Science Innovation Manager

University-of-Liverpool; Liverpool; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Liverpool invites applications for a Science Innovation Manager to lead NBIC-LIVE innovation projects, skills training and outreach, translating industry needs into technically robust, commercially viable opportunities.

You will build relationships with multinational companies and SMEs, shape technical opportunities, manage end-to-end delivery, and coordinate with academics, staff and external partners to create a strong regional pipeline.

Qualifications

• Experience leading innovation projects in a science/tech setting.
• Ability to translate industry needs into technically robust, commercially viable projects.
• Excellent communication with senior industrial customers and academics.

Responsibilities

• Lead, manage and coordinate NBIC-LIVE innovation projects, skills-training and outreach.
• Translate industry needs into technically robust, commercially viable projects.
• Develop customer relationships and shape technical opportunities.
• Connect companies with NBIC-LIVE's facilities and expertise.
• Oversee projects from enquiry through scoping, contracting, delivery and close-out.
• Provide technical oversight and ensure timely sign-off of deliverables.

Skills

Leadership

Business development

Project management

Strategic planning

Job description

Hours of work: Full-time - 35 hours per week

Tenure: Fixed term for 2 years

NBIC-LIVE is a flagship project at the University of Liverpool and is funded via UKRI's Local Innovation Partnership Funding (LIPF) programme. NBIC-LIVE will establish an international Open Innovation Centre of Excellence on Antimicrobial Surfaces and Biofilm Technologies within the Liverpool City Region (LCR) to help deliver the Metro Mayor's vision for innovation led growth in the region.

Possessing excellent technical knowledge and leadership skills, the Science Innovation Manager will be responsible for leading, managing and coordinating NBIC-LIVE's innovation projects, skills-training and outreach functions, by driving strategic collaborations with a wide range of organisations from multi-national companies through to small and medium sized entities (SMEs).

You will be responsible for translating industry needs into technically robust, commercially viable innovation projects for the NBIC-LIVE programme. Working at the interface of science and business, the post holder will develop customer relationships, shape technical innovation opportunities, connect companies with NBIC-LIVE's specialist expertise and facilities, and oversee projects from initial enquiry through scoping, contracting, delivery and close-out.

The role will build a strong understanding of priority regional clusters, industry requirements and unmet technical needs across LCR regional companies. It will convert these insights into an active pipeline of collaborative R&D, testing, consultancy and facility-access projects, while supporting the long-term sustainability of NBIC-LIVE.

You will have leadership and decision-making skills and will lead a number of activities including: regional technical-commercial engagement; run challenge workshops and sector-scoping activities; commission projects accessing NBIC-LIVE equipment and technical services; and coordinate industry position papers that articulate market needs, capability gaps and opportunities for intervention. You will work closely with academic leads, technical specialists, project officers, professional services and external partners to ensure that proposed solutions are feasible, costed and deliverable.

You will be responsible for the technical oversight and customer focus of the innovation pipeline, including creating statements of work, technical resource planning, project risk, quality of deliverables and timely technical sign-off.

This position will suit an individual with a strong scientific background and demonstrable experience in technical sales, commercial management, company engagement and delivery of collaborative academic-industry innovation. You must be credible with senior industrial customers and academics, able to communicate complex technical concepts clearly, and comfortable moving between market analysis, commercial negotiation, facilities planning and practical project delivery.

You will be expected to display an excellent level of personal initiative, judgement and responsibility and have the ability to work effectively with other members of the team and collaborators.

This is a full-time office-based job, working as an integral part of a team based at the University of Liverpool campus. You must be willing to work non-standard hours as reasonably required to fulfil the role (e.g. out of hours meetings offsite, conference calls with overseas partners).

Willingness to travel on business in the UK and overseas.

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

We are committed to enhancing a workforce as diverse as our community and particularly encourage applicants who are of minoritised genders and ethnic backgrounds, living with a disability, and/or are members of the LGBTQIA+ community.