Yorkshire Robotics Hub Business Development Manager

University Of Bradford; Aberford; On-site; GBP 49,000 - 57,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

30 days holiday

Pension scheme

Car leasing

Cycle to work

Holiday purchase

Discounts

Job summary

University of Bradford invites applications for the Yorkshire Robotics Hub Business Development Manager. You will identify and qualify Yorkshire manufacturers for robotics adoption, acting as an impartial adviser from initial contact to installation.

Working with engineers and university specialists to develop costed, investment-ready plans, build partnerships, and deliver events to showcase automation. A full UK driving licence and willingness to travel across Yorkshire are required.

Qualifications

• Business development experience with manufacturers (SMEs)
• Knowledge of industrial robots and cobots
• Experience working with authorities, growth hubs or trade bodies
• Confident presenter able to influence across levels from shop floor to boardroom
• Experience planning and delivering events and demonstrations
• Willingness to travel across Yorkshire and hold a full UK driving licence
• GCSE English and Maths required

Responsibilities

• Pipeline: Find and qualify Yorkshire manufacturers with potential for robotics and automation.
• Impartial adviser: Guide each business from first contact to installation.
• Business cases: Collaborate with engineers/university specialists to produce costed, investment-ready plans.
• Suppliers and finance: Help businesses choose suppliers and connect with funding.
• Partnerships: Build referral relationships with regional bodies and industry networks.
• Events: Deliver events, webinars and site visits showcasing automation in action.

Skills

BD experience

Robotics knowledge

Stakeholder management

Public speaking

Event delivery

Travel readiness

Education

GCSE English & Maths

Job description

Yorkshire Robotics Hub Business Development Manager

Institute of Digital and Sustainable Futures

Central Institute - Digital and Sustainable Futures

Salary: £48,882 to £56,535 per annum Fixed Term till 31/03/2030 Post Type: Full Time Contract Type: Fixed Term Closing Date: Monday 09 November 2026 Interview Date: To be confirmed Reference: HR0206732-2

University of Bradford

At the University of Bradford, our focus is on creating the conditions for social, cultural, and economic impact. We are committed to social inclusion. Our work to expand opportunity and enable students to reach their potential, has led to us topping the Social Mobility Index of English universities for the last five years. Our University Strategy sets out our ambitions which we will achieve by using our proud heritage as a springboard and remaining steadfast in our commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion.

Safeguarding

The University of Bradford is committed to safeguarding, protecting and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and Adults at Risk through robust safer recruitment practices.

Institute

The Yorkshire Robotics Adoption Hub is a 42-month, Innovate UK-funded programme led by the University of Bradford's Institute for Digital and Sustainable Futures (IDSF), in partnership with West Yorkshire Manufacturing Services (WYMS), the University of Huddersfield and Olympus Technologies. It helps Yorkshire manufacturers adopt proven robotics.

What you will be doing:

• Pipeline: Find and qualify Yorkshire manufacturers with potential for robotics and automation.
• Impartial adviser: Guide each business independently from first contact to installation.
• Business cases: Work with engineers and university specialists to produce costed, investment-ready plans.
• Suppliers and finance: Help businesses choose suppliers fairly and connect them with funding.
• Partnerships: Build referral relationships with regional bodies, business support programmes and industry networks.
• Events: Deliver events, webinars and site visits that show automation in action.

Qualifications/ experience:

Experience and knowledge

• Business development: Proven track record in business development or technical sales with manufacturers, including SMEs.
• Robotics: Working knowledge of industrial robots and cobots.
• Stakeholders: Experience of working with combined authorities, growth hubs or trade bodies.
• Communication: Confident presenter, able to influence everyone from the shop floor to the boardroom.
• Events: Experience of planning and delivering events and demonstrations.
• Travel: Full UK driving licence and willingness to travel across Yorkshire.

Qualifications

• GCSE (or O level) English and Maths.

Celebrating Diversity – The University of Bradford

Women, people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, and disabled people are under-represented in UK engineering and manufacturing. We particularly welcome applications from these groups, so the Hub reflects the businesses and communities it serves. All appointments are made on merit.

If you need any adjustments to our recruitment process, our recruitment team will be happy to help.

In Return we Offer:

• 30 days holiday plus 13 statutory and customary days (taken at Easter and Christmas)
• Family-friendly policies
• Great campus facilities including:
• Unique fitness centre
• Eye clinic
• Physiotherapy & sports rehabilitation
• Counselling & mental health services
• Food & drink outlets
• Generous employer contribution pension schemes -
• Generous benefit schemes, including car leasing, cycle to work, holiday purchase, home & technology scheme and shopping discounts

Find more information about the many other .