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:
To provide strong leadership for the Business & Impact team - The post holder will provide inspiring leadership and direction for the IDRIC B&I team to ensure they are working towards shared goals and objectives in line with the IDRIC strategy, values, objectives and KPIs. They will play an important role in contributing to wider objectives and joint working across the IDRIC team and partners. The post holder will work with the IDRIC Director and Centre Manager to align business and impact activities within IDRIC’s wider work to create a strong and dynamic team supporting regional impact in decarbonisation of UK industries.
To effectively manage B&I team - The post holder will be a confident and inspiring manager ensuring that 1) the B&I team is fully integrated and working productively within IDRIC 2) team members are supported and developed to ensure a high performing and motivated team.
The post holder will ensure the B&I team delivers on key objectives including: 1) working directly with industrial collaborators and IDRIC researchers to facilitate business partnerships with the aim of delivering IDRIC KPIs; 2) position IDRIC to influence and respond to additional funding opportunities; 3) working closely with the IDRIC Director and Centre Manager, and colleagues within IDRIC to develop strategic partnerships with business and industry; 4) provide advice on developing pathways to impact; and 5) broker relationships with research users in the public, private and third sectors through events and meetings.
To build strong working relationships and to provide high quality, informed advice to key partners within IDRIC- The roleholder will be expected to work closely with academic and industry stakeholders in the regions, IDRIC Director and Centre Manager to contribute to the development and implementation of IDRICs regional impact strategy. The post holder, and the B&I team, will provide high quality, informed advice to help shape and inform regional impact priorities. He/she will contribute regularly to discussions and meetings relating to research & industry funding and business development.
To develop and grow effective relationships with key stakeholders & industry funders external to IDRIC - The roleholder will proactively build relationships with relevant stakeholders & funders, industry partners and collaborators with the primary aim of cementing and developing a broad portfolio of partnerships and projects. The post holder will oversee a team that interacts with a range of external stakeholders, including government, industry and other research partnerships. He/she will work with others in IDRIC to further build on our strategic partnerships with the business community. Developing and delivering our stakeholder communication strategy, for example through our website, mailing list and LinkedIn will also form a key part of the role, building on the existing brand and trust which IDRIC has built within its network of academic, industry and policy stakeholders.
Awareness and understanding of the research and innovation landscape and opportunities in the UK and beyond - A key driver for the business and impact activities is the aim of influencing industry spend and direct engagement with research & innovation within IDRIC’s remit. The IDRIC Business and Impact Manager will work closely with the IDRIC Director & Centre Manager and will have a strong understanding of the evolving opportunities, challenges and key stakeholders in the current industrial decarbonisation research and innovation landscape in the UK.
Education, Qualifications & Experience:
Essential
1. Educated to first degree level or equivalent
2. Significant experience building and maintaining strong relationships with external stakeholders such as businesses, industry partners and academics
3. Demonstrable substantial professional expertise in business development, innovation and/or delivering research and innovation impact through working in partnership with stakeholders
4. Experience of working within in Higher Education
5. Capability to lead and manage a team, including all aspects of people management responsibilities
6. Ability to research, analyse and present complex information effectively with good attention to detail
7. Excellent report and document writing attributes
8. Experience of delivering external communications and/or marketing activities
9. Competent in the use of relevant IT packages
10. Excellent interpersonal, influencing and presentation skills, able to understand and communicate complex issues effectively
11. Demonstrable ability to work quickly, flexibly and accurately in a dynamic, changing and pressured environment
12. Experience of working closely with stakeholders across all levels, with a professional and proactive approach
13. Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a team
Desirable
14. Post graduate qualification
15. Demonstrable experience and success in income generation, for example through business development, innovation and/or delivering research and innovation impact activities
16. Experience of using data and analytics to develop effective campaigns
17. CIM/CIPR/IDM or equivalent Marketing/Comms qualification
18. Awareness and understanding of the research and innovation landscape and opportunities in the UK and beyond
19. Experience of working within the Industrial Decarbonisation sector