Knowledge Exchange & Innovation

Location: Canterbury
Salary: £35,326 to £39,739 per annum
Grade: Grade 7
Post Type: Full Time
Contract Type: Permanent
Release Date: Tuesday 19 October 2021
Closing Date: 23.59 hours GMT on Tuesday 02 November 2021 (unless otherwise stated)
Interview Date: Friday 12 November 2021
Reference: RIS-020-21-R

Are you an experienced Business Relationship professional, who is proactive and persuasive when seeking new clients and opportunities, converting interest into funded collaborations? If so this varied and exciting role could be ideal.

The main purpose of this role is to support the expansion of the University’s knowledge exchange and innovation portfolio. We are particularly keen to increase the area of University consultancy, Knowledge Transfer Partnerships, Industrial Strategy and collaborative projects, contract and collaborative research. You will work in a small co-ordinated team of Business & Industry Relationship Officers, supporting the University’s six Divisions delivering outputs against the University’s Knowledge Exchange & Innovation targets. Each Officer will become a market specialist in each of the priority areas of focus - income targets are an integral part of this role and the wider Business & Industry Relationship team.

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced business and industry relationship professional to join our Business and Industry Relationships Team within the Research and Innovation Services Directorate. The role holder will work with the Division of Natural Sciences (Biosciences, Physical Sciences, Sports and Exercise Sciences and affiliated Medway School of Pharmacy and Kent and Medway Medical School) and Division of Human and Social Sciences (Psychology, Economics, Politics, Anthropology and Conversation). This means an interest and understanding related to these areas would be preferred. However, whilst focusing on these Divisions, innovation projects for each role may be interdisciplinary spanning the six Divisions of the University.

As Business & Industry Relationship Officer you will:

instigate, develop and manage relationships with business and industry, including the public and third sectors, on the phone and in person
proactively engage with Divisions and individual academics to identify opportunities to develop a portfolio of income generating activities
in close liaison with the External Communications & Events Co-ordinator, as well as other colleagues within KEI, deliver and assist in the organisation of business-facing workshops , conferences, high profile dinners, industry and trade association opportunities and events

To be successful in this role you will have:

extensive experience of business development gained in a goal focused, target driven and customer service orientated environment
a successful track record of securing income, increasing revenue from existing clients and establishing new partnerships
experience in co-ordinating a range of external facing workshops, conferences and business facing activities
a demonstrable track record over a number of years of identifying prospective business leads and turning these into sales projects, including helping to develop funding applications

Please see the links below to view the full job description and to apply for this post. If you require further information regarding the application process please contact The Resourcing Team on jobs@kent.ac.uk quoting ref number: RIS-020-21-R.