IDRIC Business Engagement, Communications and Impact Manager
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Description
Position Title: IDRIC Business engagement, communications and impact manager
Department: The Industrial Decarbonisation Research and Innovation Centre (IDRIC)
Salary: Grade 8 (£47,389 – £58,225)
Contract Type: Full Time (1FTE), Fixed‑term basis, until end March 2027.
The Industrial Decarbonisation Research and Innovation Centre (IDRIC) is a UKRI‑funded multi‑disciplinary programme addressing key cross‑cutting challenges in decarbonising our industry. Collaborating with research organisations, industry, government, policymakers, NGOs, trade organisations and the public, IDRIC is co‑creating whole‑system solutions that are accelerating the green futures of the UK’s industrial clusters. For more information, please visit www.idric.org
Purpose of Role
The role of Business engagement, communications and impact manager is essential for IDRIC to drive impactful engagement with stakeholders to ensure IDRIC delivers long‑lasting economic growth and societal benefits. This includes focussing on increasing the number and quality of strategic partnerships in the industrial clusters, those involved in Local Industrial Decarbonisation Plans (LIDPs) and dispersed sites. In addition it will be crucial to continue to develop IDRIC’s understanding of the role of place‑based stakeholders, including the specific challenges and opportunities across the UK and a range of decarbonisation technologies. This role will involve both strategic planning and delivery of IDRIC’s partnership activities and managing external/stakeholder communications.
Summary Of Key Duties And Responsibilities
* Provide strong leadership for the Business & Impact team – inspire leadership and direction to ensure alignment with IDRIC strategy, values, objectives and KPIs.
* Effectively manage B&I team – ensuring seamless integration with IDRIC; support and development of team members to achieve high performance.
* Deliver on key objectives – work directly with industrial collaborators and IDRIC researchers to facilitate business partnerships, position IDRIC for additional funding opportunities, develop strategic partnerships with business and industry, advise on pathways to impact, broker relationships through events and meetings.
* Build strong working relationships and provide high quality, informed advice to key partners within IDRIC, contributing to regional impact strategy and discussions on research & industry funding and business development.
* Develop and grow effective relationships with key stakeholders & industry funders external to IDRIC – proactively build portfolio of partnerships and projects, oversee stakeholder communication strategy via website, mailing list, LinkedIn to enhance brand and trust.
* Aware and understand the research and innovation landscape and opportunities in the UK and beyond, influencing industry spend and engagement with research & innovation within IDRIC’s remit.
Essential
Education, Qualifications & Experience:
* Educated to first degree level or equivalent
* Significant experience building and maintaining strong relationships with external stakeholders such as businesses, industry partners and academics
* Demonstrable substantial professional expertise in business development, innovation and/or delivering research and innovation impact through partnership with stakeholders
* Experience of working within Higher Education
* Capability to lead and manage a team, including all aspects of people management responsibilities
* Ability to research, analyse and present complex information effectively with good attention to detail
* Excellent report and document writing attributes
* Experience of delivering external communications and/or marketing activities
* Competent in the use of relevant IT packages
* Excellent interpersonal, influencing and presentation skills, able to understand and communicate complex issues effectively
* Demonstrable ability to work quickly, flexibly and accurately in a dynamic, changing and pressured environment
* Experience of working closely with stakeholders across all levels, with a professional and proactive approach
* Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a team
Desirable
* Post graduate qualification
* Demonstrable experience and success in income generation, for example through business development, innovation and/or delivering research and innovation impact activities
* Experience of using data and analytics to develop effective campaigns
* CIM/CIPR/IDM or equivalent Marketing/Comms qualification
* Awareness and understanding of the research and innovation landscape and opportunities in the UK and beyond
* Experience of working within the Industrial Decarbonisation sector
How To Apply
Interested applicants must submit via the Heriot-Watt University on‑line recruitment system: (1) a cover letter; (2) a full CV.
Applications can be submitted up until midnight on Sunday 09 November 2025.
Heriot-WattUniversity values diversity across our University community and welcomes applications from all sectors of society, particularly from underrepresented groups. For more information, please see our website https://www.hw.ac.uk/uk/services/equality-diversity.htm and our award‑winning work in Disability Inclusive Science Careers https://disc.hw.ac.uk/.
We welcome and will consider flexible working patterns e.g. part‑time working and job share options.
Use our total rewards calculator: https://www.hw.ac.uk/about/work/total-rewards-calculator.htm to see the value of benefits provided by Heriot-Watt University.
About Heriot-Watt University
At Heriot‑Watt we are passionate about our values and look to them to connect our people globally and to help us collaborate and celebrate our success through working together. Our research programmes can deliver real world impact which is achieved through the diversity of our international community and the recognition of creative talent that connects our global team.
Our flourishing community will give you the freedom to challenge and to bring your enterprising mind and to help our partners with solutions that can be applied now and in the future. Join us and Heriot Watt will provide you with a platform to thrive and work in a way that also helps you live your life in balance with well‑being and inclusiveness at the heart of our global community.
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