Work alongside a fellow Enterprise Office to ensure our CRM and student management system is up to date, data-led and informing the ongoing output of our activities and strategies
• Find opportunities to broadly promote our service's impactful stories externally, including generating ideas, writing and developing exciting content for multiple channels.
• Utilise all available marketing channels to grow our user base of current students and academics and maximise take up of our services (including communication through our websites, email, social media, and on campus marketing).
• As a member of our Professional staff, you will be expected to demonstrate a commitment to the professional behaviours set out in the Sheffield Professional Framework. Please follow this link for further information: Sheffield Professional Framework.
• As a member of staff you will be encouraged to make ethical decisions in your role, embedding the University sustainability strategy into your working activities wherever possible.
• Any other duties, commensurate with the grade 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.

Further Information

• Grade: 6
• Salary: £32,080 - £36,636 per annum
• Work arrangement: Full-time
• Duration: Fixed term until 31 August 2027
• Line manager: Enterprise Manager
• Direct reports: None
• Right to work in the UK: 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 Matt Charlton, Enterprise Manager: on [e-mail]

Next steps in the recruitment process

It is anticipated that the selection process will take place on Wednesday 7th October. This will consist of an interview (plus a scenario question sent to the shortlisted candidates in advance that can be discussed during the interview) . We plan to let candidates know if they have progressed to the selection stage on the week commencing 28 September.

If you need any support, equipment or adjustments to enable you to participate in any element of the recruitment process you can contact Alison Hunt 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 38 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.

Closing Date :27/09/2026

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.