Impact Funding Manager: Newcastle University

The Role
 

The Impact Funding Manager will support the academic community to enhance the impact of their research findings using internally managed funds to develop new and existing relationships and accelerate the transfer and uptake of research findings with external organisations and stakeholders through secondments and collaborative projects

Reporting to the Head of Enterprise Services, the post holder will be responsible for administration of a range of internally managed funds including the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) Impact Acceleration Account (IAA) and Higher Education Innovation Funding (HEIF).

Applicants should be educated to degree-level, with relevant project and event management experience and sound financial management and reporting skills.  The ability to explain complex information to a range of audiences will be essential. Previous experience of working in higher educational administration and a track record of leading projects is highly desirable.

Key Accountabilities

• Working as part of Business Development and Enterprise Services team, provide an effective service to bring businesses and other external partners together with academic researchers to establish mutually beneficial collaborations and to promote the successful uptake/use of novel technologies, expertise and facilities arising from across the University. The post-holder will be expected to devise and develop activities (e.g. the organisation and promotion of sector specific ‘sand-pit’ style events) to encourage academic / industrial secondments and joint academic/industrial applications to specific funding calls (e.g. schemes such as those offered by Innovate UK, University internal innovation funding and the EPSRC IAA funding etc.).
• Undertake mapping and review of internal funding streams across the University to develop a streamlined application process, which allows a single point of entry to multiple funding streams. The post holder will provide advice and assistance as necessary to academic researchers with their funding applications; undertake market research and identification of suitable target industrial partners to assist in the commercialisation of early-stage technologies.
• As part of Research Enterprise Services work with the Faculty based Enterprise Teams to promote the opportunities and benefits of working with businesses and other user groups to individual academics and research groups through school in reach events/workshops and to stimulate an internal interest in linking scientific/technological advances through to commercial/societal application.
• In partnership engage with the holder of an equivalent post at Durham University to establish and promote engagement events to help foster collaborative projects between the two institutions.
• Take the lead in designing and disseminating marketing materials/literature for the internal and external promotion of internal funding schemes and organising regular business engagement workshops with our stakeholders.
• Take the responsibility for administration, monitoring and reporting of the various internal funding schemes as required.
• Take the responsibility for developing and delivering effective case studies from internally funded work and feeding these ‘good news’ stories into the University Public Relations team and relevant Faculty websites.
• Provide support and develop effective relationships with industrial companies and third parties as well as across the academic research base of the University.
• Act as a representative of the University in relationships with third parties acting at all times in good faith and in an ethical manner.

The Person

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to engage with and influence University researchers and external partners
• Experience of data collection and effective report writing
• Ability to analyse and solve problems with an appreciation of longer-term implications
• Ability to develop creative approaches to problem solving
• Numerate
• Ability to liaise effectively with a wide variety of colleagues (both technical and non-technical) fulfilling different team roles including leading where required
• Ability to build relationships between a range of different organisations
• Ability to analyse and solve problems with an appreciation of longer-term implications
• Knowledge and understanding of technology transfer and technology commercialisation issues including patenting and licencing (Desirable)
• Ability to work accurately to tight deadlines and on own initiative when required.
• Good influencing and negotiating skills (Desirable)
• Ability to develop creative approaches to problem solving (Desirable)
• Drive to improve and develop in the field of research commercialisation and impact (Desirable)
• Experience of marketing/promotion or customer facing activities
• Experience of data collection and effective report writing
• Experience of project-managing large/complex multi-partner, multi-organisational groups of people (Desirable)
• Aware of the mechanisms and project formats available for funding and facilitating university-business interaction. Experience of working in industry. (Desirable)
• Experience of business-university interactions (Desirable)
• Experience of preparing and giving presentations (Desirable)
• Experience of digital media (Desirable)
• Confident, friendly and articulate manner
• Flexible approach to working practices
• Willingness to travel as required

Attributes and Behaviour

Thinking Strategically (Others)

Has the ability to see the “big picture”, to think strategically and to manage complex problems and issues

• Understands and makes sense of complex or conflicting data and different perspectives of shareholders and University areas/faculties/etc.
• Recognises and analyses the dynamics of problems and issues
• Works through the implications of situations in order to identify the most appropriate way forward in order to meet strategic goals

Communicating (Others)

Uses clear, concise and accurate communication, tailoring the approach accordingly and encouraging a two way communication process

• Can put forward own view whilst listening and respecting the views of others
• Uses visual and verbal presentation to add impact
• Encourages and supports free flow of communication and information across own area, and the wider University where appropriate.

Team working (Self/Others)

Works collaboratively with others, plays a positive role in teams and establishes and grows relationships across the organisation where different skills. Expertise and opinions are valued.

• Looks at ways of developing cross functional co-operation and support
• Willing to help others and share workloads
• Shares relevant and useful information with others

Planning and Organising (Self/Others)

Manages time and resources by prioritising and organising effectively

• Effective at organising and managing heavy and complex workload
• Establishes clear roles and responsibilities for self and others
• Maintains flexibility in work plans to allow for changing circumstances
• Sets own priorities in conjunction with team and area objectives
• Ability to work under self-direction.
• Ability to develop effective and pragmatic plans within available resources.
• Plan and organise sector specific activities involving targeted companies and Universities.

Decision Making

• Ability to make decisions in line with Faculty and University policy. 
• Under delegated authority, make decisions regarding individual project activity.

Internal and External Relationships

• Ability to work as a team which may include non-university staff and advisers
• Work closely with other members of RES and other services, in particular, HR and Finance
• Externally be comfortable engaging in complex negotiations with senior staff and network effectively with government agencies, large and small corporates and technology intermediary organisations

Qualifications

• A good honours degree in a science or engineering discipline (or equivalent)
• Either a PhD or masters in a science and engineering discipline or other relevant R&D experience in any of the following EPSRC themes: Digital economy, energy, global uncertainties/security, healthcare, environment change, manufacturing (Desirable).