Yorkshire Robotics Hub Business Development Manager

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

Benefits offered by this job

30 days holiday

13 statutory and customary days

Job summary

The University of Bradford's Yorkshire Robotics Hub seeks a Business Development Manager to identify and qualify Yorkshire manufacturers for robotics adoption, act as impartial adviser from first contact to installation, develop costed, investment-ready plans with engineers, help connect suppliers with funding, and build regional partnerships.

You will also plan and deliver events, workshops and site visits to demonstrate automation in action, while coordinating with university specialists and

Qualifications

• Experience and knowledge in business development with manufacturers and SMEs.
• Working knowledge of industrial robots and cobots.
• Experience of working with combined authorities, growth hubs or trade bodies.
• Confident presenter able to influence from shop floor to boardroom.

Responsibilities

• 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.

Skills

Business development

Robotics

Stakeholders

Communication

Events

Travel

Education

GCSE English and 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 £56,535per annum

PostType: Full Time

ContractType: Fixed Term

ClosingDate: Monday 09 November 2026

InterviewDate: 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.

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

• 30 days holiday plus 13 statutory and customary days (taken at Easter and Christmas)

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Prof Ben Whiteside at [e-mail].

Confronting Inequality : Celebrating Diversity

At the University of Bradford we accept people for who they are regardless of age, disability, gender identity, sex, marital status, ethnicity, faith, sexual orientation or socio-economic background and whether you’re pregnant or on maternity leave.

In line with the University’s commitment to equality charters including Athena Swan, Race Equality Charter, Disability Confident and Stonewall Diversity Champions Programme, we welcome applications from people identifying with these characteristics. The University has a number of staff networks which provide peer support and safe spaces for staff who hold these and other identities.