Business Relationship Officer

Closing date: 23:59 GMT 5th June 2025

Interviews will be held: 16th June 2025

By reference to the applicable SOC code for this role, sponsorship may be possible under the Skilled Worker Route. Applicants wishing to consider the SWR must ensure that they are able to meet the points requirement before applying. There is further information about this on the UK Visas and Immigration Website.

Ensuring the wider economic and societal benefits from its research is a key objective of the University of Reading as we respond to the strategic drive by Government and key funders for universities to deliver greater benefit for our locality, the country and wider world.

This is an area of existing strength of the University with an extensive track-record of working with businesses and other non-academic organisations, and it is currently undertaking a major programme of further ambitious growth.

The Business Relationship Officer sits within the Knowledge Exchange & External Partnerships team (KEEP) which leads on the development of the University’s collaborative work with non-academic organisations – known as Knowledge Exchange (KE).

Working with KEEP and other University colleagues, the Business Relationship Officer will provide essential contributions to a number of key areas:

• The identification, development and management of new and early stage business contacts and business intelligence.
• Developing and delivering internal training programmes to support academics and external business partners to work together more effectively.
• Ensuring the effective running of Knowledge Transfer Partnership projects.
• Promoting working with the wider Research Engagement & Innovation Office (REIO), priority academic areas, and other key professional services.

Team Structure

This role is within Knowledge Exchange & External Partnerships (KEEP), which sits within the wider Research Engagement & Innovation Office (REIO). KEEP comprises four main teams: Business Relationship Management, Knowledge Transfer Partnerships, Commercialisation and Consultancy, although its remit covers a wider range of Knowledge Exchange activities. This role will work primarily, but not exclusively, with the Business Relationship Management and Knowledge Transfer Partnerships teams.

Contact Name Dr Guy Hembury
Contact Job Title Director – Knowledge Exchange, Commercialisation & Partnerships
Contact Email address g.a.hembury@reading.ac.uk

Alternative Contact Name Dr Fiona McLachlan
Alternative Contact Job Title Business Relationship Manager
Alternative Contact Email address f.mclachlan@reading.ac.uk

The University is committed to having a diverse and inclusive workforce, supports the gender equality Athena SWAN Charter and the Race Equality Charter, and champions LGBT+ equality. We are a Disability Confident Employer (Level 2). Applications for job-share, part-time and flexible working arrangements are welcomed and will be considered in line with business needs.

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