Forging Ahead Network Manager

Loughborough University; Loughborough; Hybrid; GBP 35,000 - 46,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading UK educational institution is seeking a Network Manager for the Forging Ahead Project. This role involves establishing and maintaining networks among founders, professionals, and investors to enhance innovation and entrepreneurial activities across the Midlands. The ideal candidate will be proactive and organized, with experience in networking and event planning, and a passion for innovation. The position offers a hybrid working arrangement with a full-time contract until May 2028.

Benefits

Family-friendly policies

Flexible working arrangements

Real Living Wage Employer benefits

Qualifications

• A proactive and highly organized individual.
• Experience in connecting networks of professionals and experts.
• Strong understanding of innovation and entrepreneurship.

Responsibilities

• Establish and maintain a high-quality professional network for the Forging Ahead Project.
• Develop and implement strategies for connecting teams with innovation partners.
• Plan and execute regional network engagement events and workshops.

Skills

Networking

Organizational skills

Event planning

Communication

Knowledge of innovation and entrepreneurship

Education

Relevant degree or equivalent experience

Tools

Database management systems

Virtual learning platforms

Job description

The University is dedicated to supporting an equitable, diverse, and inclusive environment - to create better futures, together. The diverse backgrounds, characteristics and opinions within our community are our great strength and are key to our pursuit of delivering educational excellence, enterprise, research and professional services. We welcome applications from people from diverse backgrounds and minoritized groups as they are currently under-represented within our community.

We recognise the value of a fulfilling and balanced work and personal life which promotes wellbeing. We seek to support colleagues in achieving this balance and have family-friendly policies, flexible working arrangements and many roles can be suitable for dynamic working arrangement. This includes considering applications to work on a part-time, flexible and job share basis wherever possible.

We are proud to be a Real Living Wage Employer—so much so that we go beyond the standard, providing additional supplementary payments at specific pay points to further support our employees' financial wellbeing. Further information about the Loughborough Real Living Wage Supplement can be found on our HR webpage .

Loughborough University is a UKVI Sponsor. Some individuals may require sponsorship to enable them to apply for a visa to provide them with the right to work in the UK. Please note certain roles are not eligible for sponsorship. For further information and eligibility please visit the UKVI website .

Job details

Job title Forging Ahead Network Manager Job reference REQ250626 Date posted 23/07/2025 Application closing date 17/08/2025 Location Loughborough Package Management and Specialist grade 6 from £35116 to £45413 per annum. Subject to annual pay award. Job description

Research andInnovation Office
Full time, fixed term until 1 May2028
Hybrid working

Are you a natural connector with a passionfor innovation, enterprise, and collaboration?

Loughborough University is seeking aproactive and highly organised NetworkManager to establish and maintain a high-qualityprofessional network for a large multi-university Forging AheadProject.

About theProject

Forging Ahead is an initiative to transforminnovation and entrepreneurship across the Midlands. A coalitionof 15 Midlands university partners has launched a bold newproject that will revolutionise how research and innovation aretranslated into real-world impact across the region.

Forging Ahead– led by LoughboroughUniversity and Midlands Innovation – will radically enhance thecommercialisation ecosystem, supercharging entrepreneurialactivity, scaling innovation, and creating dynamic new pathwaysfor academic ideas to become high-growth ventures.

This collaborative programme aims to reshape how knowledgeexchange, IP Commercialisation, spinout business creation, andinvestment attraction are delivered across the Midlands,unlocking the region’s research and innovation strengths andturning them into commercial success stories. By strengtheningnetworks, building capacity, and supporting diverse talent, theinitiative will drive inclusive economic growth and ensure thatinnovation benefits communities across the region.

Forging Ahead will first focus on launchingand expanding initiatives to nurture entrepreneurial talent, growinvestment readiness, and embed a culture of innovation withinand beyond universities. It will scale proven models and pilotnew approaches that make commercialisation more accessible,inclusive, and impactful.

The initiative is backed bymulti-million-pound funding from Research England’s ConnectingCapability Fund, with additional matched support from partneruniversities and regional stakeholders.

For more information about the project see here .

About theRole

This is a unique and exciting opportunityto build the networks of founders, professionals, experts, andinvestors which will help to power the Midlands-wide ForgingAhead Project.

Forging Ahead Network Manager will workclosely with colleagues from the Research Innovation Office, andthey will connect and curate networks spanning the 15 PartnerUniversities, alongside a dedicated team, to jointly realise theaims and ambitions of this important initiative.

The post holder will develop and implementstrategies to connect startup and spinout teams with relevantinnovation partners, funders, and government agencies, ensuringeffective collaboration and support. Engage in events andknowledge exchange activities across the Midlands. They will planand execute regular regional network engagement events,activities, meetings, workshops, and develop high quality virtuallearning resources for project participants. They will alsomanage database information systems, maintain high standards ofdata compliance.

The role will be based primarily atLoughborough’s East Midlands Campus, with regular travel topartner locations across the region; therefore, a willingness totravel is essential. Some evening and flexible working will berequired.

For more information refer to thefull JobDescription and Person Specification .

Informal enquiries should be sent to [e-mail]

Interested?
Apply now and help us forge a betterfuture. For application tips andguidance, please visit our website .

The closing date for receipt ofapplicationsis: Sunday, 17th ofAugustInterviews will be held on:week commencing 8th ofSeptember