Commercialisation Manager (SHAPE), Professional Services

Overview of the Role

Are you keen to work in a fast paced, dynamic and innovative environment? Do you want to
play a role in the support for early-stage enterprise and commercialisation in Social
Sciences, Humanities and the Arts for People and the Economy (SHAPE)?
This post provides an exciting opportunity to play a role in the development of social sciences  and humanities research by guiding ideas from concept through to market within the University of Leeds, one of the largest research-intensive universities in the UK. The University of Leeds has one of the largest communities of SHAPE researchers in the UK, across a very wide range of disciplines and specialisms, with a flourishing culture of interdisciplinary activity and partnership working locally, regionally, nationally and globally. SHAPE research has the potential to support a wide range of stakeholders, including governments, individuals, businesses, communities and public service delivery organisations. Spin-outs and social enterprises are often created with goals of promoting societal and environmental wellbeing.
The role will be based across Research & Innovation Service (Commercialisation Team), Leeds
Institute for Societal Futures (LISF) and Leeds Arts and Humanities Research Institute (LAHRI).

Working across these teams, you will identify and evaluate commercial opportunities arising from social sciences, arts and humanities research outputs. You will advise academics on IP based opportunities and support their commercial development and funding strategies. You will further engage relevant social science and humanities academic communities to foster a social enterprise culture, and liaise with external networks (e.g. social enterprise hubs, innovation clusters) to amplify reach and support.

You will report to Managers within the Commercialisation Team of RIS, LISF and LAHRI.
This is a rewarding role requiring a proactive and self-motivated individual. You will have a
background in social science, arts and humanities or related disciplines, and have experience of
commercial development, social enterprise development, or innovation processes in either a
commercial or institutional environment.

You will have strong evaluation, planning and project management skills with knowledge and
experience of implementing the innovation process in a research-intensive environment. You will be comfortable with creating and leading initiatives (including workshops, seminars and talks) to engage and support the academic community.
The ability to effectively engage with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders is essential to this role.

Main duties and responsibilities:

• Working with research teams and academic staff across the University to proactively increase the pipeline of social science, arts and humanities research commercialisation opportunities;
• Undertaking robust and detailed commercial due diligence of new opportunities to ensure close
alignment with market needs.
• Supporting the preparation of social enterprise and commercialisation projects to assist
development of new opportunities and coordinating the submission of project applications across a range of internal and external funding schemes.
• Providing end-to-end project management of social enterprise and commercial development
projects.
• Ongoing review of projects, collecting metrics and reporting of progress and outcomes to
University and external committees as required.
• Creating and delivering training, coaching and networking events to foster culture in this area;
• Providing advice to academic colleagues on the commercial opportunities of their research.
• Preparing briefing papers for internal and external stakeholders as required on matters relating
to social sciences, arts and humanities commercialisation.
• To maintain accurate records and participate in administrative systems development, when
required.
• Ensuring development projects and associated agreements are appropriately monitored and
managed.
• Utilising and updating appropriate databases to support opportunity disclosures, patent and
contract administration processes and other information relating to licenses and potential
opportunities.

These duties provide a framework for the role and should not be regarded as a definitive list. Other reasonable duties may be required consistent with the grade of the post. You will be expected to be on campus at the University at least 2-3 days a week.

Qualifications and Skills
Essential:
 A degree in a social science or arts and humanities related discipline;
 Experience of innovation processes in a university (or other institution) and/or industry
environment
 A strong interest in and/or knowledge of the development of early stage social science, arts
and humanities commercialisation opportunities
 Experience of implementing the key stages of the innovation process in a university (or
other institution) and/or a commercial innovation environment
 Experience of the identification, commercial assessment and evaluation of early stage
commercialisation opportunities
 Excellent organisation skills with a good knowledge of project management principles with
some experience of working on early-stage commercialisation projects
 Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills combined with the ability to work
effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team as well as on own initiative
 Excellent communication (written and oral) and presentation skills and the ability to
communicate complex information effectively with multiple audiences and levels of
seniority
 The ability to produce and present reports and analyse management information and data
 Strong IT skills, with experience of using Microsoft Office programmes and management
information systems
 A commitment to continuous professional development.

Desirable:

 Knowledge and experience of social enterprises or third-sector venture initiatives and the
protection and management of IP
 Experience of the use of IT systems for recording and accessing data for the provision of
reliable and accurate management information
 A postgraduate degree in a social science, or arts and humanities related discipline
 Excellent project management skills with a track-record of delivering early-stage
commercialisation projects.

Additional Information

Working at Leeds

We are a campus based community and regular interaction with campus is an expectation of all
roles in line with academic and service needs and the requirements of the role. We are also open
to discussing flexible working arrangements. To find out more about the benefits of working at the University and what it is like to live and work in the Leeds area visit our Working at Leeds
information page.

Our University
At the University of Leeds, we are committed to providing a culture of inclusion, respect and equity of opportunity that attracts, supports, and retains the best students and staff from all backgrounds. Whatever role we recruit for we are always striving to increase the diversity of our community, which each individual helps enrich and cultivate. We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to Black, Asian, those who belong to a minority ethnic community; people who identify as LGBT+; and disabled people. Candidates will always be selected based on merit and ability. Information for disabled candidates
Information for disabled candidates, impairments or health conditions, including requesting
alternative formats, can be found on our Accessibility information page or by getting in touch with us at hr@leeds.ac.uk.

Criminal Records
A criminal record check is not required for this position. However, all applicants will be required to declare if they have any ‘unspent’ criminal offences, including those pending.
Any offer of appointment will be in accordance with our Criminal Records policy. You can find out more about required checks and declarations in our Criminal Records information page.

Visa Eligibility

Please note that this post may be suitable for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker visa route but first-time applicants might need to qualify for salary concessions. For more information please visit: www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa.

For research and academic posts, we will consider eligibility under the Global Talent visa. For more information please visit: https://www.gov.uk/global-talent.