Head of Regional Commercialisation Programmes

Westfield State University; North East; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading university in the North East seeks a Head of Regional Commercialisation Programmes to enhance research and innovation. This key role involves collaboration with five universities to foster new opportunities for commercialisation, ensuring effective management of resources and alignment with strategic objectives.

Qualifications

• Experience in research commercialisation and collaboration with multiple stakeholders.
• Leadership and management skills in a higher education context.

Responsibilities

• Deliver and develop regional commercialisation programmes with five universities.
• Lead the core team supporting Northern Accelerator and the SCENE programme.

Job description

The Role and Department

Both the SCENE and Northern Accelerator programmes are led and hosted by Durham University on behalf of the North East universities. The Director of Economic Development, Commercialisation and Policy (EDCP) at Durham University is the accountable officer for these programmes and the lead sponsor on behalf of the Business and Innovation Group of UNEE.

The Role

The Head of Regional Commercialisation Programmes will report to the Director of EDCP and support the SCENE Management Group, which includes director-level leads from five universities. The postholder will be responsible for delivering, integrating, and developing these programmes, working closely with structures supporting the new University Commercialisation and Spin Out fund.

Looking ahead, the postholder will collaborate with the five universities and strategic partners to develop new opportunities for research commercialisation.

The postholder will lead and coordinate the core team supporting the Northern Accelerator programme and new staff appointed through the SCENE programme, ensuring close integration to meet programme objectives. This includes supporting staff within each of the five institutions.

The postholder will be accountable to the Director of EDCP and the Management Group for managing resources effectively, considering funders' requirements and best practices from partner institutions and the university sector.

An illustration of the UNEE Governance Structures and SCENE Staffing Structures is available here.

The Department

The postholder and Durham-based staff will be part of Durham University's Research and Innovation Services (RIS) team, a professional services directorate supporting research, knowledge exchange, and economic development activities.

RIS aims to enhance Durham's leadership in research and innovation, fostering impactful change regionally and globally. Our vision is to facilitate world-leading research through high-quality services.

The team is based at Boldon House, near Durham, which fosters collaboration and supports hybrid working.

Further details about the role and responsibilities are provided at the bottom of this job description.