Partnership Manager, SCENE Commercialisation Programmes (Job Number: 25000802)

The Role and the Department

Both the SCENE and Northern Accelerator programmes are led and hosted by Durham University on behalf of the North East universities however the success of the programme will lie in the success of the collaboration between the five Higher Education Institutions and our partners in the commercialisation eco-system. The Programme is therefore investing into Partnership Managers in each of the five Universities, supported by a Partnership Administrator.

The Role

The Partnership Manager will be a key role in the SCENE infrastructure. Located in Durham University’s Research and Innovation Services Division, you will be a member of both the regional team supporting the SCENE programme and the University’s Research Commercialisation Team

The postholder will work on a ‘matrix’ basis, with line responsibility to management structures within the host institution but functionally engaged into the regional team, building on the experience of successful collaborative working development through the Northern Accelerator programme.

You will provide a critical integrator role working with the core team and other Partnership Managers to drive the SCENE programme in your institution and across the partnership.

You will ensure that the activities and programmes being led and developed through the SCENE programme with partners in the eco-system are well connected to the Teams within the University, drawing from our capacity and reflecting our needs and priorities. You will support the University to take advantage of the various aspects of the programme.

You will also be expected to lead on a specific activity or group of activities as part of the  Regional Programme, working as part of the regional Team. For example, you might take a lead on a group of Innovation showcases, or sector facing Innovation challenges.

An illustration SCENE Staffing Structures will be available here.

The Department

The postholder will sit within Durham University’s Research and Innovation Services (RIS) team, working closely alongside both the Core Regional team which is hosted by Durham and as part of the Research Commercialisation Team. RIS is a professional services directorate at the heart of Durham University.

RIS provides expertise, leadership and support to academics and professional colleagues across the University for all research, research-related, knowledge exchange and economic development activities. Our aim is to strengthen Durham’s role at the leading-edge of research and innovation, inspiring extraordinary change across the world and in our region. Our vision is to facilitate world-leading research and knowledge exchange through a high-performing, high-quality service.

The team is based in our exciting new professional services hub at Bolden House, which is located on the outskirts of Durham near the Arnison Centre in Pity Me. Bolden House brings professional services teams together across the University in a vibrant office environment which supports collaborative working and is designed to embrace hybrid working.

Further information about the role and the responsibilities is at the bottom of this job description.

The University

At Durham University we are proud of our people.  A globally outstanding centre of educational excellence, a collegiate community of extraordinary people, a unique and historic setting – Durham is a university like no other.

We believe that inspiring our people to do outstanding things at Durham enables Durham people to do outstanding things professionally and personally.

Across the University we have a huge variety of roles and career opportunities, which together make us a large and successful community, which is a key hub of activity within our region and nationally.

We would be thrilled if you would consider joining our thriving University.  Further information about the University can be found here.

Find out more about the benefits of working at the University and what it is like to live and work in the Durham area on our Why Join Us? – Information Page.

Working at Durham 

A competitive salary is only one part of the many fantastic benefits you will receive if you join the University: you will also receive access to the following fantastic benefits:

• 30 Days annual leave per year in addition to 8 public holidays and 4 customary days per year – a total of 42 days per year.
• The University closes between Christmas and New Year.
• We offer a generous pension scheme, As a new member of staff you will be automatically enrolled into the University Superannuation Scheme (USS).
• No matter how you travel to work, we have you covered.  We have parking across campus, a cycle to work scheme which helps you to buy a bike and discount with local bus and train companies.
• There is a genuine commitment to developing our colleagues professionally and personally.  There is a comprehensive range of development courses, apprenticeships and access to qualifications and routes to develop your career in the University.  All staff have dedicated annual time to concentrate on their personal development opportunities.
• Lots of support for health and wellbeing including discounted membership for our state of the art sport and gym facilities and access to a 24-7 Employee Assistance Programme.
• On site nursery is available plus access to holiday camps for children aged 5-16.
• Family friendly policies, including maternity and adoption leave, which are among the most generous in the higher education sector (and likely above and beyond many employers).
• The opportunity to take part in staff volunteering activities to make a difference in the local community.
• Discounts are available via our benefits portal including; money off at supermarkets, high street retailers, IT products such as Apple, the cinema and days out at various attractions.
• A salary sacrifice scheme is also available to help you take advantage of tax savings on benefits.
• If you are moving to Durham, you may be eligible for help with removal costs and we have a dedicated team who can help you with the practicalities such as house hunting and schools.  If you need a visa, we cover most visa costs and offer an interest free loan scheme to pay for dependant visas.

Since 2018, the five North East universities have worked increasingly closely to build a strong collaboration to commercialise our research through the creation of high-growth businesses. Since launching the Northern Accelerator programme, 54 spinouts have been created, catalysing new investment and jobs.

Supported by Research England’s CCF-RED fund with £8.9m in funding over a five year period, the Strategic Commercialisation Eco-system North East (SCENE) programme represents an exciting next phase in our regional collaboration with the aim of wrapping new activities around and into Northern Accelerator to strengthen our support for the spin out process, and building new services and activities to extend successful research commercialisation in new areas, such as licensing and commercial partnerships.

Underpinning these propositions is the creation and development of a structured and connected ecosystem around University research commercialisation, drawing together partnerships with business, investors and institutions to drive a sustainable step-change in our impact.

Through the delivery of seven workstreams over a five year programme, SCENE will:

• Strengthen and expand the region’s ecosystem, engaging businesses, sector bodies, Catapults and investors more actively in commercialising university research;
• Expand the pipeline of high-quality, investible new spinouts;
• Support growth for existing spinouts, helping secure them for the long-term;
• Increase adoption of university IP by businesses of all sizes in strategic sectors;
• Attract new UK and international investment into the formation and growth of research-led businesses; and
• Enhance structures, systems and leadership to support regional commercialisation ambitions.

SCENE is led by Durham University and involves as key partners the other four North East Higher Education institutions – Newcastle, Northumbria, Sunderland and Teesside – who come together through Universities for North East England (UNEE).

SCENE is also supported by a number of strategic partners – our two Combined Authorities in the North East and Tees Valley, Catapults, Business Support organisations and key businesses as well as associated universities in York and Cumbria.