Director of Industry Partnerships: King’s College London
Job description
King’s College London is seeking a dynamic and experienced professional to transform our approach to creating and delivering research partnerships with industry.
Enhancing our research collaboration with industry is a strategic priority for King’s, building on our strong performance in the Knowledge Exchange Framework and a range of existing strategic partnerships. The Director will be responsible for delivery of university objectives in this area, acting with a significant degree of initiative and ownership.
This is a new and senior role, working with leading academic staff to maximise the value of current strategic partnerships, and to create new opportunities for engagement. The post-holder will lead a small team of staff to deliver across the entire range of the university’s expertise.
The ideal candidate will bring substantial experience of academic-industry partnership development, and have the flexibility to work across disciplines and sectors. They will combine strong strategic and project management capabilities with diplomacy, negotiation skills, and an ability to engage and inspire senior stakeholders in both industry and academia.
This post will be offered on an indefinite contract. This is a full-time post.
Key Responsibilities
Driving a substantial increase in research partnerships with industry, through:
- Leadership of a team of senior staff (some yet to be recruited) to transform the university’s capabilities in this area
- Working with senior academic leaders to define priority areas for the development of industry partnerships
- Identification of relevant industry partners and building strong relationships to obtain a deep understanding of their priorities and needs
- Supporting and guiding academic staff in developing strategic partnerships with industry, including organisation of key meetings, development of materials highlighting King’s strengths targeted to individual partners
- Managing existing partnerships to ensure effective delivery, and working to enhance existing partnerships through increasing scale and expansion into new areas
- Working with other relevant functions at King’s (e.g. Contracts, IP & Licensing, Translational Research Support) to ensure coordination and synergy
The above list of responsibilities may not be exhaustive, and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks and responsibilities as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grading of the post.
Skills, knowledge, and experience
Essential criteria
- Substantial experience and success in the development and management of industry-academic research partnerships, or other directly relevant experience in the industry/academic sectors.
- Ability to lead and contribute to complex, difficult projects, from conception to delivery.
- Ability to work constructively with a wide range of individuals and groups, and in particular to develop excellent relationships with senior stakeholders.
- Positive and constructive approach, including when under pressure.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
Desirable criteria
- PhD in a relevant subject (ideally health, life sciences, engineering, technology, natural sciences).